The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1877-12-20
OFFICIAL AND PARTY RESPONSIBILITY.

That democracy Is reform cannot now
be galnsaid by even It's bitterest foes
The mere fraud which prevented II
from assuming both executive and leg
islatiye control Of the government last
March, is the only circumstance which
nterposes between the expectations OF
the country and the radical and eXhaus
tive reform contemplated by the nation
al platform, 70 the new democratic
strength is even due that measure OF
reform which has distinguished 30 far
tho administration of Mr., Hayes II Is
true, ii is neither sweeping or compre'
henslye, but IL is still in very strong
contrast TO the policy Of General Grant,
and for even that degree we, in CONS
mon with the great mass OF our country
men, are exceedingly grateful.
One very gratifying fact stands out in
all this later improvement, and that is;
in the few instances where democratic
officers have proved recreant our own
papers have boen most unsparing in
censure. Unfaithfulness or dishonesty
are crimes which the masses Of the parN
by will not tolerate, and this has been
made perfectly plain in the few instan'
ces where democratic officials have
been caught in crooked or devious
pathways, This is n reassuring circum>
stance to the whole country, because il
is now morally certain that the next
national administration will be demo-
ocratic, backed by strong majoritie'
in both houses Of congress
With this fact before it the party should
be watchful and 2ealously guard the
honor of every man holding position
by it's will, and to see TO it whenever h'
is caught outside of the barriers Of the
strictest propriety, that he is brough
at once to confront penalty equal t.
the ollense.
Texas is often called the most ultrI
democratic state in the Union. Per
haps she is, as she is most certainly thu
strongest, yet in Texas it matters no
who the delinquent is, or to what par
ty he belongs, the press and people arr
, unsparing in their denunciation'
when bad practices have been proven
But the full force of Indignation is re
served for the luckless democrat who il
convicted of ways that are dark. M
one will forget tho severe penalty in
llicted upon our democratic representa-
tives in congress who voted, for anc
touched the back pay" few year
since And lately, when one or two prom
inent democrats essayed small rai(
upon the landed estate of Texas, the
political heads fell from the scailold n
once. So painfully intent are our PEG
pie in guarding the purity Of the part,
that oitentimes charges are hastily
made,and they are only withdrawn whel
innocence is clearly established
The better classes, and more liberia
men among the republicans would no
very greatly regret to seea change from
Mr.. Hayes mild sway to positiv,
and sharply cut democratic administra
cion of the national government. A
between that and the policy of Conk
ling and Blaine and Others of the un
compromising wing of rule or ruiz
republicanism, the better elements
would even act with us. Now then i
becomes our duty to see to it that M
stain is attached to the party by thos,
holding either high or low positions u
its behest. The coming election il
this state renders it necessary that thi
old established feature in southern
democratic policy be strictly adhered
to, and as before the war, stainless TO
cord will be necessary ere name cal
: be brought before democratic conven
ton at all, much less 60 to the people
for endorsement.
.