The Democratic advocate., 1878-07-20


Our experiment in government has
proved melancholy failure" says Dom
Piatt But, Dom piatt is not an oracle,
by any means. Because corrupt and in
competent soldier blundered on through an
eight years term in the Presidency, and
is succeeded by a mere creature Of fraud,
that is no argument that "Our government
has proved melancholy failure" It is
proof that the men who have undertaken
to administer it are failures, but the gov
ernment remains the same, and it viii re-
main long after Grant and Hayes have
gone to their account, for their maladmin-
istratiOn and their infdelity towards the
public interest One term Of honest De-
mocratic administration would restore the
government to its pristine purity, bring
back prosperity to the people, and place
things on sound constitutional basis, as
Of yore 1t would silence the weak, timid
and pitiable doubters of republicanism,
hush the cry for q strong government,
place the civil above the military power,
and cause the clamors for imperialism to
cease, ashamed of the moral cowardice and
mental weakness which prompted them.
The citizens Of this republic are not pre-
pared to admit that their government is a
failure and to proclaim themselves incom-
petent for self-control by putting them
selves under an imperial master Such
admissions and teachings as those Of
the Capital are calculated, as far as the
influence Of that journal extends, to bring
about the very result deprecated. But
that is not far The weak, cowardly and
ignorant only, take that view Of the case.
And, just here, let us say to all who in
dulge the idea that this government is to
be given up TO imperialism or military
despotism. that not until the memory Of
the virtues and sacrifices of Washington
and his compatriots in arms, and the wis
dom, patriotism, patience and perseverance
Of the sages in council who laid broad and
deep, in blood and tears, the foundations Of
our political superstrueture and hallowed
It by their prayers, shall all be forgotten
can political heresies like these gain any
following in this country. Her sons are
not so degenerate as that, yet, and the few
who are, would be scattered like chaf be.
fore the wind, should they combine or at.
tempt to combine or organize for such q
purpose. There is patriotism enough, and
more than enough, in reserve among the
honest yeomen of the land to weed out all
who think SO lightly Of government Of
the people If they want imperial oi
kingly government, let them 90 where il
is to be found; this government was estab.
lished for the people and viii be main.
taiaed by the people. The vain babbling
about Grant or any one else enslaving
them, is simply ridiculous If Grant were
fool enough and base enough to attempt
it, even, some patriotic bullet would be
held in reserve to check his mad career
The patriotic yeomanry would beat their
plOugI.shares and pruninghooks into sword:
and spears to rid the land Of all who should
take mp arms in such aanse, and the
boEes of the miniOns Of imperialism o.
despOtism would whiten every plain, and
they would be swept out OF existence a;
with the bes0m of destruction OF the Bhirl,
wind ofpopulaF indignation. Let the meu
who are unpatriotic enough, and base and
craven enough, to >inculcats such senti
ments, beware bow they SOW the wind lesi
they reap the whirlwind.
Democracy means again to assert itself
Let the timid, doubling snd fainthearteC
stand aside. In 1880, with a candidate
not afraid to say his soul is his own, il
will enter the lists determined to know NJ
failure. Fraud cannot succeed again. vii
lainy viii not be permitted to lord it oEel
popular suffrage second time, and If thu
military should be invoked against thi
people, it would be driven before an indig
nant pOpulaee with the very pavingstOnes
There win be a fair election or free fight
and such Gght as win not need to b.
fought again withiR tke next century t
rid tie country of all who would Obstruc
free aud fair ballot, and all who would
EpbFert the republic for despOtism.