The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-07-22
For ne Democratic Adrocatc.
The Conventions and their Nominations.

The nomination Of Mr.. Hayes by the Re
publican Convention was surprise, alike /
Republicans and Democrats. To the firsI
the surprise was onO of mental easement an
heartrelicf To the Democrats the surpris
was one of temporary depression and disap
pointment- These opposite moods had i
common source-the defeat OF Mr.. Blaine
majority of tho members of the Republica
convention dreaded his nomination, becaus
they foFesawin that nomination the inevitabl
defeat of their party. They felt iutimidatet
by the clamor and parade of Mr.. Blaine
adherents, and mistook their daring AM
bluster for real strength. Hence, when tn
final result was reached, the whole couyen
ton, bya spontaneous sympathy Of feeling
realized the fact that an oppressive burden
had rolled from It's overtasked shoulders,
The convention was not unlike Sinbad viii
the legs Of the "0ld Man of the Sea- tightly
interlaeed about his neck and breast. Their
seemed at FIRST but little prospect that III,
convention would BIO able to rid itself of tn,
'0ld Man of Maine. But relief came q
last. The Fates were propitious. The dis
taft gave out the desired thread; and the
| Atropos Of Pennsylvania severed it remorse
lessly and forever.
| The Democrats, to II certain extent, had
been deceived by the manifestations o.
strength made by the partisans Of Mr.. Blaine
through the press, the Club House, and Other
less respectable centres Of agitation. They
| expected his nomination by the convention.
They believed him to be politically weak;
they knew him to be morally corrupt, and
therefore not likely to win the esteem and
confidence OF the honest masses. His nomi-
nation would be the opportunity of the De.
mocracy. His defeat unsettled for time the
equanimty of the Democrats, and displaced
the factors which had made up the resultant
of their calculations.
Two primary errors resulted from this order
of things. The Republicans mistook their
sudden relief and their gushing sympathes
for unity of party action and extinction Of
personal bitterness and rivalry. The Demo.
Gratis, on the other hand, mistook the disap-
poiutment Of their hopes for kind OF politi-
cal atrophy for which there could be no re.
lief. 1t will require but a short experience
IN the coming canvass to convince both par
ties how baseless was the conclusion reached
In all extremes, whether of excitement or
depression, the reaction which follows will
always be in the ratio of either excess. Asa
rule, both of moral and physical conditions,
excitement is depressing, enervating and un
healthy; whereas the reaction that follows on
a state of unreasonable dependency and
mortified hope is almost always indicative of
returning vitality and renewed energy of the
moral and physical forces,
We have now satisfactory illustration of
this truth. Even before the nomination of
Tilden and Hendricks, it was apparent that
the enthusiasm, awakened by the nomination
Of Hayes and Wheeler, was not of that pro-
found character which settles the purposes
and fires the action of men. The Democratic
nomination has made this illustration more
marked and impressive. ltappeals toreason
and duty. II invokes that character of com.
parisOn which practical men always make,
and which good and true men always enter
on, in presence Of great political exigencies
and important social revolutions.
While we may not dispute the personal re-
spectability OF the Republican candidates, VIC
claim for the Democratic candidates all the
merit and virtue which the most enthusiastic
eulogists Of Hayes and Wheeler can demand
for their leaders, But the present contest is
not to be determined by any measure of mere
personal character. 1t must pass into field
Of broader and more important discussion.
1t will have to be fought out on the basis of
ideas, principles, and policies that antagonize
one another as irreconcilably as good antag-
onizes evil
The success Of the Republican party in this
contest means nothing less than the continue
ton OF the present order of political action,
and precludes the hope of escape from the
misrule of the government and the corrup-
tons which have marked its course and sullied
its history. II means the perpetuation Of an
Interstate rule that has for its motive and
end the consolidation Of Republican ascen-
dency through sectional bitterness aud strife,
supplemented and co.ordinated with official
prostitution and corruption. 1t means such
organic changes in the form, spirit and prin-
ciples Of our polity which can be achieved
only by the destruction of our constitution and
Jurisprudence, and burying under their ruins
the rights and liberties bequeathed to us as
an inalienable inheritance by the sages and
patriots who one hundred years ago laid the
foundations OF II republican government.
The antagonisms, arrayed by the Demo
cratic party, against this order of political
action are sharp, indelbly outlined and ag-
gressively marshalled. They accentuate
struggle of all the conservative elements of
the nation against the existence of party
whose birth was conceived in sectional hate;
whose growth and development were nurtur-
ed by the blood OF civil war; and whose vital.
ity is prolonged by the foul corruptions upon
which it battens and survives.
The nature of the struggle is happily SYM
boized in the character Of the Democratic
candidate for President. The history of Mr..
T'ilden is an index of the war he will inaugu-
rate against the infamous rings and cor
rupt officials that have been the natural out
growth of the present government. His
courage is guarantee to the people that no
character Of menace or intimidation will de-
ter him from dragging corruption from its
dark hiding places. His knowledge and en-
perience will aid him in carrying to trinm.
plant issue the needed work Of social and
political regeneration. His unsnllied name
and high character will ensure him immunity
from the temptations of official opportunity !;
while his combined moral and intellectual
qualifications for the duties and responsible
ties of his high Office, will secure to the coun.
try wise and firm administration of the laws;
faithful observance of all constitutional OBJ
legations, and such measures Of public policy
as will restore to the States the blessings of
fruternal unity; and to the whole people that
social prosperity and political harmony which
they need for the development and grandeur
of American progress and civilization. X.