New-York tribune., 1876-06-29
DEVOCR4TYC TYNANCE.

The Democratic party promises reform,
wants peace, and demands reputation. Ke-
peal of the Resumption act, without other
and more effective steps for the fJtiincnt OF
the solemn pledge contained in that and pre-
vous acts. is reputation. The Democrats are
destined TO learn that the people 30 regard 1t.
In 1868, from the beginning TO the end OF a
most disastrous campaign, they protested 'l"t
they lid not mean 10 Tepudiate any hOholaple
Obligation. The criminal, wien arraghcn,
rarely pleads guilty. Men Who assall TIE pup
lie honor are not often ready to CONFESS lha'
the particular act they propose - repHuia'ioh
Their protests do not after the fact. lhat
winch the country mOsi detests - tl1t inter
DEGRADATION of the moral nature witch iaiis
to find any wrong in an act essentially
dishonest. In 1865, when tho Demo
Gratis proposed to pay the flyc-tWenty
bonds in deprecated paper, the pia'h,
honest voters looked behind all the pTcteNls
and pretenscs: they saw tfat the ;ct Wouid bo
essentially dishonorable; ana they only d'-
spised tie more any Democratic politician VINO
tried 10 convince then that he did hot 80 Ic-
card il. Honest farmers and iaDofcIs, sun
stautial Business men, the commercial ana
financial bodies, felt that the pos'lon OF the
Democratic party was hostile to the iunda-
mental IDEAS of personal integrity ana COM
merrinl morality and met that party with
stern. unyiclding opposition which made all
its excuses and tricks of phrase utterly worth
less. SO 1t will he now. Tri,l once and
found wanting, Democracy bctrIy, the same
leaning toward national dishonesty as soon "a
il is called once more to frame Il l!atiorm Tor
itself.
The desire for peace is good. II is shared
by tina; large majority OF Republicans "Ao
threw GqaaGsm OgcrbOarl, ana sustained
Hayes, Biistow, or Blaine again't the cham
pions of Federal Interference ut the South. 1T
is shared by thOso WHO gave Slr. spencer leave
to Get cut Of o Republican Convection. The
Republican party, no less than the Democratic
desires 10 have 10 more mcddling with affairs
at the south for the sake OF sustaining any
set OF corrupt partiaans.
The promise of reform is just as good as 1t
has been at any time for half century when
made in national platforms OF either party.
The Republican party, by its behavior Tor
eight years, and the Democratic party by It's
conduct at Washington during this session and
in different States where it has had the power
only question which the people will ask Is
whether the one candidate or the other viii be
more likely, il elected, to resist the powerful
tendencies toward corruption which exist in
both parties, and TO call about him the fettcr
and purer elements. That Is a question OF
character and as,OcatCs-a question oil candi-
dates. The platforms do not answer II.
Hence there remain, between the two par
ties bat one vital issue defined by their plat
forms" Shall the nation pay It's debts, or rc
"pudiato its pledges ?" If there are Ecpnbii-
cans who wish 10 cvadc that issue they Will
fail. Ii will be forced upon them every hour
10 the end of the fight. All else that the
Democrats say on the financial issue l. mere dis
guise and ycnceriug. The demand for the
repeal of the Resumption act Is the one thing
which reveal; the spirit and purpose of the
party In 1864 men read only one phrase,
.Thc war j. failure" In 1865 they read one
payment of the bonds III paper. The repeal Of the
ResumptiOn act Is the one thing for which all
inlationist, and rcpudator5 have clamOIcd.
Give them that, and they viii take care that
a Congress shall be elected which will not put
in place of that act anything displcaslng to
repudiators. We have seen what a Democratic
House means. Democratic National Con-
yention adoDts as lis own that warfare upon
the public honor which the majority in the
House has been w2giDg. On that issue the
fight viii tun, and neither the evasiOns of
weak Republicans nor the professions Of we'll
meaning Democrats will change its character.