The Portland daily press., 1873-07-18
From the New York Eevening Post.
esExcitine the Democratic HOpe.'

Seyera movements and declarations of men
who assume to be ''leading Republicans"
have lately revived the dropping spirits of the
more sanguine democrats. Notable among
the objects which aggravate the ghost of ''de-
mocracy'' and reanimate its dry bones are the
attempt of Butler to capture the Massachusetts,
state government and the speech of Senator
Carpenter defending the salary larceny and
the Credit Mobiier speculation. If these in
dividuals really represented the Republican
party, there would DE valid excuse for reviv-
ing the democratic party in its days of only
average excellence, or the Know Nothing
party or the old federal party, or almost any
other party that could offer reasonable hope
of moderate political folly or dishonesty.
Even as it is some of them think that
they may still find an excuse for existence.
Thus the Boston Post thinks that, between
Butlerism and timid Republicanism, the
democrats have chance TO slide into the
Massachusetts, state government, and the Gin
cinnati Enquirer, which at first fell in with
the liberal and nO-party campaign in Ohio,
seems to see new light. Many of less note
follow in their tracks, and all of them, after
many mouths of comparative silence, are
pleased to say that all this means the revival
of the democratic party and its permanent
establishment upon the liberal platform it
used to support twenty years ago.
This is where they make their mistake.
The little gust of breeze which now comes
upon us to temper the drowsy summer cam
paigns is nothing more than a day-dream of
the watchful politician. What if the public
adherence of official plumber and of dema-
gogues should elevate to office in certain
states men calling themselves Democrats?
1t would be simply choice of men represent
ing fhe least of two evils, and it could not be
construed as a judgment upon political prn-
ciples. There is not the faintest chance of
reviving the democratic party, either as it
was twenty years ago or as it was
four years ago; first, because large pro-
portion of those who call themselves demo-
Gratis are simply old Wings and monopolists
in disguise; and, second, because the people
of this country never will tolerate an organi-
cation which has proved itself ready to sell
every principle 1t ever protested for the prom
Use of success.
A little selfexamination will be good for
some of these Democratic organs who dream
OF Democratic revival. Do they believe that
the people of this country want principles
rather tlan names? and if yes, upon what
principles do the revived Democrats propose
to go before the country? Will they urge
free trade? Ask the Maryland and Pennsyl-
vania Democratic newspapers and public
men. Will they urge morality and honesty
in the government? Ask the majority of
have taken the back pay plumber, and who
were willing to overlook the Credit Mobilier
fraud. Will they urge the old Democratic
principle of opposition to the governments
investing in internal improvements? Ask
the Democrats of Virginia and other States
where canals and railroads are demanded at
the public expense. Upon this point, also, |
it is particularly interesting to quote one of |
the very Democratic organs engaged in the |
''revivaf' movement. A few days ago the |
Cincinnati Enquirer said: "Ten millions of
dollars, for instance, spent on the James Riv-
er and Kanawha Canal and the slack-water-
ing of the Ohio River would give us navi-
gable stream the year round. That would be
of more service to the general interests of
the country than anything which could be
done on the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. 1t
is thing, in fact, which must and will be
DONE"
In short, the best democrats are continual
ly working at cross purposes upon every
question of public policy, and this extract
from the Enquirer is but a fair sample Of the
way in which they treat their own ''pri1ci-
PIES" The simple truth is, that what these
theorists assume to think is a democratic re-
vival is only fit of Encouragement and dis
gust at the want of principle and integrity in
the ruling politicians. The problem is easily
stated: What there is bearing the name of
democracy now is sustained wholly by the
corruption and folly of few of the assumed
Republican managers; and, on the other
hand, the false representatives of Republic
canism are sustained by the threatened as
tendency of the old democratic politicians.
They maintain each other by exciting in turn
the fear aud conaempt with which the people
regard both.