New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-09-27
THE REAL SpIRIr or DEMOCRACY


THE REAL Split or DEMOCRACY.
We can well understand how the respect
able portion of the Democratic party at the
South may feel scandalized by the reports
which come North very slowly OF the out
breaks of hostility against the blacks OF that
section. We do not conceal from ourselves
the fact that in all probability many OF the
reports of Outrages and intimidation are e1-
ACCENTED That seems unavoidable III the
present political condition. 1t is the most
common thing in the world during warm
nolitical campaign for ardent partisans TO seize
upon whatever current rlmOrs put Ill clrcula-
ton, charging upon and magnifying the stories
for the simple purpose Of creating capital Tor
themselves and their party, Men who are
familiar with the methods of politicians take
all these statements with the grain of salt they
need But they do know that under 1t
all there must be so much truth as
really furnishes good cause for apprehen-
sion and alarm. They know, too, that some
directing intelligence is at work suppressing
all reports of so much as does actually happen
in the way of violent outbreaks. The average
voter understands that though some of the re-
ports of disturbances and civil disorder may
be exaggerated by interested partisans who
desire to excite the passions and revive the
old animOstics of The war, there is still good
reason to believe that there is equal sOlic-
itude on the other side TO conceal all the facts
and present the Southern situation in its most
rose-cOlored aspect 1t is quite obvious that
somewhere between the labOred conccalmcnt
and the possible eXaggeTatiOn OF facts there ls
truth enough to deserve attention and to call
for the calm and serious consideration oil
citizens who wish TO vote in the coming cleo
tons with a full knowledge of the facts and
issues involved. Many Southern gentlemen
acting with the Democratic party are offended
at what they call and no doubt honestly con-
slider to be libelS upon their communities. so
there are many honest and conscientious per-
sons associated with the Democratic party at
the South who take oftense at the general
charge against the party that it is ruled and
directed by bad men, and that the success oil
Mr.. Tilden would bring into power at the
North some of the worst classes IN society.
But after all is not the statement true1
Making all allowances for the misrepresenta-
tons of affairs at the South by bigoted paru-
sans, and taking into account the fact that
many of Gov. 1ildens intimate personal and
politcal friends and many leading Democrats
at the North are gentlemen Of intelligence and
ability, and the equals in ability and integrity
of any of their opponents, does not the fnct
remain notwithstanding all this that the sue
cess of the Democratic party would accom-
plish the two things named: bring to
tbe surface at the North hungry
and bad lot of politicians who have no con-
ception of political principle and no notion OF
politlcal honesty while ut the South 1t
would place power in the hands OF men who
would use it for the purpose OF restoring 80
far as they might be able the condit on OF
affairs before the war. That is really the
serious factor in tho problem. This is what
THE TRIBUNE has all along endeavored to
keep before the public mind: That the Dem
ocratjc party is unworthy Of confidence that
no matter whom it may bring forward here
and there as Its candidates for office, the
anmatlng purpose OF the organization, as ex-
hibited in every instance where 1t has been
trusted over few and small things, is simply
to obtain power and divide spoils. Behind
this there is the desire of the great bulk of the
party, of the men who have suffered defeat for
twenty years, to "get even" with their oppo-
nents, and undo so far as they can whatever
the latter have done. The minority OF honest
and law-abiding citizens at the South, who
have accepted the results of the war, and are
now only DESTROYS to promote the general well
fare and the material good of their own sec
ton, would be powerless against the masses
who would rise up and march over them. In
the North the few leaders who desire reform
and honest administration would have no
earthly chance against the hungry hordes OF
oflice-seekers who would swash over the whole
government in the event OF Tilden's election.
This is no mere conjecture OF what would
happen Fortunately or unfortunately, we have
had opportunities for seeing how this party be-
HAYES when it reaches power. No man who
has witnessed the conduct of the party when
ever it has had the opportunity to disclose its
real spirit can contemplate the possibility of its
taking possession of the General Government
without something like feeling of horror
1t is because of this general distrust that the
party has so little chance for success. 1t is
because the distrust is 90 well grounded that
VIC look forward to its defeat with a sense Of
satisfaction.
---------------------
THE SEW4RD STATUE
To-day the statue of the late Mr.. Seward,