New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-10-31
What VIII Become OF the Demo.
cratic Party?

cratic Party!
John Leech, in one of his rural sketches,
represents surly fellow in the mining dis
tricts growing out at another, "Thee mon
Why, thee's only walkin' about to save thee
funeral expenses" A more truthful and
graphic description Of the present condition
of the Democratic party could not be given.
A party which could not hope, or even pre-
tend to hope, for success with q candidate
from its own ranks; which was so democrat
lied that it could not screw its courage to
the sticking point of insisting that the leader
of the Democratic party must at least be a
Democrat; which has been abandoning its
distinctive principles, one by one, and taking
new departures, until it is like the jack-knitc
that had had three new blades and two new
handles-such a party is surely without any
principle of life, and is without any pretense
of separate existence or peculiar purpose,
save onc--the seeking of office for the sake
of office. OF course it would not do to con-
fess this moribund condition of the once
great Democratic party, or the unlovely thing
would soon be laid in its proper place, be-
meath the sod. Therefore it continues to
walk about, yet not quite parted ghost,
vexing the world with its ante-mortem depo-
sitions. The Baltimore Convention was a
proceeding purely ofthis character. a dread
full event of some kind must surely take
place; it was inevitable. 1t promised to be
Il funeral; and so in desperation it was
changed to a wedding; and the world saw
the performance Of that solemn farce, the
marriage of the tender and blushing, yet
eager Horace Greeley, to the decrepit and
moribund old Democratic party.
And now in what position do honest and
sensible Democrats-for of course there are
such men--iind themselves? If they had
gone into this canvass a compact, although
a comparatively small body, true to them
selves, and their party principles and ira
dtions, with a pronounced Democrat of re-
spectacle character and standing at their
head, and they had been defeated, as they
surely would have been, they would yet have
been defeated with honor. They could have
looked each other in the face like men, and
felt no loss Of manhood, even in the midst
of disaster. The party would have been at
least the respectable nucleus of an opposi-
ton, around which, in the changes and
chances of political vicissitude, there might
have gathered force that would, in meas
urc, at least, have restored the party to its
prestige, if not to its old place. But now it
is doomed not only to defeat, but to disgrace
and ridicule. What is the principle of that
party worth which openly sets aside it's prin-
ciples with the avowed purpose Of securing
mere material success, that is, the possession
of the Offices? What is the nomination of that
party worth which openly ranged itself under
the leadership of a man who had been, not
only its most active enemy for thirty years,
but who during all that time had not ceased
to pour out upon it and its leaders railing
and scom and vituperation without stint and
and almost without decency? Is it possible
for Generalization and political hypocrisy to
descend to q lower depth?
And what remains for the Democratic par
ty to do after fortnight from this date? In
its ante-mortem deposition it has avowed a
dcath-bcd repentance on the subject of slav-
cry, and the political rights of the negro it
does not dare to take its old position ON the
question of State rights and secession; it has
protested acceptation of all the results of the
suppression Of the rcbellion-what will re-
main for it to do? Without these il is no
longer itself. What will be its political stock
in trade? What can it set forth, even to its
own scattering members, as the reason of its
being? Nothing, absolutely nothing. 1t
has no longer any principle of life. Not con-
tent with sure death at the hands of its an
taGonist, at some time more or less remote,
it has opened its own veins and let out it's
own blood, and the result has been such a
collapse as was never known before in the
annals Ofpolitical quackcry. In truth, there
is no longer any DoilOcfallc party. There
are certain fragments which, like the ruins of
a planet, may continue to revolvc, and form
themselves into the rings and satellites of
the political heavens; but the conference of
the party as a body is at an end. 1t must
break up, resolve itself into its elements.
disappear as an entity, and be distributed
here, there, and elsewhere through the dark
ling void i'll which it has gone to destruction,
This is the real condition of the party. to
which it has been brought by the desperate
folly of the Baltimore Convention. But it.
doubtless, will for while keep up the name
and pretense Of Il living organization. Like
Monsieur Valtemare, in Poe's hidcous and
wonderful story, it will be before the world
powerless, motiOnless, dead to all intents
and purposes, yet uttering dreadful speech,
which seems to come from the grave, to which
it is fitted in all except putrescencc. But ere
long the trick will be played out the mes
mcric spell which keeps its really parted soul
in some relation with its really disorganized
body will be broken, and it will fall visibly
into the decay which has been its actua: con-
dition since the 10th of last July.-Ne,o York
Times.