The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-07-07
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can live without principles or without even
policy is problem of which the De-
mocracy have kindly consented to attempt
the solution. That seems to be about
the only reasonable excuse for their con-
tinued existence, and il is question il
the satisfaction they give by the qualification
of profitless curiosity makes amends for tine
anxiety caused by their capacities for evil.
Since the rebellion was put down the Dem
ocratic party has had no clearly defined pol
icy. From 1865 to 1872 it amused the people
and showed its agility by jumping from one
deserted Republican platform to another. Its
constant effort each year was to undo the
work of the year before. Since 1872 it has
been taking leaps backward, and has already
nearly reached in its retrogressive movement
the repudation platform of 1858. It has
had no hesitation in pledging itself to the
support of any issue which it believed to be
popular. 1t had no hesitation in breaking its
pledge whenever the elections demonstrated
the unpopularity of the issue made. Its his
tory for years has been one of fickleness and
treachery. 1t has been engaged in con-
tinual attempt to deceive the people. It has
adopted platforms, not because it believed in
them, but because it hoped by their aid to
cheat the voters into its support. and thus to
secure power. 1t has for ten years preached
one thing and practised another.
The merit of the professions made by the
Democratic party from time to time it is un-
necessary to discuss. Its platforms are scarce
ly worth the trouble of examining; as its pro-
fessions have never been honestly made, its
platforms have never been expressions of be-
lief, but have been framed as bridges to pow
er. 1t can better be judged by its history, its
practices, and the avowals of its leaders.
There are in it some honest men who stead
fastly hold to the only convictions it pos.
sesses, and who have never hesitated to pro-
claim those convictions. 1t has been the
constant enGeavor of the party leaders to
silence these men, not because their utter
ances were heretical but because they were
impolitic. 'Hold your tongues" has been the
whisper constantly going around, "until we
get possession of the government; then we
can do as we please" The expression of
opinions has been condemned, not because
they were wrong, but because they were
unpopular. Yet whenever the party has won
temporary success it has hastened to ad-
vance these outspoken men to places of hon
or and trust. While it is endeavoring to
cheat the people it strives to keep its real
representatives in the background. No SOON
er has it cheated the people than it proceeds
to reward those of i'll political repute
with place and power. Should it carry
the next presidential election those men
whom the people have long distrusted will be
given the control of affairs.
The platforms framed this year have the
same object as those framed in years past,
how best to cheat the voter. In Maine the
soft-money men, land there are many advo.
Gates of repudiation and expansion among
the Democracy of this state,) did not dare to
proclaim their belief because it was unpopu-
lar. In Ohio the hard-money men like Thur.
man, assisted in framing a sott-money plat
form, acknowledging that their convictions
were opposed to it, but adopting it in ordel
to cheat the voters of Ohio whom they be.
lieve to favor rag money. This party whose
professions are Numerically opposed to its
practice, which holds one thing in Ohio and
another in Maine, which has no line oil
policy, which advances no one principle upon
which its members are agreed, which has a
history of fickleness and regeneration, this
party comes before the people and asks to be
returned to power. 1t has no merit of i'll
own, but presumes upon the dissatisfaction
which has greeted some of the acts of the
Republican party. The ''honest reserve'' is
invited to an inspection of its record and its
claims.