The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1875-11-25

Iron the New York Herald, Iniepende nt.1
WHAT THE FALL ELECTIONS
HAVE DONE FOR The wv
PARTIES.
The fall elections have, in fact,
done more for the Democratic party
than for the Republican, for they
have probably given the predomi-
nance among the Democrats to their
ablest and wisest leaders, while they
have cut from under the Republicans
the favorable ground on which they
had expected to fight their battle
next year. They are compelled to
seek a new position, and in doing so
there is very grave danger that they
will blunder. 1t is always more diff
foul. for a party in power Than for a
minority to rise above its old record,
to cast out its dangerous and selfish
elements and to initiate genuine re-
forms. This is because the reform
ers in a party which possesses power
are likely to be out of favor with the
controlling elements; their efforts
are at once resisted by those who
hold power and who are necessarily
opposed to reforms, else they would
make them without compulsion. The
Republican party is nov what the
Democratic party became during the
administration ofPierce and Buchan
an. 1t is a strongly coherent force,
whose rulers have a great deal at
stake, which they fear to loose by
such changes as We call "reform."
1t is a body which has great momen-
tum, but only in a single direction.
To change the direction or purpose
of such a mass involves the s~acrafice
Of a multitude of subordinate agents,
and the resistance of these minor
forces is almost always too great to
be overcome. Hence the imitation
outbreak among the Western Demo
Gratis "a seized with delight by the
Republican politicians; itgave them
an issue which they perceived to be
entirely safe for them. Hence, again,
no sooner has this failed than We
hear everywhere among Republican
, politicians a cry Of danger to the
public schools" and see a determi
nation to bring the religious ques
ton into the next canvass. All thii
means only a quiet but stubborn re
. sistence to the reforms which thu
people demand; an energetic pur
, pose to do anything and seize on an,
{ pretext which will enable them t
evade the real and vital issues whicl
are in the peoples minds.
Il We conclude, therefore, that tn
fall elections, favorably as they sp
!. pear to have resulted for the Reput
~licans, leave that party in create
danger than before, by SO much a
y they may result in weakening tina
! element in the party which is in hal
= mony with the popular demand fc
reforms. For there can be no dout
l. that the people desire and imper.
lively demand some trenchant r,
forms. They are repelled from th
II Republican party by seeing that ii
= leaders ceuntenance extravaganc
and condone and conceal corruption
= they see that the worst, the most sc
fish and the most dangerous ell,
d ments Of the party rule in its cour
ellis; they e what a growing ave-
n sion a constant and vehement desir
to shield offenders; a studied col
tempt for public opinion; a dcterm
nation in those who control the part
U to "stick together" no matter wins
Re exposures there may be Of malat
ministration and corruption. TIL
attempt to put off the popular d.
> mand for radical reforms next yes
by evasion, by hollow promises or b
projecting into the canvass such falls
e issues as the religious or school que
&c ton, will probably end in the owe
9 throw of the party unless the Demt
cratic leaders should commit SON
o extraordinary follies. We repea
therefore, that the elections leave til
u Republican party in greater DANCE
Z than before, and that to save it frol
> defeat next year will require eitht
1t some now unforeseen piece of GOO
:, fortune, some dark trick of policy, {
, the successful efforts of the reform
q ing element in the party to secul
g the control and leadership in the
# own hands and make it a true psrt
Ia of honesty, with a head in whom tt
mass of the people can have conf
dence that tine promises in its pla
n form will be faithfully carried I'M
effect.