The Portland daily press., 1871-12-23
THE PRESS.
SATURDAY MORNING, DEC. ss, 1871.


Il. The not notion of the Democracy just now
i to pretend to die in order to avoid the apso-
lutte. unfeigned dissolution that seems SO I'M
minent. They propose to fall down as II
load like Falstaff, in order that they may af-
forwards rise and fight long ''hour by
Shrewsbury clock' and prove a dangerous
and possibly triumphant foe of Hotspur after
all. Why has it never occurred to them to
accept the inevitable gracefully and die hon
estly, instead of ending in fraud and low
trickery the life that has long been sustained
by the same vile arts Do they not perceive
that with such leaders as the red-nosed Bar
dolph and brigands like Nym and Pistol they
can never march through Coventry?
An honest death SENS really the only alter
native left the Democracy in view of the
events Of the last week. The reformation of
the civil service fairly initiated by President
Grant, the work of thorough investigation
undertaken by Congress, and especially the
passage of Mr.. Hoar's excellent bill in the in
terest of laboring-men by the House, in spite
OF vigorous Democratic opposition, do not
leave the Democracy leg to stand upon. 1t
@-N" ~ UA uSb VI lutXCuSdDlc dllu uil-
heard-of pretension for them to assume to
possess even that low degree of vitality inn
Piled in the act of ''playing possum." And it
will be indeed strange if some of their more in
dependent and able leaders do not perceive and
proclaim that it now only remains to acqui-
esce fairly and sincerely in the reelection of
Gen. Grant, laying aside for a second time in
American history all partisanshp in the cleo
ton of a chief magistrate. The first time
this course was taken the pre-eminent fitness
OF the object OF the peoples choice silenced
the voice of party. So it might be now, and
such spectacle would be a proof to the
world Of the wisdom, self-command and sta
bility of a republic, which, after all our recent
disorders, rogueries and misfortunes, is
much needed. After the close of Gen. Grants
second term, there being meanwhile perfect
and hearty submission to all the results of
the war, the Conservative and Progressive
parties would naturally resume their old an
tagonism, only that their point of departure
would be much more advanced one than
before the cessation of hostities. The Con-
sentative party would naturally embrace
most of the elements of the old Democratic
party, while the Progressives would be most
ly of the old Republican stripe, though of
course there would be much interchange of
membership incident to the appearance of
the old principles in the garb of new ques-
tions.
1t has long been apparent that the time must
soon come when political parties will no lon
ger find sufficient bond of union in any one
specific measure, as heretofore. That it has
been SO in the past is merely accidental
The overwhelming importance of the ques-
lions that have arisen have made them a
convenient means of party denunciation.
But now that slavery has gone bearing down
with it all that gave vitality to the State
rights controversy, the outlines of parties can
never again be SO sharply defined, and our
parties will be, like the Wings and Tories of
England, the one generally conservative, and
the other generally radical This is the shape
political parties have assumed in all other
countries, where the government is liberal
enough to permit their existence, as far as
we know. The necessary transition here
will be very much facilitated if the Democ-
racy will die an honest death, without dis
turbing the solemnity of their obsequies by
suddenly springing to their feet and starting
futile anti-Grant campaign.