The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-09-19
Democratic " Principles,v


The Democratic leaders of Ohio. saws
an Eastern. contemporary, early in the
season concocted "platform which
has since been adopted, with no mate
rial alteration or addition, in Pennsyl-
vania, Maine, and Massachusetts,. 1t is,
on the whole, a shrewd production. The
role of the Democrats at present is, as
We have frequently pointed out, one of
mastery inactivity" Their record,
down to within few years, is a detest-
able one. 1t is the record of the tories
of our second revolution. Their record
in the immediate past is even more dis
creditable, for it shows no redeeming
element of sincerity. In the coalition
of last year the Democratic leaders
proved that they were alike without
ideas or honesty of purpose, while the
majority of the Democratic masses were
weak enough and ignorant enough to
share in confessed political fraud.
| Obviously, it is idle for such party to
hope for any immediate gains. The most
their leaders can look forward to is to
be able substantially to hold their own.
This is of the last Importance to them.
| Their organization is their sole remain
deal. 1t certainly is worth keeping up,
if possible, SO long as the leaders have
not the sense and the patriotism to dis
solve the party altogether. 1t is the
only organization outside the Republic
can party, and its machinery may be
useful to the men who control it, if any
issue presents itself that divides the
Republican party.
There is no such issue now before the
country, and, unless the farmers move
ment may produce one, which is not
likely, there will be none at the next
Congressional canvass. What the Dem
ocratic leaders need to do, therefore,
and are trying very hard to do, is to
keep their men together, to allay popu-
lar prejudice, to pick at the weak points
in their opponents armor, and to get in
a position to take advantage of whatever
may occur. To this end the Ohio plat
form is very clever contribution. 1t
has very well counterfeited air of con-
fidence about it it obscures the hated
and dangerous past with fine phrases
it scolds with bitterness, and not with
out discretion it deals very squarely
with the salary grabbers of the Demo-
cratic party, and twists the Republican
record on the subject with good deal
of skill and even its uncomfortable
length is not without advantage, since
able. The intent of the trainers of the
platform, which was evidently to pro-
duce the impression that the Democrats
are not SO bad, after all, as they might
be, and that the Republicans are no
seints, is ingeniously carried out.
Yet, to candid man, who fairly I'M
dertakes to balance in his mind the adj
vantages and the disadvantages of al
lowing the present Democratic leaders
to gain control of the Government, the
platform is not likely to amount to
much. 1t is very barren. The absence
of the usual glitter and bombast, cred
liable as it is, brings out more clearly
the cynical indifference to principle,
and the cool, dispassionate political
seltishness of the men who at present
guide the Democracy. The Demo-
cratic party" says the platform-maker,
bowling blandly to his audience, and adj
| justing his mask, "seeks to revive no
dead issues :" it "stands by its princi-
pies, which are suited to all times and
circumstances ;" it " supports the Fed
eral Government in all constitutional
authority" How polished and smooth
these words are. But they are fatal if
the nearer stops to think. Why does
the Democratic party seek to revive no
settled issues Because its attitude
on those the people have recently set at
rest was inexpressibly odious. 1t not
only would not revive, it would gladly
| fh1 81 .to L
warfare in defense of the slave power,
of its sympathy with the rebels, of its
obstinate struggle to prevent the en-
reimbursement of the freedmen, of its
heartless coquetting with the reaction
airy and discontinued feeling of the
South, and of its shameful part in the
coalition of ~. What does the party
mean by supporting constitutional
authority? ?" That is what it professed
to do when it was protesting against the
war, seeking to break down Mr.. Lin
coins administration, and trying to di-
vide the army by means of the slavery
question. The "principles it is pratt
ing about, it would gladly have fargot-
ten ; it does not dare to define them it
equally does not dare to ignore them; it
can only cover them up with vague gen.
eralities, and betake itself to accusa-
tions against the Republican party.
And even here the desperate strait of
the party is seen There is nothing
the Democrats can use with lasting eff
feet against the Republicans. When
their platform points to the Credit Mo-
bilier frauds, it only recalls the fact that
the saddest and most hopeless case in
that connection was that of the Dem
ocratic leader in the House. When it
directs attention to the salary grab, one
can but remember that if as large pro-
portion of the Democrats had voted
right on that question as of the Repub-
licans it would have never got beyond
Gen. Buffers committee. When it de-
nounces the exemption of bonds from
taxation, it only suggests Reputation.
And so on through the list. The DEM
ocrats are playing the best game they
can, but it is very poor one.
THE highest mountain on the North
American continent is Mount st. Elias,