New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-05-26
TIE eRBESBAoK DEMOCRACY.

D3ASSADAVAs
As the time for the meeting of the
National Democratic Convention ap-
proaches, we notice unmistakable signs
Of disagreement in the party. Indiana
and Ohio have led off in greenback plat
form, much to the disgust of the regular
or hard money wing Of the party, and now
We have call from New York, signed by
Gideon Tucker, for the purpose Of elect
ing delegates opposed to the policy Of the
majority of the House of Representatives.
This movement is so formidable and
threatening as to create serious alarm in
such Southern Democratic journals as the
Louisville Courier-Journal, and others
further South, who have far other uses
for the party than those contemplated BY
the Northern leaders. Doubtless as q
minority party, it made littb difference
what the Dem ocracy put into its platform,
but since the numerous investigating
committees of the House have led the
more ignorant and credulous to believe
that every Republican employe of the
government will be accused out of Office
by tie first of November, and thus pave
the way for Democratic walk-over, it
becomes q matter of some concern to fix
upon the policy of the new administration
when we have it.
1t is very plain that something is re-
quired beside the customary affirmation
of attachment to ancient traditions, to the
constitution as it was, and to an abstract
expression Of adherence to the doctrine of
State rights. A very large number Of the
Democrats in Indiana, Ohio, New York
and Pennsylvania have actually taken
hold of q new idea, and the very novelty
Of the thing holds them together. In the
current history Of American politics,
oficeholders, and the benefciaries of pub
lie Offices, especially in the older and
most prosperous of the Northern States,
exert almost no influence at all in the
elections. If We are not so far advanced
in the South, it is because we are not so
well provided with productive industries,
and for the further reason that too many
of the white people here still cling with al
most fatal tenacity to an old, efete, decay
ing sentiment called Southernism. Hence,
We shall see, in the grand congress Of dele
gates of the Democratic party About to
assemble at St. Louis, that the members
from the South will be idle spectators.
Having but one political idea, and that
abstract, they will be unable to participate
in the discussion of the real, living ques-
tons which are likely to be brought up.
When Southern delegate shall be asked
to decide between William Allen, inf1a-
zionist, and Tilden, hard money. he can
only reply in confused way by asking
which is the sounder man on the Southern
question. There being really no such
thing at the North as the Southern ques-
ton, he will be assured by the respective
friends of the two rivals that both are
especially sound on that, and thus the
main cause of anxiety being removed, our
delegates will vote FOX the man most likely
to beat Grant or the Republican nominee,
and return to his constituents impressed
with the idea that he has exerted some in
fuence on the politics Of the nation. 1t
seems as though the Democratic party of
the North has become tired of being
weighted down to inevitable defeat by the
Southern Democracy, and most vigorous
effort will be made to try something else.
Unfortunately they will not be able to
agree, and there is serious danger of bolt.
To avert such calamity, the Demo-
cratic papers are doing their best to be-
little this great and formidable movement.
One declares it to be revival Of the
Charles O'Conor movement disguised.
Another, that it is the work Of the Re-
publicans, masked as Democrats, while
others are hopeful that prudent counsels
and promises of profits from the spoils
will yet succeed in persuading the recall
citrant members to fall into line, and
abide by the decision of the majority Of
the convention. We publish in another
column the circular and resolutions Of the
New York Democracy, which show that
the men engaged in the movement are in
earnest, and not likely to be easily di.
verted from what seems settled purpose.