, 1876-12-24


onstration in Illinois, to be followed up by
the 8th Of January demonstrations in other
States, for which the Democratic managers
have issued the programme, cannot be mis-
taken. It is to organize supplemental cam
paign Of threats, intimidation, and bluster,
by which to change the result Of the Presi-
Dental election. That result remains to be
announced, and, Whatever tangle there may
be as to how that announcement shall be
made, it will not be solved by the gathering
together of the most inf1ammab1e elements
in the States embraced in the Democratic
programme, to be harangued by demagogues
intent upon "blufing" the whole country.
Nothing more criminal could have been con-
triYed than this programme for bulldozing
the nation by massing of material for,
and inAaming the sentiment that would
lead to, civil war. It is easy enough now
for reckless partisans to talk brnvely about
securing at all hazards what they are pleased
TO style the fruits Of their victory at the
polls, while at the same time they plan to
capture the Administration, or rather the
Offices, by bulldozing tactics. It is easy
enough for such fellows to style such per-
fornance courageous. But it requires no
courage to make demagogical appeals to par
tisan prejudice. That is not the sort of
courage that is required to safely conduct the
country out Of the present embarrassments.
The courage that finds vent in bluster, and
threats, and bluff at this juncture is no less
treasonable cowardice than was the bluff, and
bluster, md reasonable threatening that
precipitated the War Of the Rebellion. It Is
easy enough to answer threats with threats,
and to hurl back defiance. But that, too, is
not the kind Of courage that is wanted now.
The true eourageis on the side of the law and
of pacific adjustment Of all questions that
may arise through lawful means.
The men who are manipulating the cam
paien of intimidation which Mr. TnpEN has
planned to carry himself into the White
House must not take the sentiment Of the
country, that quietly but soberly disapproves
Of their programme, for cowardice. The
Confederates made the like mistake sixteen
years ago. They clustered and vapored,
and nobody appeared to knock the chips of
their shoulders. But the sequel is matter
Of history. Tho men who melted the South
to strike the first blow should remember that
the first blow, struck now, will cost the
strikers as dearly IS it did then; and
the knowledge Of that fact ought to e1-
ert a restraining influence upon them now in
the outset of this intimidation pro
granme which they propose to carry by or
eanizing the elements for dangerous
confagraion. The United States cannot be
bulldozed as was Ouachita Parish, as those
who act On the contrary assumption will find
to their cost, and their bluster will frighten
nobody. The better sense OF the rank and
file of the Democratic party Of. the North
ought to suffice to squeleh this moral bull
doing scheme, just as the better sense of the
Chicago Democracy squelched Gen. DAN
CAMERoN's revolutionary schemes and we
note with satisfaction that the better sense
Of the Democratic party is making itself felt
against this bluff intimidation programme Of
T1nDEH. Should that incendiary programme
be pursued with the criminal recklessness
with which it has been planned
should these conyocations of people
drawn together by int1ammatory ap-
peals, to be worked up by unscrupulous
demagogues. to the point Of making the
grand threatening demonstration that is
aimed at, there will be but the more reso.
lutte manifestation of the determination OF
the great body of the people who are not
ofice-hunters to see to it that the whole
question be settled without mob violence or
mob threatenings, and by the abitrament OF
the law.