The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-05-01
THE INEXTINGUISHABLE VITALITY
OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

From the NJ Y, World
If one had easy access to the files of promi-
nent Republican journals for the years 1868
-4-5, he might compile from them curious
body of extracts, illustrating the vanity of po-
litical prophecies. It was said and re-echoed,
with endless repetition and every variety of
phraseology, that the Democratic party was
dog that had had its day. There was no paper
which so constantly rang the changes upon
this text as the New York Times, then a
journal Of much consideration, which had
not yet sunk into the empty brawler and
common scold it has become since Mr.. Ray
mond's lamented death. That journal, now
branded as q reckless libeller by its Repub-
lican contemporaries, was then respectable,
and it was possible to notice what appeared
ia its columns without descent from the
decencies and courtesies of journalism. At
present, there is no person connected with it
who has any recognized position, or possesses
the slightest social or political consideration.
1t is mere conduit for the ignoble spleen of
writer's who are under social ostracism. 1t is
not the Times of to-day, but the Times edited
by Mr.. Raymond, whose opinions we think
it worth while to notice. That journal, four
or five years ago, declared a hundred times
over that the Democratic party was dead, and
that its corpse remained too long above
ground without the rites of sepulture. The
party had ruined itself by its course during
the war. The public sentiment of the coun-
try repudiated it. 1t had no possible future.
Such was the opinion of Mr.. Raymond.
Most of the eminent Republican journal
lists agreed with him, and among others Mr..
Thurlow Weed, who, although he had ceased
to be the editor of the Albany Journal, was
much addicted to publishing letters. That
astute politician compared the Democratic
party to the Hartford Convention Federalists,
and asserted that it must inevitably meet q
like fate. The parallel struck the Republican
fancy, and was echoed by several hundred
journals. They pretty unanimously agreed
that the Democratic party had killed itself by
its course during the war, and that the burial
of its defunct carcass had been too long de-
layed. We are sorry that we have not at
hand facilities for compiling eight or ten
columns Of extracts affirming this view.
Time has passed on; the years have pursued
their ceaseless courses but, unfortunately for
the credit of the prophets, their predictions
have not been fulfilled The corpse has
stepped out of its coffin, and made such dis
play of muscle and vigor that the grave-dig-
gers have more use for swords than spades.
The Democratic party is relatively stronger
now than it has been at any period since
1856. Instead of being repudiated and
scorned, like the Hartford Convention Fede-
ralists, it is courted and caressed by many of
its former opponents. A majority of the sur
net, who were in Office when Messrs Raymond
and Weeds predictions were so confidently
| and complacently uttered, look with more
| favor o.day upon the Democratic than the
Republican party. Secretary Chase was will
| ing three years ago to be the Democratic can
didate for President. Postmaster General
| Blair, together with his father and brother,
all earnest Republicans when the Democratic
| party was pronounced a corpse, are among
fora act in nHG
Welles is not Democrat, he is surely no
Republican; we dare say he voted for Gov
ernor English in the late Connecticut cleo
ton. Secretary Seward long ago ceased
to be a Republican leader. Andrew John
son returned to the Democratic fold al
most as soon as he became President.
If that able statesman, Charles Francis
Adams, is still Republican, nobody in that
party trusts him. General Grant ignores
him as completely as he ignores Andrew
johnson. John Quincy Adams, Republican
when the Democratic party was proclaimed
dead, has since been twice the Democratic
candidate for Governor of Massachusetts.
David A. Wells, Jealous Republican in those
| days, holds an appointment under the Demo-
| cratic Governor of New York. Those eminent
| Republicans, Gratz Brown and Carl Schurz,
made coalition with the Democratic party
in Missouri. John A. Logan, Lyman Trum-
bull, Governor Alcorn, and Governor Geary,
would prefer liberal Democratic President
| to the re- election of General Grant, and at
least one of the four would be willing to be
the Democratic candidate himself. Now it is
| evident that party which has, within the last
three or four years, made so many proselytes,
was prematurely consigned to the tomb.
Nor is it among statesmen alone that the
Democratic party has gained accessons from
the ranks of its opponents. The crests of the
waves merely show in what direction the
body of waters is moving. We can point to
one perfectly conclusive proof that the Demo
cratic party is altogether stronger among the
mass of the people than it was three or four
years ago. The conclusive proof is this
that the large accession of colored voters
since the adoption of fifteenth amendment
has not enabled the Republican party to hold
its own. 1t is weaker than it was before it
received its hosts of black reinforcements.
OF course, then, there has been a stampede
of white voters which the negro vote does
not suffice to balance. There is not Repub-
lican politician ia the country who believes
that if suffrage we're withdrawn from the
negroes, and our elections were again to be
controlled by the same body of voters as in
1868, there would be any possibility of elect
ing Republican President in 1872. Surely,
then, the Republican party has greatly declined
in strength among the mass of intelligent
white citizens.
We do not care at present to 60 at any
length into the reasons why the predicted
death of the Democratic party has been SO
signally falsifed by the progress of events
The sober second thought of the people in
Gorses the course of the Democratic party
even during the war. There is nobody who
now bpliaVAS that tha cOntaGt was short anad q