The Portland daily press., 1875-10-26
A Mistake Reneated.

The felicitous nature of the application of
Napoleon's description of the ancient kingly
race of France to the leaders of the modern
Democratic party has been so generally recog-
nized that the term political Bourbons is by
common consent adopted into the language.
Occasionally the Democracy has done some
wise thing which for time has seriously
threatened the applicability of the nickname;
but it has inevitably fastened to undo it and
to prove that it has learned nothing and for
gotten nothing. Certainly no political party
has ever thrown away more opportunities, or
taken more delight in squandering the goods
the gods have sent it. Chance after chance
has been thrust upon it only to be fatuously
rejected. From its blunders it has learned
nothing, but has gone on repeating them with
an apathetic Indifference to the inevitable re-
suit.
At the beginning of the great conflict for
the preservation of the national life the Dem
ocratic party made mistake from the effects
of which it did not recover while that con-
fict lasted. At the beginning of the great
conflict, now raging, for the preservation of
national honesty it is making almost an iden-
tical mistake. At the breaking out of the
war the Democracy as party, instead
of at once rushing to the front and battling
Tor the salvation of the union, entertained
itself and disgusted the people by arguing
the question of responsibility. There were
two good sides to that question, and much
could be said on either. But it was not a
time for argument. It was the old case OF
the logcian and the drowning man. The
country was intent upon self-preservation
and had no stomach for debates upon the
question whether aboltionist or secessionist,
North or South, was responsible for the war.
The war was upon us, and the only thing to
do was to fight it through as speedily as pos
sible. Hostiities could not be suspended in
order that men might argue historical dis
putes. The Democratic party was incapable
of comprehending the situation, and so lost
great opportunity.
Now, fourteen years after, the Democracy
is committing the same mistake. The coun-
try is suffering from the effects of bad cur
rency. The evil is increasing, becoming hard
er to bear, every day. Prompt remedial
measures are imperatively called for. Trade
is stagnant, great industries are languishing,
people are impoverished by the continued
auctuation of values. The only sensible
course, sanctioned by the whole financial his
tory of the world, is to get back at once 10
specie payments, TO re-establish an unfuctu-
ating standard of value. No delay is ad-
mitted of. Each hours continuance of the
evil makes corrective measures more difficult.
There are naturally different methods of ac-
complishing the desired result, and argument
upon these will be gladly welcomed. But
what does the Democratic party do? 1t re-
pea.s the old mistake. 1t desires to do moth
ing. 1t rejects all measures of relief. 1t
seeks to keep the situation unchanged while
it discusses the question of responsibility for
the greenback and the legal tender act. Trade
must languish, commerce continue to be dis
turbed, the country become impoverished, in
order that the nation may be turned in:o a
great debating club, and dispute about original
infationists. The wiser and more patriotic
course is evidently to rid ourselves of the
evil. Then tie question of responsibility
may be discussed. At present the country
is vitally interested in the revival cf pros
perity. When we get out of the bog we can
resolve ourselves into an investigating com.
mittee to discuss who led us there.
Any party except the Democratic would
have learned something from the sad conse.
quences of the old mistake, aud would not
have hastened to repeat the blunder on the
very first opportunity. Certainly the Demo.
cratic leaders richly deserve the epithet "Po'
ltical Bourbons."