The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1873-07-18
The Strength of the Democracy.

The Albany Argus exhibits with vigor
and clearness the actual strength and re-
sources of the Democracy and the waning
power of Radicalism. 1t recalls that sin
1860 the Republican party was in an actual
minority on the aggregate vote of the coun-
try of 947,2S9. This minority it has wiped
out, not by gains from the Democratic par
ty, but by adding 1889, 475 voters from the
colored race. The gains of the Republican
party have not been from the white race
but from the black race, for the opposition
to-day is able to bring to the polls from the
great reserve vote of the country 100000
more voters than it was able to in 1860
leaving still million aud a-halfof non-vo-
ting citizens subject to the call of that Or
ganization which shall best succeed in
quickening their consciences.
"The country to-day contains three mil
lions of active Democrats, two and a-half
millions OF white Republicans, one million
colored citizens, and one million and a-half
of non-voting citizens who are so disinter
ested that only deep-political excitement
reaches them. The aggregate white vote
of the country, was about 100000 more last
fall than in 1860.
"The Democratic party has to. day a
stronger nucleus than the Republican par
ty. Its three millions have been baptized
in fire and blood for their faith, and are
held by ties stronger than even the cohe-
sive power of public plunder,' for they have
remained banded together notwithstanding
every reverse. They are Democrats because
they believe in Democracy. Republicans
have been such, also, because they believe
in Republicanism but that party having
accomplished all it undertook to do, and
its leaders having organized as public plum
derers, those who now believe in the Re-
publican party are rapidly diminishing.
"Counting in the one million of colored
voters, and yet there are five millions of the
eight and a-half millions of voters in the
country which the Republican party cannot
bring to the polls. With the loss of inter-
est, now apparent among Republicans on
every hand, and with the growing convic-
.tion that there is security only in the tried
principles of Democracy, it requires very
little faith in the ultimate triumph of the
right to become convinced of the complete
success of the Democratic party.
ga comparison the returns of the cleo.
tions with the ceY elrns shows that of
the non-voters, f1 lillion, belonging to
the n-votingi 5of the South, who, if
they had voted, would have cast their suf-
frages for the Liberal ticket, thus giving the
opposition large majority of the entire
vote.
"More than one-half ofthe electors of the
country, including thirds of its intelli-
gent population, are welded to the Dem
peracy and political courage and popular
confidence cannot fail to make that senti-
ment effective at the polls.
"The State of New York contains 9S1,-
5S7 citizens, majority of whom are natu-
rally Democratic as has been attested by
theImany and brilliant successes achieved
by the Democracy. Over 100000 voters
stayed,away from the polls last fall.
s'The Republican party having trampled
upon its platform of last year, and having
been convicted of high crimes against pub
lie morality and sound principle, it but re-
mains for the Democratic party to vigor-
ously assert its own vitality and the value
of its own distinguishing principles, to Sc
cure the confidence of the people, and to
redeem the State. The Republican party
misgoverns wherever it rules. The appli-
cation of Democratic maxims in the con-
duct of government will remedy all the
consequences of its misrule. He prattles
like parrot, then, who pirates ofDemocrat-
ic doubt, and Democratic dismay. Just
now is the precise time, above all others,
when the Democratic party has the right
to be most confident. Its principles are
eternal, and the validity of its organization
equally so. Immortality possesses it, be-
cause its life is the life of the nation.