Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1875-09-24
The Duty Of the Democracy.

The following extract is from an editorial OF
the Baltimore Gazette,
The country is ripe for change. The ne
ccssiiy for bringing back the Federal admins
iEation 10 its old moorings, for rc-establishing
its limitations, rebuking usurpations of au-
thority, and reconstructing in the States those
barriers against Federal aggression on which
the Constitution has wisely provided but
which the Republican party in the pride and
lnsolence Of power, and with its inSidious CEN
traiizin. tendencies, hHS thrown down, is dis
,inctly and clearly understood and appreciated
by every candid thinker,
The CRY for hard money set up by the Rcpub-
licaus is a sham Every measure oflegslation
enacted by them during the past ten years has
been in the direction of an expansion of the
currency. The initiation bill, vetoed by Grant
after he had intimated his intention TO sign ii,
was Il truthful and significant purpose of the
actual desires of the Republicans. With the
Imitation bill in one hand and the Force bill in
the other they hoped to- carry the populous
States Of the West and TO control by terrorism
the South. That was their programme. 1t
came very near to being successful.
That the Imitation bill, after passing both
Houses was returned by Grant without his
signature, was dae far less to any personal Oh
jections he had TO il than the earnest protests
of Eastern bankers and capitalists. That the
Force bill failed in the Senate after being dri-
ven by whip and spur through the House, was
not because the Republican majority did not
approve of it, but because it came before the
Senate so late in the session that Democratic
Senators had resolved and were prepared to
talk il to death. For this reason only, and TO
their great chagrin, and the Republican Sena-
tors, led by the demagogue Morson, reluctantly
consented TO abandon il.
nd hay -bar
Mr.. George William Curtis, who presided at
the Republican Convention at New York, and
who, as editor OF Hdrper's Weekiy was long
ago regarded as the very incarnation of radi-
calism and religious bigotry, acknowledges
that the Republican party is in bad way
that since the reelection of Grant ''the dissat-
isfaction which took form in the schism at Gin
cinnati four years ago, has very greatly increas-
ed, ~ and that 'the abandonment of civil service
REFORM the suspicion y of corruption in the
public service, the Louisiana question, the
Force bill of last winter the Arkansas difficult
ty, the Indian troubles, have absolutely alien
ated many Republicans. He finds ''that the
evidence of alienation is unmistakable in the
elections, and comes 10 the conclusion that
there is strong conviction among the best
Republicans that circumstances demand a
change in the Southern policy of the party,
and that such change is improbable or i'm
possible under Grant, Impossible, we should
say, under any Republican leader. But the
Importance of these confessions is that they
confirm all that the Democratic speakers and
journalists have charged against the Republican
party-confessions, too, that are wrung from
one of its most prominent mouthpieces.
''But the Southern policy was not wrong, "
says Mr. Curtis, remembering how vehemently
he sustained it. son the contrary. it is known
to have been right but the situation has
changed, and it is felt that the course of the
party should be adjusted TO the situation" p"
Exactly. The party has pursued, for ten years,
the policy of imitation, but now that many
Democrats West and South have been bitten
with that Republican tarantula, the situation
has changed and the Republicans must take up
nsincerely the cry of hard money. Now also,
that their Southern policy has worked all the
evil it was possible to accomplish, and the
House of Representatives has a Democratic ma
jority that is capable of checking any further
plunderng and usurpation in that direction,
''the situation is changed and cit is felt that
the course of the Republicans s''--incapacitated
for further HARM should be adapted to the sit
uation." The duty of the hour is to
maintain Democratic ascendancy in Maryland,
not only because, with all its shortcomings, it is
the best for the city and State, but also because
the preservation of both from the hands of
Radicalism insures the electoral vote of the
State for the Democratic nominee for the Pres-
dency next year.