The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-09

4A0 OUOAxeO - SA0 AAAm8tG8h OAuOs
We should be sorry to think that the intel
lectual resources of great political party can
furnish nothing better than was spoken at the
democratic festival at the Manhattan Club,
on Thursday evening. What the democratic
party most needs to insure its success is
set Of coherent, well-deined principles, suited
to the wants and aspirations of the country
at this period, and drawing broad line Of
demarcation between it and its opponents.
The principles set forth at the Manhattan
Club are too vague to take any strong hold
or public conviction Senator Bayard, in
deed, said some very excellent things, but
they were rather in tone of complaints against
the nisdeeds of the republican party than in
the sagacious, forecasting spirit Of states
man who has a firm grasp of principles and
deep insight into public wants and remedies.
He proposed convention for revising the
federal constitution, without even so much as
indicating the nature of the changes he wishes
to see introduced. Nothing could have
been more vague than this indefinite
recommendation. The results of the war,
which the democratic party weakened
itself by opposing so long and SO strenuously,
were intrenched in the constitution by the
new amendments, and the democratic party
did not begin to have any reasonable ground
of hope until it professed to accept those
amendments as final. The party could not
at this time perpetrate more suicidal blum
der than to propose general revision Of the
constitution by convention like that which
formed it without defining the proposed altera-
TONS 1t would be charged that the purpose
was to undo the amendments which guarantee
the civil and political equality of the negroes.
BY giving ground for such charges the dem
ocratic party would rekindle the dying embers
of the old controversy and give their opponents
the advantage Of the only issue on which they
would be absolutely sure to win. 1t would
enable the republican Anteus to recover his
original strength by coming in contact. with
his mother earth; whereas the democratic
Hercules can overcome such foe only by
holding him up in the air during the combat.
If the republicans are given an opportunity to
fight on the recent amendments thew can
never be defeated. This unfortunate pro-
posal is not only maladroit because it is IN
definite, but because of the two methods
which the constitution provides for its own
amendment. Senator Bayard selects the one
which is most fitted to excite distrust Amend
ments may be proposed by two-thirds Of both
houses of Congress, or by general
convention of the States. This last method
has never yet been resorted to, although the
constitution has been several times amended
A convention would be inexpedient for many
reasons, as we could not foresee the radical
character of its changes, and as the democratic
party stubbornly fought the last three amend
ments and only acquiesced in them at last by
the logic Of stern necessity, the people could
never be disabused of the idea that the chief
purpose of Calling q convention was to rescind
the guarantees OF freedom to the emancipated
slaves
Professions of honesty, which were SO lib
orally put forth by all the speakers, can
never be made distinctive party badge.
The great mass of voters in both parties are
honest, though often deceived in the character
of their public servants. There are capable
men enough of strict integrity in either party
to administer the government, and any party
whose principles are approved can right itself
by selecting proper candidates from it's own
ranks. Form party of honest men, and the
moment it seems likely to succeed oil the
rogues will joint Professions are too cheap,
hypocrisy is too easy for the public to place
much confidence in letters of recommendation
drawn by the bearer. If men in positions Of
trust are dishonest the party which elected
them must suffer, as the republican party suf-
fers from the exposed rascality of men it has
put in Office. No doubt the recent democratic
successes are mainly due to this cause, and
still more ~ to be gained by pursuing this