The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-03-25

At any other epoch Of our history, the
populations, defalcations, thefts, burglaries,
swindles, falsehoods, robberies, frauds,
nepotisms, corruptions, briberies, fraudu
lent appointments and contracts, military
suppressions Of adverse majorities, prosti-
tutions Of the public honor to knavish
spectators for gain, ignoble uses Of public
war vessels for bed chamber purposes by
women, high official civilities to culprits
under indictment for felony, shielding and
supporting by legal orders the notorious
accomplices of convicts, open barter and
sale of the public Offices BY Cabinet officers
and near relatives of the President him
self: We say these things and others like
unto them, Of which this Administration
is known to be PROFESSIONALLY and con-
spicuously guilty, would at any previous
period of our history have buried any
other Administration and any other party
than the one now in power beneath load
Of public odium that would have forbidden
forever any possible hope Of resurrection.
How, then, does it happen that the Re-
publicans can be guilty of every kind and
degree Of corrupt administration ever prac.
tised by the worst governments, and yet
maintain comparatively. triumphant atti-
tude before the country? Their practices
ard so offensive and shameful that any one
Of them is sufficient to astound all honest
men. At almost any other time, and in
almost any other country, their acts would
be universally pronounced adequate cause,
hundred times over, for an immediate
political revolution. How, then, does il
happen that here in this country, where
everybody reads the newspapers and there
fore knows the scandalous facts Of the case
there is no universal uprising to rebuke
and overthrow the criminals, such as the
case clearly demands? Are we essentially
debauched and demoralized? Are we
case-hardened to political immortality and
crime?
Why do not the Republican masses
universally condemn such notorious de-
pravity, or at least withhold their support
from those guilty Of it? They 90 on in
the face of every disclosure, each worse
than the last, if possible, voting apparently
just as though nothing had happened.
The elections this year do not seem to
indicate any weakening of party support,
or sundering of party ties, among the
masses of Republican voters. In the town
elections in this State this spring the Re
publicans, instead Of losing, appear to gain
largely. The spring elections in Maine
show the same general results, so far as
we have observed the returns. And in
New Hampshire in the election Of Tuesday
they have an increased majority uotwith-
standing the Washington scandals.
The natural result Of SO much corruption
and iniquity clearly ought to be total
overthrow Of the party. Why do we see
50 few signs Of its taking placer There
ought TO be an avalanche Of public opin.
ion against these shocking indecencies
and crimes, their authors and abettors !;
yet there is no such manifestation. What
Is the reason for this apparent insensibility
Of the public mind and conscience ? Il Is
no part Of our business to manipulate,
strain or qualify facts. We present them
just rs they are.
We find two reasons for this strangely
inert appearance Of the public sense and
Judgment. The frst is that the rural Re.
publicans think they can uncouple the
train from the Washington engine. For
example, Republicans in Maine do not
believe that by electing a son Of Pitt Fes-
sender 70 the mayorality of Portland they
sustain the greed and corruption of the
Grant Administration, On the contrary,
they rather fatter themselves that il ought
to be taken as valuable testimony in be-
half Of strict political and moral integrity.
Il Is so elsewhere. The independent 10.
calism Of our interior political organiza.
tons makes them self supporting and self.
sufficient, and justiies to some extent their
claim Of isolated Independence Of action,
They refuse to regard their votes for well.
approved Republican candidates Of home
production, as any endorsement Of politi.
cal rogues elsewhere. This is the general
sentiment, and il accounts for a good deal
that would otherwise be inexplicable on
any theory presupposing public honesty
and intelligence.
The second reason for the apparent i'm
mobility Of the public conscience, as man.
Tested in the local elections, is profound
fear of Democratic ascsndancy that is felt
BY the great mass Of decent Republicans.
There Is such an apprehension Of commit
ting the Government into the hands Of
those who sought to destroy it, [this Is
. gross libel on the Democrats, I that mum.
bers of honest men would today submit 70
almost any degree Of Republican malad.
ministration and wickedness, sooner than
vote 70 give power 70 the Democrats. The
record Of that party in the North was so
bad during the war that il alone suiices
% create degree Of distrust and dislike
on which politicians can still play and
trade aud when this feeling Is re. enforced
BY the results Of reconstruction, bringing
large number Of once actual rebels 10
arms into the national halls Of Legislation
70 cooperate with the Northern Democ-
racy, Of course il becomes intensified.
Yet, notwithstanding all this, SO vivid was
the public indignation over the earlier de-
li1quencies Of Grants Administration. that
enough Republicans refused 10 vote. or
bolted their ticket and east opposition
votes, 10 1874, 10 overwhelmingly change
a