The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-07-23
Exciting the DemocratIc Hope.

Exciting the Democratic Hope.
CFruin the N. Y. Post)
Several movements and declarations OF
linen who assume TO be "leading Repub-
lIcanSn have lately revived the dropping
splfttS Of the more sanguine democrats.
Notable among tho objects which aggra-
vatc the ghost Of democracy" and reani.
mate It's dry bones arc the attempt Of
Butler TO capture the Massachusetts state
government and the speech OF Senator
Carpenter defending the salary larceny
and the Credit MOOilier speculation. II
these individuals really represented the
Republican party, there would be a valid
excuse Tor rCviving the democratic party
in its days of only average excellence, or
the Knew Nothing party, or the old fed
eral party, or almost any other party that
could offer reasonable hope Of moderate
political folly or dishonesty.
Even as 1t Is some OF them think that
they may still find an excuse for existence.
Thus the Boston Post thinks that, between
Butlerism and timid Republlcanism, the
democrats have chance TO slide into the
Massachusetts state government, and the
Cincinnati Enquirer, which Of first fell in
with the liberal and no.party campaign
In Ohio, seems TO see now light. Many
Of less note follow in their tracks, and all
Of them, after many months0 Of compare
tive silence, are pleased 70 say that all
this means the revival Of the democratic
party and its permanent establishment
upon the liberal platform It used to sup
port twenty years ago.
This is where they make their mistake.
The little gust OF breeze which now
comes upon US to temper the drowsy sum-
mer campaigns is nothing more than
day.dream OF the watGhful politician.
What II the public adherence Of official
plumber and Of demagOSues should ele-
Vate TO oft1cein certain States men calling
themselves Democrats 1t would be
simply choice Of men representing the
least Of two evils, and 1t could not be con.
strued as q judgment upon political prin-
cipIes. There Is not the faintest chance
Of rcviving the Democratic party, either
as 1t was twenty years ago or as II was
four years ago; first, because large pro-
portion Of those who call themselves
Democrats are simply old Wings and
monopolists in disguise; and, second, be-
cause the people Of this country never
will tolerate an organization which has
proved itself ready TO sell every principle
It ever prolessed for the promise oil success.
A little determination will be good
for some Of these Democratic organs who
dream OF a Democratic revival. Do they
believe that tho people Of this country
want principles rather than names? and
II yes, upon what principles do the reviv-
ed Democrats propose to 60 before the
country? Will they urge free trade Ask
the Maryland and Pennsylvania Demo-
cratic newspapers and public men. Will
they urge morality and honesty in the
government Ask the minority oil Dem
ocratic Congressman who voted for and
have taken the bHCk'psy plumber, and
who were willing 10 overlook the Credit |
Mobilicr fraud. viii they urge the old |
Democratic principle Of opposition 10 the
governments investing in internal i'm
provementsP Ask the Democrats OF Vir.
ginia and other States where canals and
railroads arc demanded at the public cX-
pcnse. Upon this point, also, it is partiC.
ulRrly interesting 10 quote ono Orthe very |
Democratic organs engaged in the "r0Vi- |
val" movement. A few days ago the
Cincinnati Enquirer said; "Ten millions
OF dollars, for instance, spent on the James
River and Kanawha canal and the slack |
watering Of the Ohio river would give us |
a navigable 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 o thing, in fact,
which must and will be DONE"
Z In short, the best Democrats are con-
tinually working at cross purposes upon
every question Of public policy, and this
extract from tho Enquirer is but fair |
sample OF the way in which they treat
their own "principles." The simple truth |
Is, that what these theorists assume TO |
think is Democratic revival Is only fit |
Of encouragement and disgust at the want
Of principle and integrity In the ruling |
politicians. The problem is easily stated:
What there is bearing the name Of Dem.
ocracy now Is sustained wholly be the
corruption and Jolly Of a few assumed
Republican managers; and, on the other
hand, the false representatives Of Repub. |
llcanism are sustained by tho threatened
ascendency Of the old Democratic politi-
clans. They maintain each other by ex.
citing In turn the fear and contempt with |
which the people regard both.