The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1876-05-17
The Democratic Candidate.
From the New York Weekly TrihnnD

ms 'iiO lCouit VI tHe next L reSlnentlal
election, but the fact certainly is that
the probable action fthe Republicans
at Cincinnati is much more generally
discussed than that Of the Dem
Ocrats at st. Louis. Much more in
terest is manifested by the public in
the Republican nomination than the
Democratic. This would hardly be so
unless there were a conviction in the
popular mind that the next Presi-
dent is to be nominated at Cincinnati
and not at st. Louis. This was not
the case eighteen months ago. After
the Democratic victories which brought
into being the present Congress there
was not only confidence on the part of
the Democracy that the tidal wave
would roll beyond the Presidential cleo
ton and place the government in their
hands, but there was a corresponding
dependency on the part of the Repub-
licans which approached utter dis
enlargement. That there has been a
very positive change in public opinion
since then is too plain to need argu-
ment. The talk of the people, the
tone Ofthe press, and, more convincing
still, the tables of election returns, all
attest it. For this change ofsentiment
the Democrats have only themselves
to thank. They have been trusted
with just little power, and instead of
exercising that little with something
like discretion and judgement and a
proper sense of responsibility, they
have shown only headstrong partisan
ship, an insane Office greed, and lack
of capacity and fitness beside which
the worst things they ever charged
against the opposition seem reputable,
wise and honest. Coming into their
little taste of power upon the strength
of their clamor against the financial
policy of the Republicans, and their
own claim to be able to devise better,
they nave frittered away months in
caucusing and have not yet been able
to agree upon the first syllable ola pol
icy of any sort. Pretending to be sin
cerely DESTROYS of reforming and puri-
flying the Civil Service, they have, so
far as they had the power, plunged
into deeper and dirtier slough than
ever. And even in the business of
investigating corruption, they have
exhibited such partisanship, have been
so credulous of charges against oppo-
lents, no matter how vague and wild,
md so ready to cover up the offences
ST their party friends that the very in
vestigation by which they hoped to
make capital for themselves have &C
.ually damaged them and created SYM
oathy for those whom they have
pursued. So that the feeling with
which the party is viewed by the honest
,Ody of Independent voters in the
country, whose ballots are necessary to
,lect a President, is one of profound
listrust.
The question then for thoughtful
nen in the party, for even the politi-
ians who do at least honestly desire
uecess, is how to regain public conf
ence and secure the needed votes.
Obviously enough it cannot be done
y any professions or promises, or plat
Drm platitudes. Nor can anything
e expected from this Congress. Pub
C opinion has already set down that
ody as chad lot" 1t cannot now
clip the party by its investigations, no
latter what exposures it may make.
is only possible for the party to re-
over its lost prestage and put itself in
position to entitle it to confidence Ivy
taking the best assurances of sincerity.
he candidate himself must be the
latform. In his character and his
cord there must be the solid sub :
antial evidence, not merely of honest
tentions, but of a downright set pur- I
Ose to carry honest intent into prac- :
cal effect. Eighteen months ago,
hen the reaction against the Admin q
tration reached its highest point and Il
mt the Republican party to defeat, ',
C Democrats might have nominated
it'll reasonable hopes ofsuccess almost
~ one of the gentlemen who have "
.en prominently named for the Presi-
.ncy on that side. To-day the case is =
fferent. They cannot now, as they !,
ight then, carry the country upon C.
e weakness Ofthefr opponents. Since L
at time their own weakness has been il
sclosed. Their candidate must be Il
an whose record has identified him =
It'll political reform-one whose can I;
dacy would of itself go far to retrieve n
e blunders and recover the lost "