Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-06-22
From the New York Tribune.
A SDecimen of Democracy.

A Specimen of Democracy.
One of the uses-and we are not certain
but that it is now the only one-of the re-
markable political association known as
the democratic party is to Illustrate the d.
verse Specifications of certain political
phrases when used in connection with the
two parties. We know in a general way
what Civil Service Reform signiiied when
the great need of it was urged by dem
ocrats out of power upon Republicans in
power. We know that it meant the abo-
lition of the spoils system and the substi-
tltion of honesty, ability, and fidelity as
the tests for Office. We should never have
known, though. what it meant rs apple d
TO democratic exercise OF authority and
distribution of offices If we had not wit
messed the entry OF IA democratic aior-
ty upon II taste OF power and patronage
in the last Congress For them it meant
the descent upon Washington OF fam
ished horde OF idle and ignorant and lame
and lazy and impudent and greedy poll
ticians from the whole country sweeping
removal of every republican who held an
Office they could reach, and the installa-
ton in their places of as incompetent and
worthless set as ever settled on peo-
pie, scourged a community, or sacked a
treasury. Then what large and striking
illustrations they have given us the past
year Of that charming phrase, laying
aside partisanship." Honey is bitter to
the sweetness with which the democratic
editor overwhelmed the republican who
laid aside partisanship and voted for Til
den. Bot within few months past there
have been several cases reported OF dem
ocrats who have laid aside partsanship to
say they approved the policy of the Adj
ministration. Whew How that altered
the case. The democratic editor sees
nothing in that but disloyalty, treachery,
weakness, and reprehensible hankering
for office.
And now the Connecticut democracy,
which seems specially endowed with the
most striking characteristics of the party,
is giving US a fine illustration of the mean
ing OF democratic rhetoric about burying
the past. and letting bygones be bygones,
and all that. By the death of the late in
cumbent the Office of State Attorney for
New Haven County has fallen vacant, and
the choice of a successor devolves upon
the Judges Of the Superior Court The
most prominent candidate for the place
is the Hon. Orville III. Platt of Meriden,
gentleman Of the highest personal char
acter, whose integrity, ability, and fitness
are unquestioned. But in the year 1861
Mr.. Plat. being member of the Con-
necticut Senate. introduced resolution,
which was carried, ordering the removal
OF the portrait of ex-Gov. Thos. H. Sey-
mour from its place on the walls of the
chamber, that gentleman having given
grave offense to the loyal and pat
riotic sentiment of the people of The State
by his openly avowed sympathy with the
South and hostility to all the war meas
ures of the Government. To be sure it
was good while ago, and the people OF
Connecticut and of the whole country have
forgiven and forgotten a great many
things almost as bad as that since then,
but the Connecticut democracy. as repre-
sented by its mouihpiece, the New Haven
Register, cannot forget or forgive SO enor-
nous crime as this. That is asking too
much. The Register. speaking of Mr.
Platt's candidacy. says: "The Democrat
"ic party should never forget bis insult to
1.-THE memory of the Hon. Thomas II
"Seymour during The late unpleasantness,
"aDd ii be gets this appointment it will
"be by the vote OF democratic judge,
(which we will not believe until 1t is SO
recorded. No mere partisan should oc-
"cupy such position, and the defamer
'sof Tom Seymour has no claim on demo.
''cratic support" How edifying this is
Is an illustration of the real significance
Of letting bygones be bygones from DEM
ocratic point Of view. There was a dis
position manifested in certain quarters a
year or two ago, when Mr.. Vim. w. Eaton
was an uncommonly anxious candidate
for United States Senator. 10 hold that
gentleman responsible tor some of the
many ridiculously disIoyal and silly per-
formances with which he peppered what