The New York herald., 1874-11-10
The Democracy and Th-ir Victory
Lines OF New Departure.

| Sio" u e1CsA hStoulsuliiS trluiupnS. Aueii
joy may be regarded as akin to the JOY Of the
Israelites when they came to the promised
land. Since 1857 they have been wandering
in the wilderness of opposition. for while Mr..
Buchanan was democratic President his
administration was thrown into minority on
Kansas and Nebraska questions, and it faded
out in ignominy and scorn. The fact that
amid all the defeats of the past seventeen
years, the distractions of war, impeachment
controversies, panics and financial revulsions,
the democratic party has held its organization
intact and in time has won marked victory,
shows that the American people have a pro-
found respect for the democratic sentiment
which came into our politics from jefferson.
1t would be an error to suppose that the
recent victories were inspired by any
fanatical devotion to the principles of Jeffer-
son. The mistake which many OF the demo-
cratic leaders seem disposed to make is in SO
considering them. Here aud there we hear
venerable democrats advising us to ''return
to the principles of our fathers" to repeal
the recent amendments to the constitution,
and turn every office-holder out of place.
One of the issues of the canvass was the
back pay outrage and already we have three
representatives who took part in it nominated
as possible candidates for Speaker. Another
issue was the civil service reform, and yet
In New York the Tammany party propose to
remove every ofice-holder. no matter how
and capable, who did not do obeisance
to Kelly and Morrissey. Another issue was
hard money, and yet Congrsssmen elected
in New York proclaim their purpose to vote
for imitation. These are signs showing the
insincerity of the victory, and lead us to the
fear that the victorious party will pass into
the hands of trading and professional politi-
clans, who will use it to their own gain, and
who are no more worthy Of confidence than the
republicans who have been rebuked for their
unworthiness and thrown out Of power.
The democratic party may be regarded as
in position resembling that of the Confeder-
ate army Of General Early on . certain men,
orable occasion in the valley Of the Shenan-
doah. The Confederates attacked the fed
eral forces, defeated them and drove them
from the field Instead however, Of pursuing.
the victory they began at once to plumber the
captured camp. In the meantime Sheridan
came to his defeated troops, rallied them, gave
them new hope and courage, led them to a
new assault, fell upon the gorged and unsus-
pecting victors, and before night came ''sent
them whirling down the valley" and destroyed
forever the Confederate power in the Shenan-
doah Valley. The lesson which poor Jubal
Early then learned, and which he has never
ceased to repent, is that when an army wins
battle it should reap all the fruits of the VIC
tory. Above all things it should be sure the
enemy is destroyed before it takes to camp
plundering. The republican party is defeated
but by no means destroyed. The democrats
have won the next House of Representatives,
but every other department of the federal gov
ernment is against them. The Senate is re-
publican and the administration also, and
consequently with them rests the tremendous
patronage of the Executive, the power of veto
and appointment, the command of the
army and navy, and all the internal economy
of government. Two powers rest with the
democrats-to investigate the administration
and stop supplies. But each Of these powers
is full of danger, and, unless handled deli
cately, will do more harm than good to the
party. At this time the errors of the Presi-
dent may be retrieved He has wide personal
popularity, great military fame, which is
historical, and he has shown in times of ex-
treme danger that he possesses eminent good
sense. Should he be even worse than Bel
shazzar, SO drunk with power and SO blind
with the incense Of fattery that he cannot
even see the handwriting on the wall, and
will not reform the administration,
then, of course, the democratic leaders
will have it all their own way. But
no party would be wise to assume such q
thing, especially in dealing with the man who
abandoned st. Domingo before it overthrow
him and who signed the veto Of the imitation
bill in spite of many Of the leading men of
his own party. Beaten, as he is, General
Grant has many opportunities, and he will
accept them. General Grant has been beaten
on his own ground. Will he accept the de-
feat or rise above it? He abandoned the ST.
Domingo job, it is true, but the men who
planned it were retained in his bosom conf
dence We have no desire to disparage any
of our great men. We would rather
cherish them as our nations household
gods. We have not had many in
our hundred years Of national life-Wash-
ington, Jefferson, Jackson, Lincoln and
Grant--Grant the last, and not the greatest.
But we would disparage none of them. And
SO our best wishes go with Grant, our best
wishes that he will only do justice to himself
and his four stars, as General. Let him
accept his opportunities, and we shall remem-
Der that although Lee repulsed him day after
day in the Wilderness he fought his way
through the Wilderness at last.
1t would be wise also for the democratic
laalarc fc nnncidar fhaca olanfi1arau a