National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1876-08-01
SHORT MEMORIES,

Ifthere is anything at this time that the
Democrats long for. hope for, sigh for, and
pray for, 1t is that the people of the United
States may have short memories. All in
their history that lies back of the Centen-
NAL year should be forgotten and forgiven,
and then they could take new departure
with some hope of realizing their future
aspirations. No party ever regretted more
that it has a record than that which to-day
enters the lists under the banner of Tilden
aad reform, and demands that the people
of this Government shall surrender its
reins into their hands.
At the close of the war, when the Demo
cratic party of New York began to thirst
afresh for the flesh pots of position, and
sought to achieve success once more in the
political field, Dean Richmond, then a
prominent and sagacious leader in that
party, after feeling of the public pulse, de-
clared most solemnly that no politician
days, and for some that would be too long.
He found that the record of his party in
that bloody and expensive struggle was
held in recollection; that the men who
had recognized the doctrine uttered at
Chicago that the experiment of war was
failure were remembered by the people as
doubtful patriots and dangerous receptacles
of power. Hendricks had been teaching
the people not to volunteer in the nations
defense, for he would not 60. and he would
Lot ask others to 60 where he would not
go himself and the people remem
bered him. Fernando Wood had lent
his open sympathy and aid to the
South during the rebellion, and he was
remembered. Tilden, though in embryo,
had discouraged enlistmehts, and by his in
fluence had done all IN his power to en-
barrass and delay the extinguishment of
the rebellion. Seymour had set his face
against the policy of the Government in
filling the depleted ranks of the Union
army by draft. All these things were treas'
ured up in the memories of the people
and were to be met on every hand, and
the stout, hearted Richmond then in the
field foresaw the overthrow of his party SO
long as his party had record and the
American people had memory.
At this era history is repeating itself in
the way of recollections, much to the dis
comfture of those who are eagerly reach
ing after power in the Government. If
Democratic history connected with the
war to crush rebellion could be obliterated
If the peculations of Jackson's, Van
Buren's and Buchanan's administrations
could be buried in oblivion-if the millions
of treasure that had been taken from the
national treasury by Democratic hands
could be dropped from memory-if the
treason and rebellion that found origin
purely in the Democratic party and de-
luged the land in blood at the expense of
five billions of treasure could be blotted
from the record-then the Democratic
party could raise high its banner and
march proudly to battle. But these damned
spots will not out. History is written in
letters of fire and blood, and stares that
party in The face on every hand. 1t quails
before the record. 1t attempts to shIrk and
dodge the true issue. 1t hopes to conquer
under a fraudulent flag; but the people
have memories, and the Democrats are
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