New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-05-30
"TO BE or Not to Be.1

OpmlOnS are Stlli ABOUT equally QlVlded on
the question as to whether the National
Democratic Convention which is to assemble
at Baltimore on the 9th of July, will Or will
not, adopt the Cincinnati platform and en-
dorse the Cincinnati candidates. For the
Republican party and its standard-bearers,
this question is Of little Importance. The
chances of success will be about the same.
whether Greeley is endorsed or not, and
whether the contest is with two parties or
with one. The majority of the American
people are wise as well as patriotic. They
know the Republican party, and they know
what that party has done and is still doing
for the country. They have confidence in
that party and in President Grant. They
want no change and will have none. A Re-
publican victory (if we do our duty is as
sured whether we fight the minority divided
or the minority undivided. We have just
about so much work to do in any case. One
good result will follow Democratic en-
dorsement of Horace Greeley-it will simplify
the contest. We should in that case have
before us the same old enemy in a new uni
form and under new and stolen flag, but
with no additional power, for the very dis
gust which their disguise would occasion
among themselves would drive larger num-
Der from their ranks than Cincinnati could
bring to them, and make our victory as easily
obtained in this case as in the other. While.
however, the question as to whether the
Democratic party shall endorse Mr.. Greeley
or not, has little or no Importance to the Re-
publican party, it is really a question of life
or death with the National Democratic party.
The endorsement of Horace Greeley as the
candidate of the Democratic party would be
the last act in its life, the last chapter in its
history, and consign it to grave so cold and
deep that no trumpet could ever awake it to
life again. The old Wing party can as easily
be revived as could the Democratic party if
the latter should once venture into the smoke
of Cincinnati and adopt its platform and cam
didates. Who of all its champions could ever
again hold up his head and talk of Demo-
cratic principles? What but the basest DO
litical motives could prompt such a surren-
der? The very shamelessness of this sur
Yet this seemingly impossible thing may
be done. The Democratic camp followers
are hungry. They have been kept away
from the honors and emoluments of office SO
long that they are almost desperate. Those
fellows" of the ''baser Sort" whose princi-
pies are of the miraculous order, may posi-
bly, get control of the National Democratic
Convention OF Baltimore and barter its honor
for the promise of five loayes and two fishes.
Of course, if this shall be done, it will be done
with many decent disclaimers. The Demo.
cratic party will be declared intact, its c
ganzation unimpaired, its principles unsul-
lied, and much more of the same sort but
the suicide will be none the less certain and
complete.
But the Democratic party, which has a
longer history than any other American
party, is not only asked to die, but to die
under the most humiliating conditions. De-
feat and death at the hand of a "foemau
worthy of ones steel' brings no disgrace.
The summons to the Democratic party to
surrender comes not from an army, but from
a squad of "deserters and bummers," who
march under stolen colors a political mob
whose sole motive is personal hate and q
certain longing for Office. This impudent
faction steps out Of the Republican party and
says to the great Democratic party, "We
command You to come to us and put us into
power, and it you do not comply you shall
DE defeated by the Republican party"
These political pretenders who are ever
lastlngly proclaiming their liberalism though
a small minority, are cunningly endeavoring
to control the action of both the great politi-
cal parties. They say to the Republican
party, "You shall not nominate Grant
though you believe he is the best man." and
to the Democratic party, You shall nomi. !
nate Greeley, though you believe he is the
worst man." and yet continue to pirate of
their belief that the people should rule. The