New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-12-21

document, not so much for any new or even old
characteristic of the man from whom it comes,
and of great many others of similar sentiments
and aspirations. tits such bundle of contra
dictions, sophisms, evasions of truth, argu-
ments and conclusions not to the point, as men
will resort TO who are "out" and want TO get
" in without having anything to offer that
would make their acquisition particularly val
liable. Mr.. BLAIR admits that the Democratic
party has no chance whatever of carrying the
next Presidential election either on the old is
sues, or the new departure or any other plat
form they can stand on yet he discleims the
idea that the party 10 dead. He would not
surrender its principles, its organization, or
ats name," and predicts its ultimate triumph
through the course which he advocates. There
might be some reason for this prophesHsif the
Democratic party were of recent orilk If it
embodied principles for which the present gen.
Grafton is not ripe yet like the old antislavery
party of fifty years age, which, although a
hopeless minority for many years, grew steadily
until il has become the ruling power of the
country; but on the contrary, there stands the
incontrovertible fact that the Democratic
party, after having had full control Of the
national affairs for many years, has been losing
ground ever since 1856, and since its great
defeat in 1860 it has neither been able to carry
any of the two following Presidential elections
nor to gain a majority in Congress. Il is true
that Mr.. BLAIR attempts TO explain this sad
state of affairs by various causes he has to say
a great deal about the oppression which the
people in the South are signing, about radical
tyranny, negro and carpet-bagger's rule, and
undertakes to demonstrate the difficulties and
obstacles which make it next to impossible for
the people to rejon the party that according to
him, still embodies the principles and senti-
ments of the majority. This is simply absurd,
and knowing as We do, Mr.. BLAIR as very
shrewd politician, it seems incredible that he
should sincerely believe in his own statements
and explanations. The confessions Of the
members of the -Klux Khan have shown
conclusively that tyranny, oppression, and in
timidation; have not been resorted to by the
party that Mr. BLAIR charges with it, but that
violence, crime, and cruelty, are still con
sidered by your true Soutberner the legitimate
means to put down the claims of the negro to
civil and political equality. On'the other side,
the States of Delaware, Maryland Virginia,
West Virginia, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee,
and Misst uri, which are actually under Demo
cratic rule, furnish sufficient proof that it is
not the Radical party that interferss with the
privileges the people of any section to
choose their own ralers. Even Government
patronage the bugbear used by Democrats and
malconteuts, is not quite rs formidable as rep
resented, for in 1850 it was certainly thrown in
the scale against the Republicans as heavily as
it can be thrown to day against the Democrats,
and yet it WIS triumphantly overcome,f and
would be overcome again if the Government had
ceased to be the representative of the majority
of the nation.
Mr. BLAIR, in advocating the passive policy,
I'd advising the Democrats not to make any
nomination for the approaching Presidential
election, but 10 support the candidate whom the
so-cailed liberal Republicans. the disaffected
and soreheads will place in the field, makes
gre At display of djslnterestedness, self denial,
and devotion to the cause he says:
''To aid efftctually in the approaching
struggle the motives of the Democracy must be
put beyoE4d question. Let them surrender the
spols OF the victory in this battle for the liberia
ton of the country from usurpations and mill
sary rule 10 those OF their opponents whose aid
they solicit as essential TO the achievement. If
they accomplish 1t they will deserve not only
the glorv OF the success, but all the rewards
which a just, generous, and grateful people can
confer. fine Democratic party will rejoice To
AID any OF the Republicans who shall volunteer
IN this patriotic service with their whole power
That II may be great and eilectual it is neces
sary that they shall put down all strife among
tnelr own asPirants, Inducing all of them to
embrace under sell denying ordinance, re-
solving TO 40 everything for the cause-nothing
Tor themselves. They will thus weld the party
INTO Macedonian phalanx, to split the honest
and genuine Republican lovers of the Cunsti
tuition from the usuTpeTs and freebooters who
pervert the Government TO the purposes of
ambition and corrupt ayarice, and destroy the
liberties OF the people.
10 be worth any ,hing as an ally, it is inds.
pensable that the Democracy should maintain
ats organization and add the most effective dis
clpline to develop its power. Exempt from
All selEseeklng motives, going into the conflict
under tue instinct and impulse OF patriotism
alone lis orators 6Dd.ltaders would arise from
the earth like Anisus 10 exert a giants
strength"
This sounds great aud heroical, yet there is
at the bottom more sbrewdness than selfsaeri
fee. 1t is certain that oaly small minority
would desert the Republican ranks to vote for
a boilers ticket. and consequently the boilers
would have to rely mainly on the support of
the Democrats. Ii this fusion should be vic
ior:ous. what move natural than that the Demo
crats will afterwards claim the lions share
for their services, The game played last
wear in Missouri would be acted over again,
md the people would discover too late that
they have been sold cut by a gang of ambitious
politicians Even if this speculation should
turn out failure, Mr. BLAIR might yet make
the passive policy quite profitable to himself.
II il true we have no right TO impute i'm
pure u olives TO man. except we have
evidence from his past career, and Mr.. BLAiR's
snteceden,s show him in the light of time
serving man. His sympathies and prejudices
have decidedly been always on The side of the
so,,h nevertheless. after the accession Of Mr..
LINCOLN TO ths Presidency, Mr.. BLAIR protested
to be a good Republican. and as such was ap
pointed a member of the Cabinet in the
posti N OF Postmaster General. II was in
those dark days when the existence of the
Union was seriously threatened, and it is well