The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1872-03-15
THE POLITICAL SITUATION.
The Democratic Party and the Presi-
destial Contest
fTrotn the World1


time when events and the whole drift Of
political tendencies are operating In our
favor, the party would make capital
blunder If it should take any step, or at
tempt any movement which might inter-
fere with the spontaneous development of
public sentiment.
1t is all-important, in the present stage
of affairs, that impulsive party zeal be
kept under the restraint Of sober judg-
ment and foresight. 1t is never wise to
buy in falling or sell in rising market.
1t would not be enterprise, but folly, for
merchant to purchase a cargo of tea
when the price Of tea was steadily de-
clining; nor, on the other hand, to make
heavy sales when the price was steadily
rising Everything both inside and out
side of the Democratic party is just now
operating in our favor; and it is for the
interest of the party to let these favoring
tendencies have free course and operate
without obstruction.
The Democratic party is equally sure
Of its own three millions of voters,
whether its National Convention, be held
early or held late. There is nothing in
the character or public career of General
Grant, since he has been President, TO en-
tice Democrats into the Republican ranks.
On the contrary, Grant is estranging
many of the Oldest and most trusted lead
ers of his own party; and an administra-
ton which repels the ablest of its former
supporters is not likely to makeproselytes
from the opposition. We do not, there
fore, need to be early in the field to pre-
vent desertions from our own ranks.
Democrats are in no danger of joining
the Republican party at the time when
General Grants administration is so bad
,<l,at nultitndes of honest Republicans
arc constrained to ienounce it. We are
secure of the full, undiminished vote Of
our own party whether our National Con
vention be held in May or in July. Moth
ing can therefore be lost by the "wise
and mastery inactivity" of the Demo
cratic National Committee.
On the other hand, every months de
lay on our side helps to weaken and dis
integrate the Republican party. So long
as its Grant and anti-Gr factions have
no call to unite against a common enemy,
they will keep up their quarrel with each
other, and the longer this intestine wal
continues the more irreconcilable the
parties to it become. If the Democratic
party stands aloof until after the Cincin
matt Convention, the breach will by tha
time be so wide that the Republicans car
never be reunited. When our enemies
are daily becoming weaker by intestine
division, and there is no danger of Demo
cratic desertions 70 crumbling and dis
credited opposition, it is safe and wise t.
await the surely-rising tide which prom
ises to lift the Democratic ship from th'
bank on which it is stranded and float i
in deep water without any tugs to draw
il off. If the tide were ebbing instead o
rising, we would advise a different policy
The Democratic party is growing strongel
every day by mere inaction.
Another equally strong reason fol
avoiding any precipitate movement i
found in the daily growth Of a new senti
ment in the Democratic party itself Th'
party is more and more inclined to (9l
dead issues, emancipate itself from al
eiiete past, and cooperate with all homes
; patriots in a strenuous effort to reform th'
) Government. This feeling is gaining
strength day by day; and it is not expe
) dent to bold the National Convention
until il shall have reached its full matu
! rity- 1t may be expedient (nobody cal
yet telD to put an eminent Liberal he
publican at the head of the Democrats
, ticket; and things promise to be riper 70
; such a movement four months hence thai
they are now. Such policy is steadil.
growing in Democratic favor, and tn
later the National Convention Is held tn
, more hearty and unanimous it will be II
supporting this line of action if it shoul'
be Judged wise. Meanwhile, the part.
can lose nothing, for while Republican
, are deserting from the sinking admins
; tration of Grant, there Is not the slightes
danger that Democrats, who have Opposes
il from the beginning, will desert 10 II
Even il we should at last organize stric
; Democratic campaign with straight-ou
Democratic candidates, there is not tn
slightest danger that the party can b
, weakened by delay.
DO we then favor the so-called passiv
; policyi Not at all; we oppose il nov
: as We have opposed it always. When III
= proper time comes the Democratic o.
ranization will take very active and
, ssry aggressive part in the ensuing Pres
= Mental election. ID will hold its Nations
.nyenhon rs usual Il will nosinsl
Nv ticket In the regular form. BY msaz
~lbf the National Convention d vii hol
the party together as united organic