New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-02-17
The PRESIDENTIAL QUESTION.
FUTURE OF THE DEMOCRATS.

FUTURE OF THE DEMOCRATS.
VIEWS OF PROMINENT NORTHERN DEMOCRATIC
sExArok-Eyus LIKELY TO FOLLOW TIE IN
AUGURAriON OF HAYEs-DIsINTEGRAToS OF
PARTIES AND THE UPRISING or AGRAMANIsM
AND REPUTATION IN STORE
FOR DEMOCRATS IT TILDKN Is INAuGURATEp.
frRos A REGULAR CORRESPONDENT THE TRIBUNE.l
WA. HIN6roN Feb. 16.-1he following resume OF
conversation had a few days ago with Democratic
Senator from an important Northern State presents
a view of party prospects. in case Hayes should be
the grist of the extraordinary mill now grnaIng
upon the election returns not at all encouraging for
the Democracy. The anonymous form Is observed
in the interview for the reason that the gentle
man spoke with no desire 10 have his remarks
90 out ticketed with his name. public man
of any account when he knows he is talking
for the newspapers rarely gives his real sentiments
He is either nOncOmmttal rs TO be uninterestne,
or he strikes an attitude and delivers sort of stump
speech such as he thinks will the interests OF
his party OF his own ends The senator said:
Il do not believe that should be stronger ia
the event of Hayes's Inauguration. look for Just
the opposite result to come. Our party would he
disheartened. About twenty per cent of our votes
last Fall came from class Of men who have not
been IN the habit of coming to the polls Of late.
Finding that they had accomplished nothing by
voting, they would say. Well what is the usei
Tilden got a big majority of the popular vote and
majority of the electoral votes but lie is not lrasl-
dent. Why should we bother ourselves about poll
tics again Z Fraud and rascality will win in spite
of all we can do And they would relapse
into indifference. But this would not be
the worst result. l think that pc
uhar and dangerous disintesration in politics
would follow such as we have never seen before IN
this country The worst elements III the Demo
cratic party, believing tie organization to be OF 10
further consequence would throw OF the influence
of the leaders whom they have thus far respected,
and released from CONTROL wOuid rally around dem
agogues and form new party with alarming tend
ences of COmmUnistc sort. 1t would have lie
structive ideas on the relations of labor and capital
would be led into wild schemes for initiating the
currency, and would no doubt favor the Reputation
of the public debt The germs OF such an organize
ton exist al over the North, and especially III the
great cities"
DO you think that this new party would draw Its
strength wholly from the Democratic ranks p
Chiefly but not wholly Many Republicans of
the irresponsible class would join it, Respect for
our form of government, and for the Constitution
and laws, would be greatly lessened when it
seen that the people could elect President by
quarter of million majority Then 1t would be be-
hcved that the mOneyed classes had seated Hayes
to further their interests, and this idea would give
to the new party pronounced agrarian and reyuin-
tionary character. 1t would be hostile to capital,
10 corporations and TO the established order OF
things in business affairs. II would have 10 regard
for the public faith and the public credit. Com
posed OF the uncducated aud half-educated elements
of the old parties and ruled by bad men. It would
be an exceedingly unwelcOme phenomenon IN our
politics"
al take If for granted that you assume the hard
times will continue. and viii, cOnjOined with tile
defeat of Tilden bring forth this monster"
"Tbat il NV view" replied the Senator. Il am
convinced that if Hayes becomes President the I'M
certa,4;es Of the future and the disappointment of
hundreds of thousands who have counted upon
change of Administration as incentive 10 start
bnsiness will operate 20 retard the hoped-for revival
Of trade until the new party have described gath
ers head; aud with such party in existence pros
neritv would be impossible. So powerful would
this third party become, III my opinion that IL
wonld probably elect more members OF the House OF
REPRESENTATIVES a year from next Fall than either
the Republicans or the Democrats"
Would the Republican party hold together I'M
der such circumstances better than the Democratic
party p
.Yes because it would have the offices which
yrouId insure il an active effective organization"
" What of the other solution of the probemi If
Tilden is inaugurated viii yOur party of desIruc-
tives nut in an appearance Will the Democracy
hold together! Shall We have good times again z
am confident that business would revive lie
uublic would settle down upon the belief that the
country would have four years OF relief from ex-
citirg notifies. and that the Government would be
administered in a prudent and conservative man
ner and the forces now operating to bring prosper
1 IA plg Parties
still be pretty evenly balanced. No new 0rgamA-
tion 1vouId spring up. The Democracy would not,
admit be rs powerful in the elections OF TINS year
and ncxt AZ of last Fab. Thousands OF men WHO
axnect office and would think they had a right 10
nlaces nnder the new Administration would be dig
appointed and angry, and a good many party lead
ers would be dissatisfied az Ildens way OF conduct
ing AFFAIR." In fact, believe that before lllden lAd
been ninety days in the White House we WOtid De as
ID cat Of men a. YOU ever saw. The South would
90, lopg contiuue TO be our stronghold. The whites
there would have no incentive to cAhg ~gother IN
one political organization after we had the govern
ment and il would not he long before dinerehees
-vo,ld arise among them as to the tariff, and es-
pecialy as TO internal improvements, winch wonid
aid. Them and their division would result IN the
breaking up Of the black vote. rTooaoiy inc
Republicans would succeed in driving us out OF
mower in IsS0, but the issues would DC quite
different from those of to-day. In the mean tune
the condition of our national politics would be
normal, heathlul, and safe"
1.-The Senator developed these opinions at nlheh
greater length than have space to give TO them
here As a sagacious politician, who has won his
way to the upper House not by any lucky accident
but by his ability and his control over tho Demo
cratic party in his State, his views are worthy OF
serious consideration. H. "