New-York tribune., 1878-04-02

only by It's prOIesslOnss 1Iuc, ehcy n"'S
il tried in some States. But its misconduct
there has been attributed to local influences
and has been but little appreciated, moreover
| in other States. They have seen 1t tried
in the House, and sometimes wonder
whether "Biger man than old Grant,
and Doorkeeper Polk, fairly Illustrate It's
capacity for reform. But excuses are made
for the House it is cursed with sense OF
responsibility, and it is largely composed OF
inexperienced men. Led by some pure ana
strong man as President, bound by Its formai
pledges in a National contest, compelled to
realize its responsibility for every act, the
Democratic party. it is said. would show the
country a very different record. Ii may De
a good thing to have the professions OF TINS
party put TO the test next year. III
it has control of both houses, and can shape
legislation as it pleases, it will be very sure
to show the country what meaning there Is IN
its professions of reform. We do not now re-
fer merely to the notorious Democratic faculty
for blundering In power or out of power,
the party will blunder. But its real character
its true purposes, can become fully known Dy
a large majority of voters only when that
party is in position to WELD some power.
1t is very true that the Republican party
cannot hope TO live upon the mere blunders OF
IFS opnonents But n broad view of the ma
ture. objects and tendencies of both parties
will probably control 4 majority of voters. III
it appears that. in the very nature OF the
Democratic party, there Is lneradlcaDle
hostility to the equality of citizens. that
Will have weight. If it appears that the
Democratic party, its elements remaining what
they are, can never help being hostile to the
public creditor and dangerous to the public
credit, that will have weight. II 1t appears
that it is essentially a Southern party, con-
holled by a sectional interest, and ready to
sacrifice the public welfare at the behest of
Southern greed or Southern vindictive-
ness, that will have weight. If 1t
appears that its promises of re-
form are empty; that it abollshes
no sinecrres which Democrats may hope soon
to til that it clamors for nOn-partisanship III
its opponents, but manifests i'll its own beha-
vior the most shameless and unscrupulous
partisanship; that it uses the whole public
service as Il machine for manufacturing par
tisan victory, lends itself TO the worst jobs
for the sake of votes, and fills offices
with the worst men III order to reward
them for party work that will have its effect.
II. in short, il is found that the Democratic
party as now constituted. Is nothing but
conspiracy of Southern ambition and Northern
ignorance and knavery, To seize the Govern
ment and use il for ends partly reactlonary
and partly selfish, this VIII assurcdly have
weight.
The Republican party would be very much
improved by experience of defeat Its great
est faults have sprung from an excess of
power. from long-continued success, and from
the habit, which in such circumstances comes
naturally to any party, of relying more upon
its history and its machinery than upon its
principles and its performance. Defeat has
purged II To some extent already, and will
purge it still more hereafter If true to itself.
the party ought 10 become, not the weaker.
but incomparably the stronger, for Its reverses.
For it represents, after all. forces which will
never cease To be powerful III this country
until those have passed away who helped To
beat down a rebellion, and those who once
wore the chains of slavery, and those who
trusted the Government in It's hour OF trial.
So long as the legitimate results of the war
are threatened. IN any State. the Republican
party will be strong. 80 long As the equal
citizenship of the emancIpated race Is any
where denied or menaced. the Republican
party will be strong. so long as the public
debt exists, and millions of voters have n
direct personal interest in maintaining the
Nations credit. the Republican party will be
strong. Ii will become the stronger when 1t Is
seen that the Democratic party, not by accl-
dent. but from an inexorable necessity Of its
existence is party Of reaction with respect
to the war and the rights of citizenship. of
sectionalism with respect to national expendl-
lures. and of reputation with respect to the
public debt