Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1873-08-28

tkStlNt a ShADOW.- uc btlEUCIdtiC
party reminds US Of the foolish traveller
who, while crossing the desert, leaves
the beaten track to pursue the fatal
mirage which rises like an inviting pic
ture from the burning sands. In the
past fifteen years the poor old party has
been rushing after every phantom which
promised success During the war il
tackled its fortunes to the Southern Con.
iederacy, and when that bubble explod-
ed, we had good reason to believe that
It's Northern shadow would be seen no
more among US But it lived and moved
in spite Of our belief to the contrary. 1t
rallied around its sinking form the moral
forces Of the defunct Conicderacy, and
once more led a crusade, to retrieve at
the ballot box what it had lost on the
field. again it lost, and for time its
best friends thought it dead forever,
But it refused to be buried. 1t felt the
breath Of Trunbull, Schurz, Doolittie
Farnsworth, Sumner and Greeley, and
mistuking it for a frst-class whirlwind
that was to sweep the Republican party
from existence, il borrowed n new lease
on life and fed into line of battle under
the leadership of the immortal mock re-
formers. The world knows the history
of its last desperate effort to gain control
of the Government 1t followed the in
fatuated crowd who urged Greeley for
ward, to an unparalleled defeat. Instead
of the boosted tidal wave which it set in
motion for the destruction of others, it
was buried under counter wave Of
popular Indignation, from which few of
lts leaders escaped. To reach the sur
face for another start would take at least
a century, if the party had respectable
weight or standing But ike a cork or
u bag Of gas it was foundering on the
surface the day after its defeat Cutting
loose from its dead weights, 1t appeared
for time thoroughly repentant, and
gave evidence of a tendency toward "a
genuine restoration of the old party on
broad and liberal platform Of advanced
ideas. But this evidence of repentance
was short lived. it was the impulse of
a moment, the sudden flash Of disturb
ed conscience after terrible thrashing,
that dies out with the pain inflicted.
The death bed repentance Is soon for
gotten and to-day we see the Democratic
party, or disorganized remnants styling
themselves party WorshlppIng strange
gods and pursuing every phantom that
promises Il chance for success. Just
now they are listening 10 Grosebeck, a
very respectable gentleman living in
Ohio lie tells them quite plainly that
they are dead, but advises them to keep
up Il show of life. He tells them that
the best thing for them to do is to aband-
on the Democratic skeleton and creep
into some living organization. lie puts
it mildly when he tells them, with pa
thetic earuestness, Il believe the histori-
cal Democratic organization is spoiled.
B.underIng constantly during the last
ten years and shattered by many defeats,
it surrendered finally at the last presi-
dental election. 1t cannot recall that
surrender or the confession then made,
anG it has no longer strength enough for
victory" We fully agree with Mr.
GrOsebeck as to the strength of the party
although we differ from HIM as to the
remedy proposed. He advises them to
keep a stout heart; call themselves
Liberal Democracy" and make another
attempt to throw the train OF Republican
progress from the track. Like Rip Van
Winkle after his twenty years nap,
Groesbeck seems Obvious of the fact
that his Democratic friends have already
swallowed this dose Of Liberal Democ-
racv, and have not yet recovered from
It's demoraIlzing effects. Another dose
before recovering from the first would
certainly carry TO the grave the little
that is left Liberal Democracy has
proven snare aud fraud, and few
Democrats have the stomach to repeat
the experiment, which proved SO disas.
trous last tall. Ii Mr.. Groesbeck would
confer a lasting benefit on his faithful
brethren he should direct them to the
only read that leads to political salvation.
lie should lead the way himself, and
after safely In the path, should say to
his unhappy brethren, cease pursuing
the shadow Of a party that can never be
formed ont OF the material you possess.
All that was noble in the old Democratic
party has found its way into the Repub-
lcan ranks; why should we longer tar
~ This would be sensible on his
part, and stamp him as a far>sighted
patriot, If there are those who want to
come, bn: fear it is too late, we can say
to such, come for the doors of the Re-
publican party, like the gates of mercy,
are never closed to those who seek to
enter III.
Some very excellent resolutions were
recently adopted by the Pennsylvania Re-