Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1877-08-23
ChronicaIIy Unhappy.

Inspection OF many Democratic plat
forms adopted since March last war
rants the conclusion that the old dis
tinctiOn between parties still prevails.
1t was said years ago, with great deal
of truth, that the Democratic party
differed from Others mainly in having
eyes in the back of its head. Unable
to see anything 10 front of itself, going
through the world blindly, smashing
itself against all sorts of obstacles, de.
MED preseience of the future or com
prehensiOn of the present, the Demo-
cratic party existed as an ill-tempered,
unavailing, stubborn and stupid pro-
test against the past. Often its criti-
cisms of bygone events was sensible,
often senseless; occasionally il was
right, but more. often wrong, in regard
to events of the present or fature; but
its principal and distinguishing func-
tion ia life was to find fault because
the doings OF yesterday had not been to
its satisfaction. Chronic opposition to
everything new or usefulor practical;
chronic unhappiness about every step
forward, land every effort for the i'm.
provement of the country or the race;
these were the qualities which made
the Democratic party well known as
the brake on the car of human progress.
At present Democracy is wretched be-
cause the Presidential election was set.
tied by legal and peaceful means, and
did not disgrace self-government by
anarchy or deluge the land with blood.
According to Democratic platforms,
Mr.. Hayes was not elected, and his in.
auguration was the monumental fraud
of the country, and every Democrat
ought to sit back on hif launches and
howl about it for century to come
On the whole, the American people
have some practical common sense,
and they are not much inclined t.
waste time in asking whether this
howl is without reason. During the
Presidential election, the Democratic
managers did what they could, by faiI
means or foul, to secure a majority oil
Electoral votes, and it is not now q
matter of doubt that they secured
some by the most brutal, cruel, unlaw.
full and revolutionary means. Yet
there was grave doubt as to the re-
suit. Had the decision been left to the
competent authority, no one believes
that it would have been favorable to
Democratic pretensiOns, and the Dem.
ocrats therefore demand an extraordi-
nary and eXtra-cOnstitutional tribunal
for the settlement of the disputed ques.
tions. Some Republicans thought II
wise to humor them; others objected
that there would be Ms loud and as long
a howl raised by Democrats if the dis
puted questions should be settled by
any tribunal conceivable, as if those
questions should be settled by the Vice.
President of the Senate. The spirit ol
compromise prevailed, however. The
tribunal demanded by Democrats was
created, and its decision is now undi5
puted in law or In fact. But Demo
cratic conventions solemnIy call upon
Democratic voters 10 lie back and how
because the decision of the tribunal o.
their own creating was not in theil
favor. tsi
Meanwhile The Republican party is
paying attention, sometimes wisely
to the living questions Of the present
and future. lt is not always wise. buI
t is never and nowhere so incompar
ably stupid, so inexpressibly idiotic, SC
phe enOmenallyc contemplate and ridic
dlous, as TO carry its eyes in the back O
its head. 1t wastes no breath in growl
ing about past defeats; its better ele
ments waste more in boasting abou
past victories. Especially, it is no
where 80 absurd rs to whine or how
about the unsatisfactory decision of 6
tribunal created at its own demand
The Democratic party has a monopoly
lDf that extreme stupidity, and its placf
n American history is fixed once more
by the contempt which practical mer
feel for its behavior. Business pray.
for relief. Capital and labor struggle
Justice joins issue, foot to foot, witt
repndiation. The whole land cries fol
measures of practical benefit to trade
and industry. But the Democratic
politician sits himself down and howl.
because tribunal of his own creating
did not decide according to his wish
" Y T5rjbUDp =. 4. 81 -|..F