New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-09-20

| New-York dominates Seymour, which IN IN
| diana insists upon Hendricks, which at
| Washington opens the way to Southern
| claims by the million, cannot wonder II people
remember where it stood during the war, and
who brought upon the country. the burdens
which now Cypress u.s. The treachery oil North
erp leaders. the subservieney reduced to prin-
ciple for so many years exhibited by Democratic
representatives and Democratic consttueh-
cies, the haif-hearted support which the
Union, in the hour of imminent ana
mortal peril, received from some Democrats
and the indifference, amounting almost 10
treason, of many others-all these have forced
the cautious voter into speculations concerning
the probable effects of the return OF such a
party to national power. SO the Old issue Is
here. We may regret that it has been raised;
but whether the Republicans or the Democrats
are responsible for it, here it is. The moment
inuuirers ask themselves what would be the
probable course of Democratic Admlnlstra-
tion, they begin to remember, and there Is no
forgetfulness TO be found for them in the most
sophistical of speeches, the most persuasive OF
leading articles, the cleyerest msrepresenta-
tons Of the situation.
the Rebellion as we supposed. The turn which
the campaign has taken in Indiana is alone
sufficient to demonstrate this. When the in
tcrrogatory comes, What course would
Democratic Administration pursue toward the
disaflected and disconnected and heart-sore
portion of the Southern people, who is there
in that party capable of giving satisfactory
answer7 Who would be permitted by Its
managers to give one if he desired to do sol
If the loyal voters lack confidence in Demo-
cratic leaders, it is because thus far they
have put forward no plan of allaying South
ern disturbances. We happen to be living In
a time when neat congratulations about the
Constitution, and smooth words of promise,
with loud protestations of patriotism, VIII not
serve. Not much attention has been paid to
tho indefinite and loose position OF the Demo
cratic party as to matters of Southern policy
but the nice instincts of the people are always
sensitive and almost always right. 1t is not to
be denied that a party in the least indebted to
Southern Democrats for its ascendency, or hay
ing their sympathy and moral support, might
relapse into its old habits, especially as 1t has
never formally abandoned them.
Perhaps specific declaration OF its loyal in
tcntions might have helped the Democratic
marty to few more Northern votes, and IN
such case the majori;eS against it would not
have been so large, nor the defeat awaiting 1t
so disastrous. Something, too, 1t might nave
gained by the nomination of entirely fresh
men with 10 awkward antecedents. But 1t
has acted precisely as if for generation II
had retained q majority in every State OF the
Republic, and now needed only to go through
n set of automatic motions to elect President
and Vice President and majority OF the
House. There must be some new blood
in the party, for the old ones have
died and the young ones have been
attaining their majority but the melancholy
truth is, that search IA closely ms we
may, the Democratic party of 1876 is not found
TO differ in any important detail from the Demo
cratic party Of 1850. is it wonderful that vot-
era first doubt and then decide to vote with
the Republicans, who are ut least nomlnaliy
committed To loyal policy, and who must be
true to it in the main or go ut once to destruc-
ton? In all great contests the doubts OF
pcople are as potent as their beliefs; ana
whether the voters distrust of the Democratic
marty be i'll or well founded it will probably
decide the election mt hand. The Republican
marty will succeed, not through the exertions
of its mere partisans for we have never known
n time when they had so little inlinence), but
because tho people intnitiyely feel that III
voting for the Republican candidates they are,
in these troublous times, running the least
possible risk.