New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-02-26
COMMON SENSE AND COMMON SCOLDING.


Almost for generation the Democratic party
has lacked nothing except votes and common
sense. During that period it has been ire
oucntly cautioned by its leaders against DONG
foolish things, and has straightway proceeded
TO do them. Consequently, like DOgDcny III
the play. cit has had losses many ana lew
Gains. Its cleycreSt men have deserted II,
fired of being made the victims OF logged
nersstcncy i'm mistakes. 1t has carried States,
now and then and here and there, governing
them unwisey and losing them incontlnenty
Ii had such chance az rarely comes 10
party in ill-health of recovering itself when it
secured the present House of Representatives,;
and to say the least it has not much improved
il. Now comes another crisis; the repu-
tation of the party for good falth, rea-
sonable foresight, and homespun honesty
is at stake; and, for once at least,
the Democrats seem inclined to act wisely, and
RI turn n deaf ear to the hOt-hcaded dcma-
gogues. who advise factiouS delay. They feel,
as Mr.. Neal of Ohio Ga good Democracy put II,
"that it would be suicidal for the Democratic
"party, one of whose fundamental principles
sis obedience to law, to attempt to resist tnc
Carving out of the result OF the Electoral
"bln Suicidal seems to be precisely the
word. Of course there was a great airing OF
adectivcs by the angry and dissatisfied Mr..
Clymer of Pennsylvania was specially rhetor-
zeal. and declared that President Hayes would
he a usulpcr" Mr.. Caldwell of Tennessee
Thought that "the Commission had been de-
"bauched." And there was our own Hewitt,
who wanted to say something which should
sound well and keep the party from making
fool of itself, and very prettily he said 1t.
eve must nOt,n he remarked, "De driven
"from the firm ground of truth and
"iustice by any violation of it on
1.-THE other side of the House" And this
reminds lis of what Mr.. Hendricks said the
other day to q correspondent: 1.-The Commits
" sion having gone according to law, the result
Twill be the election of Hayes" "Iheyll all
"come round again. said the Governor, OF
the Democrats who are swearing that they
will never vote again in all their lives, so help
them Jupiter! They'll all come round again;
ONLY the time for coming round is now. The
people of this country have long memories
and if they dislike anything bitterly it is "A
party which does not keep its word. Gov.
Hendricks has a future and means TO live for
II. Toy. 1llutH says HOtHIHs' vi piS iO"'""'
if for no other, he has no future. This week
terminates a political life which it might be Ill
his power to prolong if he only had 1.-THE
of the shrcwdncss with which he is credited.
Gov Hendricks is evidently happy in spite OF
his luck, but Gov. Tilden's moments OF eX-
hilaration Just at this time must be compare
lively few.
1t is evident that the Democratic party has
10 intention of disbanding. 1t fancies that 1t
has valuable grievance with which to go to
the people, and we certainly think its mere
political capital larger than 1t would be If
new election should be ordered. 1t has ma
tcrial for two or three " good cries hone of
them very veracious-whch will be better than
nothing. Those gentlemen of the party there
fore who are trying to keep it within the
bounds of present dccency and moderation
are its real friends, while those of the other
sort, who are believing la Bashan, are doing
themselves little credit and their party no
,,on6 NJ all