The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-02-21
The Democracy as an Opposition
Party.

Disraeli, fixed itself in the public recollec-
ton as humorous expression of saga
cious political idea. A vigilant and power
full opposition is essential to the purity
of free governments. 1t is an in
dispensable part of the machinery Of
popular institutions. The responsibility
of rulers is best enforced by subjecting
them to the criticism of sleepless rivals on
keen watch tor opportunities to trip them
up and get their places An organized OPP
position conducted by skilful leaders makes
rulers cautious and circumspect. forces
them to study public opinion and is the
best protection the people can have against
administration.
The notorious corruption which has
infected American public life since the
close of the civil war is natural conse-
quence of the overwhelming prepon-
derance of one political party The
republicans had control of the federal
government and nearly all the State
governments, and the democratic party
seemed SO feeble that its opponents were
accustomed to deride it as an unburied
corpse. The party in power was en-
boldened to do almost anything, by feel
ing that it was too strongly intrenched to
be dislodged by the apparently moribund
opposition. Within the last few years the
democratic party has become strong and
formidable, and with its revival there has
arisen vigorous reforming element in the
republican organization. In the late Presi-
- o11 he ~tta CO
evenly balanced that, whichever had
succeeded, the government would have
been restrained by powerful and
salutary opposition. The country would
have been safe under Mr.. Tilden, not be-
cause democrats would be less disposed to
abuse power than their opponents, but be-
cause the republicans would have been
strong enough to hold them in check. The
country will be safe under President Hayes,
not because the reform element Will be pre-
dominant in the republican party, but be-
cause the party as whole will be restrained
by constant sense of insecurity after an
election which has proved that the demo-
Gratis outnumber them by something like o
quarter Of o million in the country
at large. The administration Of President
Hayes will be put on its good behavior from
the very start. It cannot afford to make
mistakes. It will set out with every advan-
tage, except the mere possession of Office, in
the hands of its adversaries. The demo-
Gratis are not only superior in numbers but
are armed with weapons of singular potency
for attack and accusation. Unless they
commit some egregious blunder they can
keep the administration perpetually on the
defensive. They can force it either to vim
dictate it's questioned title by conspicuous re-
forms or to exhibit itselfas mark for shatter-
ing assaults. The battering rams of pow
erful opposition will tumble it into ruins
unless it fortifes itself by thorough reno
walton of our existing public life.
The democratic party must not lose sight
of its great advantages in it's bitter chagrin
and indignation at the result of the Presi-
Dental election. The democracy occupy
commanding position if they ore wise and
skilful enough to improve it. They may
extort reforms as an opposition which they
would have been unable to carry as party
in power. They can hold Mr.. Hayes to the
strict letter Of his pledges, although
they would have been unable to make the
same reforms themselves. If the democrats
had come into power the civil service reform,
for example, would have cost them more than
they might have been willing to pay. But
they will sacrifice nothing which it is in
their power to gain by insisting that Mr..
chou Sc >1oJ<
on that subject. The hard money demo-
Gratis will be free to support all wise meas
ures for on early return to specie payments,
whereas had their party gotten possession
Of the government q great deal would
have been yielded to the soft money
wing for the sake Of party unity.
It will be for the obvious interest Of the
democracy to have this question settled and
got out Of the way and not remain as IN
apple Of discord when they come into
power. Even on the Southern question, SO
vital to the tranquility of the country, the
| democratic party can exert more real power
by forcing Mr.. Hayes to keep his pledges
than it could have done if clothed with the
immediate responsibility Of tranquillizing
the South. The republicans will be pre-
cluded from raising an outcry against Mr..
Hayes measures OF justice and Cancellation;
but everything done in this direction would
have been assailed with the utmost party
rancor, have been distorted and misrepre-
scented to the ignorant negro mind, and the
South would have had justice without
peace. But healing policy by President
Hayes cannot be traduced for the purpose
of exciting negro jealousies and mutiny.
The flaw in Mr.. Hayes title and the totter-
ing condition Of his party will enable the
democrats to force him to keep his pledges
or bring his administration into discredit
during the years Of it's existence. The