The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-03-01
The Democratic Reformcrs-Will they
Conquer


The Democratic Reformcrs-Wiu they
Conquer
II is tho misfortune OF tho Republican par.
ty, at this critical stage of its career, that IL
has at the head Of the Administration a man
without Republican record to inspire con.
Edcnce in the honest masses of the party
and utterly destitute of that political cxpcr.
ence and those statcsmanlike qualities VIII oh
would command the respect of its ambitious
leaders. Hence, in the severe trials through
which the party must soon pass, neither its
ehlefains nor its rank and file will pay tho
slightest regard to the opinions or tho aspi-
rations Of Gen. GRANT and the inevitable
result must be, that while he VIII not have
sufficient power TO keep the party together,
he will exhibit just enough to rcnd 1t
Lsundor.
But II docs not necessarily follow that
those who leave the Republican ranks will
ioin tie Democratic party. Distinguished
Republicans have from time to time within
Tie last six years gone over TO the Demo.
rrats-such mon as Senators CowAy, Non.
TON, DooLTTLE. and DIXoN-but they took
scarcely bodyruard with them: and why {?
Evidently because they left the Republicans
rather from personal motives than to pro
mote cardinal principles; because they dc.
serted their colors before the great campaign
In which they had enlisted was finished ::
and because the Democratic PARTY did not
hold out very strong inducements for active
Republicans to JOIN it. Some of its most
worthy and highmindcd leaders wcr, timid,
and dared not utter their patriotic thoughts :;
some Of IFS most conspicuous champions had
10 words of dcnunciotion for armed traitors.
but brs;led all over with sharp criticisms of
The means used to crush the rebellion ; and
too many of its most influential managers
were notorious corruptionists who, in league
with rotten Republicans, were growing rich
ly prosttuting Democratic victories TO the
promotion of schemes Of plumber; while
some of its wciGltiest advisers were mere
fossils of the old Federal epoch, as much out
OF place in progressive party MS would be
the Cardiff giant in the Wall street Stock
Exchange.
The Republican party may 90 TO pieces,
and is certain, now that its mission is com.
pleted, to lose large body of its ajlest and
lest members, especially its aspiring young
men, upon whose limbs party shacklcs hang
loosely, and its d0ctriRdires, who are Ecnu.
Inc Democrats of the advanced school. Tut
If the Democratic party hopes to attract such
Republicans TO its ranks, it must institute a
thorough reform in the measures it is to pro-
mote, and the men who are to manage its
affairs
The conflicts Of the past fifteen years have
made this class Of Republicans not only cour.
nGeous, but cmncntly practical. They know
when to begin, and they know where to
stop. Satisfied that the cause in which they
enl sted in 800 has trumphcd, they will not
reenlist for the purpose of fighting the
ground over again with blank cartridges;
and they certainly will not join the
Democratic party for the sake of
waiting over the battles it has lost
Accustomed TO do their own thinking,
10 utter Their convictions freely, and to carry
them to logical conclusions without fear,
they do not cover before sonorous names,
though chisclled on monumental brass, nor
do they believe that the march of consttu.
honal Improvement must stop at the graves
Of the departed authors of the Iid,rdlia.
Very likely the present leaders of the
Democracy in New York and tho two or
lhrce adjoining States may not covct an ALI.
nnce with the disntcgrating clements Of
the Republican party. True, they mi ht in.
fuse into it some fresh blood, give it several
new ideas, and teach it how to gain national
sictorcs-a novelty which the Democracy
have not enjoyed since BUCHANAN, with the
nd Of FILLMORE, succeeded in beating
FHLNOST ly n minority of the
people. But very possibly some of
iho io,'.l.Icd Democratic ch.cls H. he States
re have named tAiak tina Republicans have
been trained in bad school, the school Of
rapid progress, radical reform, great civil
convusions, and severe strains upon the Con.
ftitution, Their rcactionary leaders hovc
been wont to regard LINCOLN as n usurpcr,
who crushed the rebellion by violating the
Constitution and SEWARD as tyrant, who
hailed men to prison at the stroke of his 1t
tie bell and STANTON as the embodiment of
all that's crafty in politics and cruel in admin.
istraton' who, us War Minister welded vast
armies to Cypress the ruling classes Of the
South, caught, in moment Of hallucination,
with reasonable arms in their hands. These
discounted theorists may think, too, that
men who have acted prominent parts in M
organization crowned with many victories.
may not take kindly TO inferior r6lcs in n
party pTostraicd by lorg series of defeats
Well. for the arguments sake. let us adj