The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-19

Oomoerat1c Departure.
We are rejoiced to learn that q national
conference of democratic leaders is about to
be held IN Washington for the purpose of con-
sdering the best plan for organizing the party
for the Presidential campaign. Mr.. Herman,
Judge Black, Senator Eaton, of Connecticut,
Reverdy Johnson and number of other gen.
tlemen OF equal standing in the party councils
will meet and discuss the whole ground. One
OF our correspondents says they will establish
"a leading democratic paper in Washington,
in order that the democrats in the Forty-fourth
Congress will not be without an organ" Va
rious plans for the organization of the party
in various States will be discussed, and we
have no doubt that the movement will assume
an important aspect and exercise wide infu-
ence upon the destinies Of the party in the next
campaign.
There are many points in the political future
that the democrats cannot well ignore. The
country has not thoroughly transferred
power to their leaders. The success of
toe last campaign was, more than any
thing else, republican protest against the
| follies of republican administration. 1t did
not mean that the democratic party should
be ultimately intrusted with the country. 1t
was rather an impulse than a movement 1t
came suddenly, without alarm or preparation.
This was seen in the fact that Maine, in the
spring, went republican. If the election had
taken place six months later it would have as
certainly gone democratic as Pennsylvania or
Ohio; for six months later the tidal wave
was sweeping. Nothing is more uncertain
than these political revolutions, as the Presi-
dental canvass of Mr. Greeley showed-the
spring full of victory, while autumn brought
disaster. The problem before the republicans
is to do away with the irritations which led
to this revulsion; to accept the defeat as a
lesson and Christening; to reform tho ad-
ministration; to utilize the dormant war feel
ing, which still fears there may be revived
confederacy, and still respects the great SER
vices of General Grant. The party, strength
ened by the powerful machinery of govern
ment patronage which rests in the hands of
every administration. will make o new and
by no means forlorn struggle for power
Mr.. Wilson, in his letter on the situation,
defines some of the methods by which it may
succeed. The Vice President refuses to
believe that the republican party is dead,
but, on the contrary, is confident that by
few wise measures Of reform it can regain all
that il has lost; and many republicans who
are dissatisfied with the course of its leaders
still agree with him that it is necessity to
the country. It is true that he asks q good
deal /; tor the non-interference Of government
officials in the elections, the withdrawal of the
whip OF party discipline, the restoration Of the
liberal republicans to their former places,
generosity and magnanimity and the sacrifice
of personal ambition are hard measures
for the republican leaders to adopt.
A young man in the New Testament
likewise desired eternal life but when he was
told that he must sell all that he had and give
it to the poor we learn that he ''was very sor-
! rowful, for he was very rich" The admins
tration is in similar distress yet the democrats
must not suppose that they may safely trust to
the selfshness of great party, for the true
! solution of the difficulty which Mr.. Wilson
suggests may be enforced upon the leaders
The democrats have enough work of their own
to do, and the problem now before them is 10
weaken the influence OF the President by
continual assaults upon him; to prevent
the republicans from securing any practical
legislation; to keep the sore spots in the South
in constant irritation; to force the admins
traton into state of bankruptcy and gen.
eral disintegraton, and SO shape their own
policy that they will indicate to the country
that they represent regenerated progress
sive, new democracy-not the Bourbon ele-
ments Of the past.
Thus far since the canvass the democrats
have only made one point-namely, their
attack upon the administration on account of
Louisiana This arose, not from their own wis
dom, but from the folly of the President AMI
the preciptancy Of General Sheridan. This
assault has been blessed chance to the demo-
Gratis They have used it to their advantage
with consummate ability and perseverance,
Upon other questions they have gained
nothing. Instead of showing to the country,
by their selection of Senator's, for instance,
that they had taken new departure in
principles and leaderships, they have proved
that the ante-war machine still runs in the old
ruts. Eaton in Connecticut and Wallace in
Pennsylvania simply illustrate that the demo-
cratic party is precisely where it was twenty
years ago. The defeat of Schurz in Missouri
and the election of General Cockrell, an
officer of the Southern army, is suggestive
and unfortunate fact 1t is a blunder that
never should have been committed by wise
party. Missouri was practically Northern
! State during the war-at least, it was held in
enough that the Southern States should elect
their army leaders to Congress such action in
free and Northern Missouri will give oppor-
tunity for acrimony and censure. We shall
welcome the rebel from the South, but we are
hardly ready to do so from the North.