The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-06-14


Vitality Of the Democratic Party
The TAs M Y nsorl'l charges those Re-
publican Journals which were foremost in
the Greeley faaeo. With desire to disband
the Democratic party, in order that they
may regain their lost political importance
in some new organization which they hope
70 see bulk upon it, ruins The pretence
Of these journals that the Democracy have
become unpopular, is not sustained BY the
facts, says the World
The causes assigned for this alleged loss
Of popularity arc the course Of the party dur
ing tic war and il opposition 70 the recon,
structiQn measures, But when these causes
we're still fresh and recent, when they were
ahlest Of the old Repnh lican leaders, was will
ing, nav anxious, 70 accept a regular Demo-
cratic nomination for President. The glow
ing Goals Of those then burning but now de-
fnnct controversies had not gathered cinders
10 cover them; and yet Republican states.
man who stood high in public confidence was
ready to identity himself with the Democratic
organization and bear its banner 10 victory.
There could not be more eloquent refuta-
ton Of the pretence that the Democratic party
slnned away its day Of grace by its course dur
ing and immediately after the war. When
the time came round for the next Presidential
election, there was not merely one but sever
al old and trusted Republican statesmen who
were willing to commit their political fortunes
and their reputation to an association with
this odions, moribund Democratic party. Mr..
Greeley did accept. and half dozen other
distinguished Republicans would hare ac-
eepied the Democratic nomination for Pres
ident. Among the candidates for that honor
were Chas. Francis Adams, David Davis,
Lyman Trumbull and Gratz Brown. There
were as many more who would have eompet-
ed in the list Of candidates if they had received
any encouragement. In the face Of these
facts il ii mere selfrefating folly to assert
that The course Of the Democratic party dur
ing the war has made It odious. That argu-
ment comes too late. Since Chief.Justice
Chase wanted and since Mr.. Greeley accepted
Democratic nomination for the Presidency,
the party has laid no new stumbling blocks
IN the was ofRepnbhcan recruits. Both in 1868
and in 1872 the Democratic party was defeated
by bad nominations and by the corrupt use
Of Federal patronage, not st all by its course
during the war, which is the only reason given
by tho advocates Of dissolution why it cannot
hope 10 succeed in 1876.
In any rational estimate ofpoliticul strength
or public opinion, we must consider the opin-
ion Of the enlightened, educated classes. The
negro votes must be counted, but il is absurd
70 weigh them. Il is an incontestable fact
that a majority Of the white citizens Of the
United States are Democrats. The returns
Of the last Presidential election prove ii. The
negro vote Of the country is considerably lar
ger than Grants popular majority; and if the
Disguised Democrats who sullenly refused Il
support Mr.. Greeley had come to the polls
the result Of the white vote would have beer
still more striking and instructive. To sa,
that political party which has the confidence
Of majority Of the white voters is irredeem
bly, unpopular and has fallen SO low that j
can never expect to rise, is silly extraya
gance which Democrats laugh to scorn."
The vitality Of the Democratic party
win prove itself whenever its leaders shall
be true to its ancient principles All tina
is required to develop its vigor is reor
ganization upon its cherished creed, undel
faithful and tried leaders Had the con
test Of 1872 been conducted on that basis
. far different result would have followed
But the party, with blind faulty which
is. even yet, profound and impenetrabl'
enigma, went after false gods, instead o
clinging to the true faith and to the trie,
and trusted representatives Of that faith
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