The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-11-05

Ohio and Pennsylvania is both the latest and
the most egregious exhibition Of that sulcl-
dial fightiness of temper and shallow AFRO
gance which unfit the democratic party to
profit by success. The frothy rhodomontade
about the tidal wave beguiled the Ohio
and Pennsylvania democrats into the delu-
sion that the success of the party was 50
assured that they might safely venture on
any desperate experiment for controlling the
next national convention, whose nomination
for the Presidency they supposed would be
equivalent to an election. The consequence
Of their stupidity has been to give back these
two great States to the republicans and
put a dripping wet blanket on the
prospects of the national democratic
party. The tidal wave" was like alcohol
and the Ohio and Pennsylvania democrats
drank of it to maudlin intoxication. In
consequence of this drunken imitation folly
the democratic party has lost in 1875 great
part of its wonderful gains in 1874.
Will the party learn wisdom now? We
have no doubt that it will, because even Mr..
Pendleton and his followers must see that
the possibility of electinga democratic Presi-
dent is staked on the vote of New York, and
that New York has become so doubtful
that the least squirting to infa-
ton in the democratic national plat
form or the slightest bias toward
initiation on the part of the democratic can
didate would give New York to the repub-
licans. The democratic party may at last be
wise, but the question still remains whether
it will not be wise behind time. Can it re-
cover the confidence of the country after it
has SO often abused its opportunities and
made every dawning prospect of success an
occasion of new plumbers? The country,
which has so often turned toward it with
hope, looks upon it with doubt and distrust
after so many disappointing proofs of polit-
ical folly. The people yearn for o party
which will rectify abuses and give them good
government but they will hold their
judgment in suspense until the nom
nations shall have been made and the
platforms declared next year. The numer-
ical strength of the two parties is in such
state of equipoise that it will require very lit
tie to turn the scale in favor Of either. We
rejoice that they are so equally balanced in
the last elections which precede the assem-
bling of the two national conventions in the
beginning of next summer. Neither party
can afford to blunder in SO critical a coniunc-
tare. The increasing body of independent
voters will decide the contest when the
scales hang so even and the necessity
which each party will be under of bid
ding for their support should incite
each to put forward its best man
and make such declaration of principles as
citizens Of sound Judgment can approve.
The next Presidential election will not be
sharp conflict Of clashing policies; for the
country is nearly unanimous on every topic
which will be touched in the party platforms
of next year. The contest will probably be
decided by the personal merits of the candi-
dates in point of ability, integrity, expert
ence, public services and popular magnet
ism. 1t is fortunate for the country that
neither party can presume on its strength
and put forward mischievous principles or a
vulnerable candidate. The present equality
Of the two parties is the most hopeful sign
of the times.