Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-02-13
QaiIp Amnrbst sournal
A U q z y II A,
Tuesday Morning, February -, 1877.
The Democratic Attitude.

A beaten party which maintains its hon
or commands respect even from its OPP
ponents, but beaten party that SINKS
principle in its efforts to grasp power
loses everything. even the confidence and
respect of its own members.
The attitude of The democratic party in
its struggle for the Presidency is one that
must inevitably bring upon it the contempt
Tilden and Hendricks. Ii it be beaten in
the contest, as we have no doubt it will be,
it will have a terrible record of shame to
look back upon. Tilden has sunk it low
er than Buchanan did. Its bull-dozlng
policy in the South casts into the shade Tor
brutality anything that the slave olgarchy
did in the day OF its strength to secure
political power in the nation. All the
way from the opening OF the st Louis con-
vention down to the present time the path
of the party is black with corruption.
Tilden's money is traced everywhere that
money was considered available in his
cause. II bought Grover and Cronin, and
Maddox, Pickett and Litilefield 1t was
employed in Oregon, South Carolina, Flor
ida and Louisiana. 1t sent David Dudley
Field, the counsel of Tweed, into the
House Of Representatives TO employ the
inal lawyer for the furtherance of Tilden's
ambition. Whatever money could ac-
complish, no matter how base or rascally,
towards winning the Presidency, that the
money of the Great Re.ormer" has done.
Worse, however, than all of Tilden's
personal corruption is the havoc which he
has played with one of the avowed cardi-
nal principles of the party which supports
him for President. After the effort which
has been made in his behalf to strip the
States of their rightful powers in the APP
pointment of electors for President and
Vice President, as in the cases OF Florida
and Louisiana, and to establish Congress
as National Returning Board, with pow
er and authority to overturn the decisions
of the States in regard TO the Presidency,
what democrat will have the cheek TO de-
clare that his party uphold State Soveign-
ty, Home Rule, and is opposed TO the GEN.
tralization of power in Congress? So
gross violation of State Soveregnty-so
radical an overturn of the doctrine OF
Home Rule-so extravagant an enlarge
ment of the power of Congress-so dan
gerous step in favor of cen'raization-has
never been taken since the establishment
of the government as that which has been
attempted to be exercised by the demo-
Gratis in regard to the counting of the cleo
oral votes in Florida and Louisiana. 1t
affords an example OF as complete sur
render of principle as the world ever saw.
1t goes far beyond the republicans in the
direction of centralizing power in the gov
eminent. 1t puts the latter as the con-
SENATORS of the very principles to the des-
truction of which the democrats have
charged them with being pledged, and on
account of which they have been de-
nounced by democrats as enemies of the
government, bent upon sub.ecting it to the
domination of Cesarism. 1t is so amaZ-
ing an abnegation of principle that the ad-
vice of Chief Justice Church TO his party
seems particularly worthy of attention ::
and laws. If, in so doing, we 60 down as
Il nation, there may be possibility of res
direction ; but if we 60 down violating all
Constitutions and laws there can never be
a resurrection"
That party which would thus abandon
its cherished principles would also not hes
toral Commission, although the Commits
sion was established by democratic votes
is what might be expected. The bill estaD
fishing the Commission passed the Senate
with but one democratic vote against it,
In the House lj9 democrats voted for il
and IS democrats against il; while only
80 republicans voted for it and 60 against
it. BY this vote it is plain to be seen that
the democratic strength of both houses
supported the bill and gave life and author
ity to the Commission. Yet the very first
decision OF the Commission, made in strict
conformity to the law for its guidance and
authority, is met with the opposition of
democrats in both houses, and storms OF
abuse are poured upon the Commission
for its action. The attitude Of the demo-
Gratis is therefore one of opposition to the
principle laid down in their platform, and
also of opposition to their own child, the
Commission, because its decision is in con-
fermity with the doctrine OF the democratic
platform, that is, in favor OF State Rights
View of the New York Judges of
Appeals.
}