The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-04-26
The Democratic Situation.

The New Hampshire election must
have a very sober aspect for the Demo
cratic leaders. They have been for
some months as quiet as a cat at mouse.
hole. Their hope has been the flame
of discord which they saw among Re-
publicans, and their only policy has
been TO breathe gently the word pas
sivitv +" to fan the flame. They have
evidently thought that the disposition
of certain Republicans to attempt
new organization m ght be most advan-
tageously encouraged by a system of
smiles and mods and winks, which would
have been more effective except for the
singular and amusing iEfelicity Of the
New York World, which, with the best
intentions, always betrays its party at q
pinch. like a robber who wakes the
household by shouting instead of whis.
pering. The World has varied its hints
of passivity and coalition, and other
agreeable policies, by occasionally vo-
cilerating that Liberal Republicans had
no alternative but to join the Democ-
racy and that at Cincinnati the Democ-
racy would merely sit in the gallery as
sympathizing spectator.
But the result in New Hampshire
must show the Democratic leaders very
plainly that a Democratic success next
November is hopeless. Parties, indeed,
do not dissolve in day; but in this
country political party can hardly
survive a dozen years of constant defeat
and exclusion from power. Not only
have the principles and the policy of
the Democratic party been steadily con-
demned, but il is covered with such
suspicion that its professions are not
regarded. For parties are not like
business partnerships, which to-day deal
in cotton and tomorrow IN crockery.
If a party whose princi pies have been
repudiated, whose measures have been
rejected, and whose candidates are par.
alyzed by the very political name they
bear, persists in maintaining its organi-
zation, it continues 10 give reason Tor
suspicion and il cannot hope, under its
old name and with its old organization
to recover power. 1t is undeniable that
"a the patriotism Of the old Federal
party fell under such popular suspicion
that it could not regain public conf
dence, and disappeared as a politica
81 EtHtIdi IdlIIl III lHt
fidelity of the Democratic party TO the
true principles Of the Union and the
Constitution has been shaken by the
events of the last fifteen years that the
party, as such, will lose it's hold NOR,
and more upon popular sympathy.
But the characteristic elements snC
the tendencies of the party will remain
1t is, indeed, what may be called thu
moral spirit of party which is it
distinctive quality, and attracts or re
pels supporters. 1t is the unfortunat,
fact for Democrats, who insist upon con
sidering Democracy as a name for Ger
tain reasonable and not ungenerou
theories of government, that all tn,
elements of hostility to the Government
of the United States, and TO the prin
ciples upon which it is founded, and il
accordance with which it has recent
been administered-the principles @
equal rights and protection under tn
, laws, and of an actual nationality III
der the Union-are all TO be foun
within the Democratic party. VIVA
, ever may chance, these elements wi
, remain; and whatever orgsnizatio
most naturally attracts them is the on
/ to be most feared and avoided by goo
, citizens.