New-York tribune., 1876-09-06
LIE DEMOCRATIc REFORMERS.


Joke of the Democrats, not long ago. They
thought it excessively funny that anybody
should imagine that tho Republican party
could reform itself. Nevertheless some very
creditable progress in that direction has been
made, especially in the great States OF Ohio'
Indiana, and New-York, upon which the cleo
tion turns. Meanwhile, the result of Demo
cratic efforts 10 put that party on reform
footing has not been in high degree encour-
aging. In fact, strong suspicion begins 10
prevail that it will prove immcasuraby more
difficult to eliminate the BourbOnism from
Democracy than to eliminate the Gran,ism
from the Republican party.
We are TO have a new State Convention for
the benefit of New-York Democrats. Their
state of mind, after the outrageous cheat
practiced upon the late convention, may be
better imagined than described. Some speak
openly and savagely of Gov Tilden, and blame
him for the nomination Of Seymour, and the
laundering leadership displayed. But 1t IL not
clear that any better thing could have been
obtained from such convention, and the OBJ
yious desire of the Governor to make Mr..
Dorshcimer his successor was treated with
very pcant courtesy Mr.. DOIsheImer il
ca,ablc man, but he was not a Democrat In
the days when Democracy meant sympathy
with draft riots and election frauds. III re-
form within the party was possible, he should
have been an acceptable candidate, but it was
plain that he was not. All the power OF Gov.
Tilden did not suffice 10 procure respectful
consideration FOR him or for any ether Demo
crat not of the Bourbon type. Every day 1t is
becoming clearer that the nomination Of any
liberal or progressive Democrat would be ils-
astrous, not because such a nomination would
not win independent votes, but because thou
sands of Bourbon Democrats would refuse
to support the ticket. This grave difficulty has
been immensely aggravated by the events OF
the past two weeks. Reform within tho
"partyn seems to be very far of in New
York.
We are to have another illustration, it is
stated, in Massachusetts. Mr.. Adams is alto
gether the best candidate who could be named
by the Democrats in that State, and MIR. I'll
den, not expecting success there, but aware
that such q nomination might help elsewhere,
is said TO have advised it earnestly. The DEM
ocrats of Massachusetts kicked. Their excuse
was the unpopulanty OF Mr. Adams with tho
Irish, and Mr.. Kelly was persuaded to give
him certificate of character Then the true
nature of the opposition appeared. The Dem
| ocrats of Massachusetts, like those OF New
| York, refuse to support a man who was not a
Democrat years ago 1t is possible TO nomi-
nate n Liberal or Independent. IL is not pos
| sible to make the BourbOns vote for him. and
tbe marty managers remember their failure to
command the support of Democratic voters in
| 1872. They are shrewd enough TO see what
| Al, al tIsul a. non ~
! to attempt no impossibilities. The Democratic
party cannot be so liberaizcd rs to support
man like Mr.. Adams; in the attempt more
votes would be lost than would be gained, and
| the latest news is that the name of Mr. Adams
will not be presented.
The difficulty is that the reform policy OF
Gov. Tilden does not command the sympa-
thy of his party. He would be glad, no doubt,
to ignore party lines az far as possible; to
push into the background the 90 tried and true
Democrats with whom he stood during the
war, and to select as representatives OF the
party men who have the sympathy Of the re-
form element. But tLat would mean the
ostracism Of the real representatives of De-
mocracy. 1t would mean that other men
should he virtually prescribed for having bes
Jicved exactly what the party believed, and
what Mr.. Tilden himself during the war
seemed to believe. Democrats are willing
to shout for reform. Bnt they are not
willing to begin the reform by putting for
ward as their candidates and leaders men who
did not think the war a failure, and did not
rondcmn the draft riots and election frauds.
They want victory, but not such victory
rs shall imply condemnation OF their own
conduct for fifteen years. This is no. strange,
we may gay. But because it would be strange
I-if Democrats were willing to put aside their
own rooted beliefs, and TO Ostracize their own
favorite leaders, reform within the patty
becomes every day more palpably unattainablc
for Democrats. The plain truth is that the
Democratic voters cling to their ideas and to
the fayoritc leaders who represent them.
Upon those ideas the country will again be
compelled to pass Judgment
|