The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-11-19
sPIRxT or Tzu PRESS.
Editorial Opinions or the Leading Journals
upon Current Topics Compiled Every
OsYfor the Evening Telegraph.
WHAT Is IN STORE FOR THE Ma
TIONAL DEMOCRACY.

WHAT Is IN STORE FOR THE Ma
TIONAL DEMOCRACY.
From the " T. Times.
A desire to bury dead issues has suddenly
manifested itself in the Democratic mind
Gov. Hoffman expressed it i'll his Albany
speech; and the leading jOurnal of the party
in Michigan attributes whatever successes
have beeR gained in that State to the repudi-
alton of repudiators, and the adoption of a
moderate policy upon current topics. The
Governor would have the country forget the
sins of his party. The Detroit journalist de-
clares that had the old leaders been allowed
to retain command, nothing but defeat would
have followed; if different result has any,
where been secured, it has been because De-
mocTatic candidates ran pledged against
reaction, and in acceptance of the situation. "
All this is very pretty. 1t would have been
prettier, in Governor Hoff mans case, had he,
too, been able to proclaim the renunciation
of his old political masters. There is an OBJ
vous incompatibility between his exhortation
to ''let the dead past bury its dead" and his
appearance as the successful candidate of an
organization which represents the worst
ideas, as we'll as the worst vices of the Demo-
craoy If Governor Hoffman would really
reform his party, he must begin by interring
the ring. There can be no improvement in
this State until the Governors masters are
under the sod.
Still, these avowals and entreaties of
Governor Hoffman must be regarded as
homage paid by the representative of the
most debased type of Democracy to the pub
lie opinion which the Republican party
created and keeps alive. The new policy of
the Michigan Democracy tells the same story.
Its gains are proportionate to its adoption Of
Republican principles and plans. BY dis
carding reputation, and bringing itself to
Ala, ~
reactionaiy measures, by accepting things
as they are, and pledging Itself to maintain
them, by favoring the continued reduction
of taxes without reference to abstract
theories, its managers adopted, substantially
cardinal features of the Republican platform.
Their sagacity was duly rewarded. They
elected candidates who, if nominated on
regular Democratic ground, would have had
no chance. The lesson, suggestive as it is,
is not taught by Michigan alone. 1t is the
lesson OF all the recent elections, with the
exception OF New York, where plumber holds
the place of principle, and of Maryland and
Delaware, where the relics of slave -barbarism
continue to be devoutly worshipped. Every
where Democratic gains may be measured
by the departure from the standard of Pen
dleton and Seymour and Blair, and by an APP
proximaton to the standard of Grants adj
minstration and Republican Congress.
Advantages so acquired are q tribute to the
principles and policy of the Republican party.
When the process thus begun has advanced
few degrees further the issue will become
one between men; and the Democratic party
overladen as it is with rotten timber, will be
very little nearer the consummation of its
final purpose. For the governing perS0pne
of Democracy must resolve itself into Tam
many. That is the vital centre of the whole
organization. Michigan moderates, and pru
dent men from Illinois sink into insignif
canoe before Tweed, Sweeney, Hall, and Fisk
These are the magnates of the party. They
are determined to control the next Nationa
Convention as completely as they controlled
the motley crowd that nominated Hoffman
at Rochester; and they rely for success
upon agencies akin in character to those
which secured them success in this city. Ou
plundered and helpless taxpayers furnish
sinews for wider war than that between
Tammany and the Young Democracy. Tht
corruption fund, which has already produced
wonders, is relied upon to carry the Nationa
Convention. Tweed Il Co. have sworn tina
Hoffman shall be the next Democratic candi
date for the Presidency, and they will keel
their oath. They will buy his nomination, i
il can be obtained in no other way. Th
Democracy of the country will then have tn
pleasure of supporting a Tammany ticket
and the country will be brought face to fac
with the personal issues with which we il
New York have become painfully familiar
When matters assume this shape, we kno
what will be the result.