The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-11-07
COLD COMFORT.


been assisting the Democrat party this
Fall to the best of its ability, admonishes
the party in the following patronizing and
menacng manner on tho morning after the
election:
"The Democratic party has been, not
restored to public confidence, but used, by
voters who would not dare trust it utterly,
as an instrument for discipline. 1t is on
trial, and will be for the next two years.
And its opportunity is to show that it has
learned something; that it has forgotten
the things which may wisely be forgotten,
and that it is entitled to some larger use in
politics than merely that of check and
restraint upon the recklessness of the party
in power. Dangers beset it on every hand.
Its managing men are very hungry, and
many of them not over scrupulous. The
disposition to 60 into general debauch
over the encouraging prospects of the party
will be quite general, and it is an open
question whether there is wisdom enough
or sober sense enough to resist it. On the
other hand, it will be we'll enough to re-
member that the same causes which have
heretofore produced decentralization among
the Democrats have often taught their
opponents wisdom and discretion, and that
under the discipline of reverses they have
corrected their errors and regained the
confidence of the people. What has hap
pened before may happen again. The
Democratic party has been admitted
little way into public confidence. 1t is not
strange that those interested in its success
should be jubilant over the results Of the
recent elections. But it must temper some
what the joy of the thoughtful citizen to
think that the whole meaning of it is COM
prised in the statement that it was choice
of evils. We are not Of those who have
full confidence in the ultimate success of
the Democracy. The strength of the party
has been in it's name and it's traditions, and
in the unquestioning allegiance and hide
bound partisanship of its rank and file.
The day for all that has passed, at least SO
far as present organizations are concerned.
The period of reaffirming and pointing
with pride is pretty much over. The voter
of to- day looks further down than the top
of his ticket, and considers the record of
the candidate as of more importance than
the platform of the party. The people
have been voting lately without much re-
gard to party names, and we suggest to
our Democratic friends that this is victory
which should rather steady them down
with a sense Of great responsibility than
drive them wild with exultation. 1t is
worth their remembering that this is only
the halfway post to Presidential election,
aud that both parties are to be for two
years certain on their very best behavior.
Well worth their while, too, not to forget
that the people looking on are in the judi
cial mood, and not much biased by parti-
sanship."
The american also has something to say
under "The Defeat of Yesterday" and
considers it the proper time to vent its
wrath on Mr.. Creswell, which it has been
nursing to keep warm since the family lost
control of the Federal offices in Baltimore.
The american says:
"There never has been in the history of
political parties in this country case of
more unmistakable and persistent suicide
than that which was consummated yester-
day. For two years the whole power of
the Administration has been exerted to
wrest from the hands of the Republican
party their State organizations, and to pack
conventions and make nominations at the
bidding of the ofticeholding cliques who
we're given control of the several States.
Here in Maryland two years ago there was
an enthusiastic and growing Republican
party, with every prospect before it of
carrying a majority of the Legislature,
when evil advice at Washington overturned
the whole party organization, and drove
out of it's MON the great majority of
the men of influence and character in the
State. The Republican party was killed
to enable Postmaster General Crsswell to
build upon its ruins 'Creswell party
which was to make no nominations without
his consent and approval; to adopt resolu-
lions of confidence in him at all their
primary meetings and conventions, and
bespatter with praise the great author of
their existence. The control and manage
ment and direction of everything pertain
ing to political affairs were given to the
exclusive charge of officeholders, SO far as
Baltimore was concerned, and those from
the counties were expected to control and
influence their local organizations. There
was to be Grant party, but no Republican
party, and hence the present deplorable
condition of affairs in this State. There is
reason to believe that the same feeling has
been organized in other States. Almost
everywhere, even in Massachusetts,, party
management has become the mere dictum
of officeholders, who follow instructions
from Washington, and thousands of the
best and most active and influential men
have stood off in disgust, and thought it
best to allow the harvest of bad manage
ment to be fully reaped before the approach
of another Presidential election.
The result in Maryland seems to be that
Mr.. Creswell, having accomplished all this
disorganization, has quietly dropped out of
the Cabinet and left his officeholders in
confusion and dismay, apparently taking
no further interest in their fortunes or
misfortunes. All we can say is that it is
not our funeral
1t is an open question whether if the
Fulton family had furnished gubernator-
ial candidate for the Republican party, and
held the Custom House under John L.
Thomas, and the Internal Revenue Office
under Ellington Fulton, the result would
have been changed for the better, except
that it would then perhaps have been "our
funeral" which Mr.. Creswell is here so
savagely attacked for bringing about two
years earlier. That there would have been
less of "Grant Party" or more of
Republican Party" under Fulton re-
gime (Which has less brains and is not more
honest than Creswell) none acqua nted
with the chronic squabble for office in
Baltimore whele the american faction was
in favor at the White House, will believe.