The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-05-28
The Democratic Party and the Next
Congress.

Some of the more considerable of the Dem
ocratic journals arc discussing the impor-
lance of their party securing majority Of
The next House of Representatives, as pre-
iiminary step towards the election of Dem
Ocratic Pres dent. 1t is high time that they
began to look forward in this direction, be-
cause they must be aware of the instructive
fact, that from the second term Of MONROE )
Administration down to the present time, no
party has ever been able to elect President
unless it had possessed strength enough 10
carry the House Of Representatives two
years before. The logical deduction, there.
fore, from this long series of prccedents is,
that the Democratic party cannot reasonably
hope to elect their candidate for the Presi.
dency in 1872 unless they can secure major.
lty of the House this coming fall
What, then, is the platform whcreon the
Democracy intend to plant themselves for
contcsting the Congressional campaign
which is now about to open2 We know
nothing of their purposes but we assure
them that if they hope for success they must
Institute without delay, and prosecute with
vigor, thorough reform of their party in
respect TO its principles, its mcasur 3, and
its leaders. The party must abandon the
old contests which sprang out Of slavery
the war, aud reconstruction. 1t must
cease to be an oligarchy, ruled by a
few nristocrntc and snohlish mnpnatos,
who have grown rich and arrogan. by chi.
canery and corruption and il must rely for
Its victories upon the strength Of it's princ.
pies and the wisdom of its measures, rather
than upon the shameless prostitution of the
ballot-Ooxcs through fraudulent rcpstrics
and gangs of repeatcrs at the polls. 1t must
prove that it is in favor of reducing tie pub
lie burdens by showing its faith by lis works
wherever, as in this State and in this city, it
has control over the public expenditures. 1t
must incorporate in its platform the general
reduction of taxation, and especially the
prompt abolition Of the unconstitutional in.
come tax. 1t must proclaim itself in favor
of restoring just equilibrium between
the various departments of the Federal
Government, and between that Govern
ment and the several States, so that all pow.
er shall not be absorbed in Cor gress 1t
must boldly and earnestly contend for rccog-
nizing the independence Of Cuba and guar
anteeing that republic against the hostility of
any European power. And il must kindlc the
popular heart and win the public confidence
by sat styling the people that it stands ready to
vindcate the national honor wherever, and by
whatever foreign government the rights OF
American citizens are assaled.
If the Democratic party will, by adopting
euch programme, convince the people that
II is worthy to take the place of the present
jmbccile, tickle, cowardly and corrupt Admin
istration, and if it will at the same time
place its standard in the hands of leaders who
are honest and courageous, men of brains
and tact, thorough prSrc~s.ves, who hay,
ceased 10 wall over lost battles. whose VIII l.
minds are not absorbed in max ng money by
robbing the people and who really believe in
preserving our republican institutions, the
party may be able to carry the next House o.
Representatives,
II the Democracy are prepared for such
radical platform us this, they may hope for
prosperous future. If they are not, then L.
them step aside and die with dccency whil
they may, for they will surely be annihilate,
In the great contest Of 1872