The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-01-12
The columbian
BLOOMSBURY, PA.
Friday, January 12, 1879
Democratic Policy.

Many of our Democratic journals and
statesmen are at present earnestly dis
cussing the question "what policy
should the Democratic party pursue in
the pending Presidential contest ?" If
the "passive policy" means that we
should make no nominations, but re.
main spectator in the fight between
the Grant and Anti Grant men, we
unhesitatingly say "No." We do not
believe that any considerable number
of Democrats ever made such propo,
sition, and inasmuch as it does not
stand the ghost of chance of adop.
tion, there is no real necessity for de.
batting that question.
The policy of nominating conserva.
tive Republican has more supporters,
and the arg rguments are based on more
solid grounds. But we do not favor
this. Thousands of Democrats would
refuse to vote for such ticket, and ex-
perience has taught us that the number
OF recruits from the opposition would
be very small. Those who are dissats.
he'd with the conduct of the Admins.
tration can come to us much more easi-
ly than we, who are satisfied with our
organization, can go to them. The
moment we abondoH our party organi-
zation 1t will split into factions and
having no leadership, Will lose even
the ground it now holds.
No general would think of surrender
mo hppanpn . haI InFo
cd in series of pitched battles, if the
morale and organization of his army
was perfect,-f his numbers had not
diminished-and if he had lost no
ground of Importance. To-day our
party is in better condition than it
has been for twelve years. Its numbers
are greater, and State after State has
been wrested from our enemies. The
recruits obtained by our enemies from
the negro ranks when suffrage was con-
ferred upon them alone has saved the
Republican party from defeat; and
even with these auxiliaries, they have
Deen compelled to resort to fraud and
violence to keep them in power. Dis
affections have made open breaches in
their ranks which are being daily
widened by the vigorous assaults of
such men as Greeley, Sumner, Trum.
bull and Schurz.
10 defeat Grant these men must aid in
defedtfng the Republican party. Hav-
ing done this they may reorganize their
party on a purer basis but to give
them the leadership of the Democratic
party and on their platform, would in
evitably lead to our ruin.
Nothing is more common in war, Ito
which political strife is akin,) than the
acceptance of aid from an ally, or from
those whose interests lie In the defeat
OF the opposing power; but it seldom
occurs that the main contestant yields
the leadership of his forces to his tran
sient friend.
We would not refuse the aid of those
who are dissatisfied with the corruption
and nepotism of Grants Administra-
tion-with his bayonet rule, San Do
mingo speculations, or horse jockey
proclivities but on the contrary would
construct DrOau anu nEoraI raIatfnrm
and nominate man as pure and able |
as any. on the opposite side, We would |
not revamp the dead issues of the past,
but would present the living, vital ones
of the present.
In word, we would achieve victory
if it can be honorably done, without an
abandonment of principles; but never
will consent to the disintegration of
our party, even if we must forever re-
main in a minority.