The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1876-08-26
A TricEN PQrtlI.

- - SNfS9 - W. w.
The New York Times of recent date gave very
able and truthful editorial upon the above text.
1t demonstrates that for the third time the DEM
ocratic party goes into Presidential canvass
facing different ways. For the third time it at
tenpts to win popular confidence with candi-
dates out Of harmony with each other, aud with
platform that needs continual explanation
Lincoln put the case very pithily in 1864, when
he said of the Democratic Convention then about
to assemble in Chicago "They will have to
nominate peace candidate on q war platform,
or q war candidate on peace platform. don't
sec rnur II mikes muru uInerence Which they do n
Then, as now, the Democratic party had no COM
mon principle, ne unity, and no other power Of
cohesion than that Of desire for public plumber
The nomination of Gen. Mcclellan, and Democ-
racy under his leadership, was about the same.
1t was an anomaly looking simply to expediency
without unity of purpose or principle and the
people repudiated the whole thing.
There was less patchwork in the Democratic
canvass of 1868, Though thousands of Democrats
rebelled against the artful dodge by which Blair
was put on the same ticket with Seymour. This
discomfort took shape in the amazing folly of the
World, which in the height of the contest de-
manded that Blair's name should be taken down.
Once more the Democracy suffered a tremendous
rout. But in 1872 the same tactics which had
been practissd in 1864 were repeated. The erig-
inal Cincinnati movement of that year was one
entitled to the respect Of candid men. 1t was de-
signed to further certain changes in the methods
of the collection of the national revenue; these
proposed notifications were approved by many
wise statesmen. At any rate, the objects of that
movement were strictly legitimate however men
might differ as to their expediency. But, more
than anything else, revenue reform then meant
free trade The Cincinnati Convention was lit
orally captured" and Horace Greeley, protec-
zionist of protectionists, was nominated for Pres
ident. With rare folly, Western free trader
was put on the same ticket as candidate for Vice
President And the platform of this se-called
Revenue Reform Convention calmly RELOCATED
the question of the tariff to the Congressional
districts" 1t was like child 'spuzze in rhyme,
of which the key is concealed in a juggle of
words. This comical travesty might have been
dismissed with good-natured laugh. But the
Democrats at Baltimore, with incredible folly,
Endorsed the Cincinnati platform, accepted Mr..
Greeley as their candidate, and went into the
canvass again handicapped. 1t was impossible
that Greeley and Brown should be together; it
was impossible for either of them to be Demo-
cratic candidates. The result was a canvass OF
defensive explanations, evasions and shutting on
one side, and of impregnabe strength on the
other The Democracy suffered the overwhelm-
ing defeat which their childish trickery had in
vited. The people would not be deceived. This
year the party has repeated its old disastrous ex-
pertinent. As is well said by the Times:
1.-THE division between the war and pesce
wings of the party in 1864 was not more marked
than that between the hard-money and soft-mon-
ey wings in 1876. The platform of 1872 was
just such cunning play with words in its chief
plank as that of 1876 is in its essential particular.
The general question of administrative reform"
received as fervid attention in the last campaign
of the Democratic party as it does now and
such shifty spectators as Doolttle shouted then
as loudly for "Greeley and Reform" as they do
now for "Tilden and Reform" But then, as now,
the so-called principles of the party were pre-
tense. Tilden, Hendricks, and their platform are
all soft-money in the West and hard-money in
the East Whatever Tilden really is, he has
heretofore been consistent in claiming TO be re-
sunptionist Whatever Hendricks may be, he
has heretofore maintained without dispute the
reputation of an infationist. What the platform
really is, no man can tell. There was the same
kind of mummery over it in committee and con-
ventisI that there was over the Chicago abor-
ton of 1864. Just what shape it has been left
in by the gentlemen who have been tinkering it
since the convention dissolved is an inserutable
mystery. Is the party in favor of resumption
The Democratic House has repudiated the only
rational promise to resume. Is it in favor of in
hation Its candidate for President claims to be
the chiefest among all hard-money men. Does
the Democratic platform declare against resump-
Ia, se-i--SA the 6xed date of assumptions p
There are two versions or rhfs document already
extant.
at is not likely that this new attempt of the
Democratic party to sneak in % power under false
pretenses will avail. 1t is net likely that an in
telligent and shrewd people like ours will be any
more easily fooled in 1876 than in 1864. The
small tricks and low cunning which may carry
primaries and village caucuses are out of place in
a national canvass. They never have succeeded
there-they never will. The honest, truth-oviug
voter looks on and understands the whisperings
the indirection, the delays and the cunning eva
sion of these political tricksters. Their prodigi-
Gus clatter about reform deceives nobody. 1t
is clear as MONDAY that this Democratic party is
the same old cringing, deuble-dealing party
come again. And when the history of this can
vass shall be written it will be seen that the
Democracy has been again righteously dishonor-
ed and rebuked"
A better exposition of trickery could not be
given. Itcovers the whole ground. Even DEM
ocrats themselves must see plainly the attempts
made by their leaders to deceive them.