The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-04-27
THE DEMOCRACY AND JUSTICE
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DA VIS.
AN amendment must be made to a famous
old formula. From hearing it so often the
world has grown to believe that some men
really are born great, that others achieve
greatness, and that others yet have greatness
thrust upon them. 1t would show a most
perverse spirit to attempt to dishonor these
propositions. We feel impelled to add to
them, and our amendment would read thus
Some men narrowly escape greatness. In
witness whereof consider tho case of Justice
Davis, of the United States Supreme Court,
and the Democratic President-mongers, as
recently reported in The TELEGRAPH.
Although the time for electing another Presi-
dent is yet far distant, the wire-pullers are
already arranging their apparatus aud making
ready for their little game. With the Demo-
Gratis the selection of candidate is a much
more important matter than the building of a
platform to put him on. The contrary
we believe to be the fact with the Re-
publicans, and this despite the abuses
in the ruling party-abuses that we
have never been timorous in assaiing. In
this still great party men must foot the line
of principle, for it is found in even the high
est places that voters are ready to give up
their most popular representatives rather
than deny the great truths that have made
Republicanism power. There could be no
greater proof of this than the willingness
shown in some quarters to throw over even
so distinguished partisan and high candidate
as General Grant. But the question of prin-
ciple is an awkward one with the Democracy,
and one that it would much rather not discuss
Too many troublesome facts lie behind
it to make it a profitable matter to
dwell upon. So it seems that already,
and without any further indication of its
policy than can be gathered from the
address published week ago, the Demo-
Gratis seek to identify some prominent man
with the Presidential movement, and TO
run the campaign on an entirely personal
tack. This has been often done, as we all
know-sometimes succeeding, but oftener
shipwrecking all hands concerned. 1t seems,
further, that the Democrats would rather
than not adopt a gentleman who has hereto.
fore acted with the abused Radicals. The
Scent of the Roses it was thought could be
depended upon to cling around such person
to some extent still, serving the double end
his new quarters and of drawing wandering
sheep to the deceitful shepherd. Justice
Davis, of the Supreme Court, was supposed to
answer these conditions satisfactorily. He
had been good enough Republican, and he
was at present good enough Democrat.
1t was thought that Break and Shstter
him as a venial Republican press might,
the old smell would still cling to him to
such degree that thousands of voters would
nose him from over the way and run bleating
to the new fold. But Justice Davis was born
in an unlucky season. The worst fortune
that can happen to man, 1T is said, is to
have Saturn in his house, ascendant, in the
fourth quarter; and this must have been the
melancholy case with Justice Davis. In a
miserable hour he voted in favor of the con-
stitutionality of the Legal-tender act The
managers had almost determined upon Justice
Davis, we are told, but after that unaccount-
able action they abandoned him. Do not
some men, then, narrowly escape greatness?