The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-01-16
The New HAMPSHIRE Democrac,

Iecuiai ilie~iese altdcneS 10 the COnVen-
ton held last week by the Dem ,cracy of New
Hampshire from the fact that it is the first
time that the members of that party have
been Obliged to look each 9th r in the face |
since the somher events of November The |
curiosity arises from the same source as
that which prompts people to ask how wild
over ''bears it, and whether a condemned |
murderer 'seems to realize his situation"
And it must be confessed that ia the case of
the granite Democra y a surprising recupera-
tive energy was isclosed. They appear "to
stand it, nicely. They come up smiling.
The Concord convention of tie Sth inst. was
large, harmonious and enthusiastic. Ex-
Governor Weston was nominated with as
much form and ceremony, and hailed with as
lively acclamations as if it were really ex-
pected that he was to be elected. The action
of the convention was significant in another
respect. 1t is clear that the Democracy Oh
New Hampshire, and probably that OF the
whole country, is determined to persist IN The
coalition movement, Notwithstanding tie
fifsastrous issue of the first essay in that di-
rec ion. The Concord platform is redolent of
Cincinnati. Mr.. Bailey, formerly of the
Boston Herald, who was permanent pres-
dent of the convention, concluded his address
by declaring the purpose of his party to ''fra-
ternize with patriotic men of any and all
parties" So we may expect next summer to
see the new departure in its newest phase.
For the third time the Democratic party will
ala,,N ~ -
heresies and viii invite patriotic men of any
and all parties to join it, For the third time
l. will appeal to the country in the name of
reform. This course might have been ex-
pected. 1t presents to the Democracy the
only chance of success and that chance is a
desperate one. The Concord Convention
m kes it quite certain that they will try it
again.
The important consideration for Re-
publicans nnder the circumstances is this:
Is It certain that thicd attempt at coalition
may not succeed? Can we always depend
on the opposition's making grave mistakes by
selecting bad candidates and by allu ing OBJ
jsctionable proselytes? Hitherto they have
not succeeded in making the people believe
in the sincerity of their professions of re-
pentancc. Too many of them have repudia-
ted su h professions, and, especially in the
South, have attested by impassioned ha-
rangues the depth Of their devotion to the old
traditions of the party, to permit any saga
cieus observer OF events to be deceived by the
antiquities of platforms. But may not the
continued pressure If so many years exclu-
sion from power finally operate to shut the
mouths Of these impolitic Gissentients, and
enable the opposition of 1873 to claim sub
stantial unani ity in repudiating the past?
1t is not to be expected that the mistake of
Cincinnati and Baltimore will be repeated.
1t is absolutely incredible that in the year
1873 the deserters from the Republican party
to the Democracy should be such motley set
of political adventures, bummers aud out
laws as in 1872. All of that sort Of people
went over last year. No doubt even the De-
mocracy ere capable of learning something
from experience, however saturated with
BourboniSm they may be. In repeating,
therefore, the experiment of last summer, we
may expect to see decided improvement in
carrying out all the details.
Republicans my we'll be excused tor re-
garding thu mselves as invincible, but the his
tory of parties teaches that the high tide of
lccess is not altogether favorable to perpetu-
i;y of power. TIL only real security for Re-
p lbicans is to support with sincerity such
d ,sirable reforms as the Democracy profess to
supp TT, to do those just things about which
tae Democracy talk, and to continue to be the
party of reform for reforms sake, leaving
the Democracy to affect virtue for Offices
slke. The conscience of the members of the
Republican party is do .btless sufficiently ac-
tive to endure the observanceeof these pre-
cautions without requiring the promptings of
selfshness to quicken it. But there may be
members of the party, especially those hold
ing office, to whom 1t may be useful to say
that the people, while cherishing the memory
of the past history of the Republican party
with gratitude and pride, do not care straw
for it a., it now exists except for the good they
can accomplish through its agency. Its CO.
hesive power is not by any means the ma
chnery it affords for keeping particular
class of persons in Office. When the people |
are convinced LIat LnlS Is all tIle reason IL can
give for its continued existence they will de-
sert it in a body. They would gladly betake
themselves to the Democracy, with all its sins
fresh in their memory, if they beliered that
Il had repented and that it had really become
a more efficient instrument of reform than its
rival. They would have so betaken them
selves last summer had it not been for their
profound incredullty as to the good faith Of
b 9TH parties to the coalition. They viii sure
ly do so next summer in the possible but ex-
tremely improbable contingency of their be-
coming convinced that there is more sincere
enthn siasm for reform and progress in the
Democratic than in the Republican party. 1t
is not names or histories that attract men to
parties, but things, as we shall soon have
abundant reason to know if Republicans do
not practice economy and carry out all neces-
sary reforms in the administration OF both
State and national governments.