, 1877-01-15
SOME OBSTACLES IN THE WAY OF DE-
M0CRA0Y,

Tho statement Of prominent Democratic
Senator, which was printed in our last issuo,
iu which ilo discusses the disadvantages that
may occur to either purity that wins in tho
Presidential contest, las itH ridio,lous and
ita serious sides. Says this Democratic Sen.
ator: "1'llere aro many other reaaons why It
would clnbnrrass our party to get control Of
tho Government at this time. Tho dstribu-
ton Of oi'icial patronage would bo serious
source Of wcakness" When In tho history
OF this country has tile distribution of nat
ronngo over embarrassed tho Democracy?
What Democrat, from the lowest ward-bum.
mer up to tho candidate for Congress or the
Presidency, Inns ever been embarrassed In
tho distributing or accepting Of Office? The
occupation Of Office il the only mission that
Democrat llas in this world, from the time
that he crosses the Atlantic antl lnnds
in Now York, until lie gets 1t.
TO speak Of 1t M embarrassing is too absurd
and lauglablc. There il. however, serious
s.le to tllis statement, in tho concession made
by this Senator TINT the old Wings OF tho
South may probably break with TlLpEx It
lie IN elected President. This liz iu accord.
auco with what has been sot fortl, frequently
in THE Tn1nuSE. Theirs Is no Doubt TINT
tle old Wing vote affords Il basis Of Demo.
cratic division In tho South, mud only needs
motive 10 aet its powor III operation. That
motive 1t will have when 1t can gain control
OF tho Soutacrn States by forming Il coali.
ton with the negroes against the tire-ealiug
clasa. It IL stronger element Of power
than most people in.agiue. 4 correspondent
OF the New York J7mfs, ana!yzing the voto
OF l6GO, shows that the voto Of HILL
was almoat entirely thu old Whig vote
Of tho South. In that election DOUGLAS re-
ceivcl l5'i, jl; votes i'll tho Southern states;
liREck1>n1DuK, d21 ,d12; aud HE'LL, 470,3l9.
OF course, in tho interval Of sixteen years
since TIM: time, many Of these DEL1 voters
Eaye pau,cd AWAY, lA,t it IL eyitlent that there
1n,sht now be .O0 DA, Or :.txl,OAO Mt least
which IL sufficient to form the basis OF q
most rowcrfn! party in tue south. The
probability tt.at thu motive lnny be furnish-
I'd for division Is already apparent fro,u thu
fact that 1t has leen discussed, and that,
when tho Northern Democrats commenced
recently to howl fur war, tloy very nearly
precipitatel It. Tho moderate Southern
men arc only whiting their opportunity.
They will tinl it II 1ILDEN is counted III hy
tho illcgelity Of throwing ont States. They
will find it IT Mr.. HAYES il inaugp-
rated, siuco Tint Inauguration will aet tho
Northern Copperhca,1s aud Southern fire.
caters Of, tbs rampage. There IN au ulli-
tional point which tho Democratic Senator
does not consider. The vast majority Of
tho blac.is in tho South are ready and will.
lug to act with such part OF tho whites a.
sympathizo with tie Republican party os
its principles. When the coalition takes
| l'lace III the south, future election contests
| will change In their character. 1t will no
longer bs struggle Ut white Democrats
agu;nst white WLiss, al Of old, but OF
white Wings and Republican blacks
asainst the fre-eaters. There will be n
material difference in the power and in-
hueuce of the coalition, and III the nun,-
her Of votes whic!. it will east. This
Democratic senator il undoubtedly correct III
| Ills statement: ''Just Al soon ~ tho coun.
try il relieved from the rule Of men Ctho
cazpet-baggess] whom the people Of tue
! South have come to regard ~ ipi1nicA to