New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-02-27
LILLE FNTERE or DENOCRdCY.

THE FUTURE or DEMOCRACY
"Tildcn and Reform" has dropped out of
sight altogether. The reform" part vanished
when those disreputable kilograms concerning
the Oregon fraud were disclosed. The Tllden
part ceased to have interest or respectful men
ton with Democratic politicians when it was
settled by the decision of the Electoral Com
mission in the Oregon case that under no cir
cumstanccs could the faintest shadow OF
title for Mr. Tilden be secured Since that
time it has been absolutely certain that Mr..
Tildcn would not become the dispenser OF
Offices. Oregon has been counted. NO other
State except South Carolina can be sent to the
Electoral Commission, and the most sangulne
Democrat expects nothing from that State. No
other vote remains which there Is FAINT nope
that the Senate will consent to reject. The
utmost that revolutionary Democrats can hope
for is that the Inauguration of Mr.. Hayes may
be prevented. But not a sane man OF them
imagines that Mr.. 1ilden can be proclaimed
President even by the Democratic House, or
respected as President by anybody. Whatever
NAV come, the oliicc-scckng Democrats no
longer have the ghost of IA hope.
What remainsl A choice between childish
spite and patriotism. A question whether Mr.
Hayes shall be defeated, if possible, only to
give the Presidency to some other Republican,
Delay and filibustering, if completely triumph
ant could not do more than prevent the lnaugu-
ration of Mr.. Hayes with perfect title. One
of two things would happen: either he would
be declared President, the Vice-PreSdent hay
inc finished the count or the intcrregnum
would be filed by that Republican whom the
In off np Gas Demo-
cratic Once-seekers and the Democratic par
tisans gain nothing, but Democratic patriots
or statesmen lose everything. They lose for
ever whatever confidence they still may have
with the people, and their party is dismissed
TO the limbo OF hopeless Representatives, with
no chance to regain power.
Vengeance no doubt, is sweet. But in this
ease the Democratic extremists only threaten
to slaughter themselves for the benefit OF the
very men they hate most. They are shrewd
enough to know that there Is sharp an
tagonism between Mr.. Hayes and the ultra
element in his party. Either Mr. Hayes HIM
self, or some man more satisfactory to that
ultra element, is certain to occupy the Nhlte
House after the Fourth of March. The Demo
Gratis WHO wish to defeat Mr.. Hayes. as mat
ters now stand, hope that some more extreme,
unreasonable. and vindctive Republican may
become President for Il time. They have not
forgotten the letter of acceptance. The dIii-
Guilty is that they fear it, knowing that
President who acts upon the opinions therein
boldly avowed will destroy sectionalism and
sectional parties, win the best men OF the
South, build up strong liberal party in that
section, and destroy forever the power OF the
worst Democratic demagogues to appeal to
popular feeling. They are less malignant
than cunning. For them, every hope
of political preferment or political cX-
istencc would be destroyed 10y wise and
liberal Republican administration. Therefore,
caring nothing for the South, and nothing Tor
the country they mean to pcrpetuate sec
tional divisions if they can, and to defeat Il
representative of the most reasonable and gen
erous Rcpublicanism, III the hope that the
Senate may select a favorite of the ex-
trcmSts.
SeltiShncss and spite are always shOrt-slShted.
No class of Democrats can afford to pursue
this course. Ii might, indeed, put the worst
end of the Republican party forward. But Il
would make 1t impossible for either end OF
the Democratic party ever to succeed. Al
ready that party has to answer for civil war.
One other revolutionary step would put the
party beyond the possibility of forgiveness
and for a century to come 1t would be. known
as the party which no patriotic American could
afford to help. This fact the ablcst Southern
leaders realize; knowing that sympathy with
one rebellion has made it almost impossible
for Democracy to recover, they see that
single revolutionary movement now would
make that recovery forever impossible. SO,
for the Democrats, indulgence i'll spite would
cain nothing and lose everything. 1t might
give temporary power to one Republican rather
than to another. But it would bury all classes
of Democrats, decent and indecent, conScrya-
tive and revolutionary, in one political grave.
This country is tired of w-breaking and
strife 1t means to have peace, order, and
enforcement of law One more Democratic
revolution, commenced or attempted would
give carte blanche to the Republican party as
long as anything calling itself Democracy
should continue to exist.
TRDJHP