The New York herald., 1875-10-09
The Duty and Opportunity OF the
Democracy.


upon side issues and to 60 to pieces upon
questions Of minor importance If republi-
cans can divide the democratic party by
sending one fragment after hard money and
another after soft money, by disturbing one
section by threats Of priestly interference in
the schools, another with apprehensions that
all rights in the schools shall be abrogated;
if they can alarm the country with the fear
that we are come to repudiation or that we
are TO become vassals of the Pope, we can
understand how divisions will come and how
a party thus broken up, divided against
itself, may become an easy prey to well
disciplined and victorious republican party.
| 1t is not wise to underrate the power of the
administration or the courage and discipline
| Of the republican party, Corrupt as many
of its leaders are, and pernicious as has been
much Of its legislation, it is still strong with
the strength that comes from twenty years
power-f for it is now nearly twenty years
since the republicans, by gaining control of
the House of Representatives, became virtu-
ally masters OF the country. The republican
4 party is also strong in the power welded by
General Grant, in the memories which
cluster around it's history, in the fact that
under its leadership we saved the Union and
| proclaimed emancipation. The democratic
party is weak because in the crisis of the
countrys fate its leaders We're attracted by
other influences. During the war it was
commanded by Bourbons and copperheads
1t never showed itself heartily with the
country in its hours of sore peril. Whenever
it came into Office it threw power away
by incompetency in legislation, forgetting in
the moment of victory the promises made
in the hour of strife. When it insisted upon
economy and honesty in the administration
its opponents pointed at Tammany Hall and
the reign of Tweed. When it censured
Grant for his abrogation of the civil service
republicans called attention to the fact that
the government of New York was thoroughly
partisan that civil service was a mockery ;
that men were appointed to Office, not for
merit, but to crafty ward politicians. When
it reminded us of the Credit Mobilier, the
Indian Ring, the back pay and salary grab,
the answer was that democrats as well as
republicans were concerned with Mr.. Ames
that under johnson the Indian Ring was a
democratic institution, powerful and aggres-
sive, and at least two of its members of Con-
gress who openly voted for the salary grab
and the back pay are now conspicuous as
democratic candidates for the Speakership of
the next House of Representatives.
1t is, therefore, not at all possible that the
democrats will have an easy victory in their
canvass. They have their own burdens to
carry. 1t will not be a 'tidal wave" A
good deal of the last triumph resulted from
the fact that the republicans were taken by
surprise. They had waxed proud and fat
and arrogant because Of the overwhelming
victory of Grant They thought that their
power would last forever. Since the 'tidal
wave" defeat the leaders of the republican
hosts have been laboring to redeem their
losses. They have failed in no means toward
that end The President has shown defer
ence to public opinion quite foreign to his
character He has gradually strengthened
his Cabinet. Richardson, Williams and
Delano have gone out before sense Of their
general unftness for high station. Pierre
pont, in his management Of the Southern
question, and Bristow, in his raid upon the
Whiskey Ring, have given Grant strength
with those republicans who do not wish
to leave the party if they can find
q half excuse for remaining. Two
new issues have been forced upon the
country, in the hope that they may become
paramount in the next canvass. The first is
financial 1t is now dividing parties in Ohio
and Pennsylvania The second is the Church
/ question, which is also an issue in Ohio, very
absurdly and unjustly. we think, and which
the President made conspicuous in his
strange speech in the West, when he affected
to dread the interference of the Pope in our
school system. Now these issues are false
and unnatural They are put up like scare
crows OF stool pigeons to decoy honest voters
| from their real duty. The financial question
as it presents itself in Ohio and Pennsylvania
will never he practical problem. The cry
for s'Inore money is only another strain Of
the CRY against misgoyernment in all depart
ments. The people cry as those in pain, and
| know not what they want Now if they can
be directed into a raid upon our national
credit the result will be to arouse the con-
servative, honest, patriotic sentiment of the
country into feeling that the triumph Of
the democrats will be Communism in another
form; war upon the best interests Of the
nation; o surrender of all that has been
gained by the war; q revival Of slavery and
the slave spirit This is something like the
policy of Napoleon Ill when he reached
forth his hand to strangle the French Re-
public. He made il known that the contest
was between him as Emperor and chaos.
The men who opposed him we're Terror
lists, "Jacobins" Communists, murder
ers," "enemies Of religion and society" All,
therefore, who wished to save property, life,
the national credit and the Holy Church