Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-12-26
From the n. Y. Tribune
Hard-Noney Democracy.

Riding two horses and sitting on two
stools are proverbally dangerous opera
tons. Yet the Democratic party is solemn
ly ADVISED 10 try that experiment again.
All the world remembers how nicely the
party succeeded in 1850, when IL attempted
TO bridge over the question of Slavery In
the Territories by running Presidential
Electors pledged 10 vote in part for Doug
las and ia part for Breckenridge, so that the
election might be thrown into a Democratic
House. Perhaps II Is not strange that in
dividuals should be so Indifferent TO recent
experience and proverbisl wisdom as TO
propose another trial OF the same sort But
no one would expect q great party TO adop.
such suggestion Q second time if that
party had not become more famous for the
stupidity OF its blunders than for anything
else. The plan now submitted and gravely
discussed In Democratic circles OF infiu-
ence, Is that the Democratic party shall
run . hard-money candidate. and the
Greenback party = soft money candidate,
but that the two shall unite upon one set of
electors in each State, with the agreement
that the electoral votes shall be cast for
either candidate in proportion as the popu-
lar vote In that State for either party may
be divided. There are trifling difficulties,
Of course, but these could be readily over
come. That the plan can be made to work.
If each party consents, will not be doubted.
Whether it will work success or disgrace
ful failure, as il did before, is not so clear.
The recipe Of Mrs. Glass for cooking q
hare began, First catch your hare" 1t
will be necessary, first OF all, to get the
soft-money Democrats TO consent that .
sOit-mOney President, II elected at all. shall
be the candidate of the Greenback party.
Thai xs-nslA he A;ah -.
Democratic party, the election mainly BY
Democratic votes of the candidate of a hos.
tile organization, when the same Demo.
| Gratis have the power to nominate such a
man as they want In their own party con-
| vention. That the soft-money lunatics can
control any caucus or convention of the
Democratic party is indisputable. Within
that party certain leaders have secured To-
cal or National prominence; outside of il,
In any new party. other Len would dispute
with them for the leadership or manage
ment. Ii would be very nice for Mr.. Tilden
or Mr.. Bayard to have Mr.. Hendricks con-
sent to relax his grasp upon the Democra-
tic party 10 Indiana, or Mr.. Thurman in
Ohio. But when they consent. the hare may
be caught. And when the sky falls we may
all catch larks.
The Republicans would be delighted to
nave tnis experiment. tf1eO again. some
where in Connecticut, il is possible, there
Is still in existence the stuffed skin Of two
headed calf, which did excellent service in
the campaign Of 1860 as the emblem of De-
mocracy-two heads. but no heart or
| brains. A party which is entirely destitute
| OF principles or convictions should at least
take care not to advertise the fact too wide
ly. Under the proposed arrangement. all
the soft money Democrats at the West
would be disguised with their party be-
cause Of Its open decker with 1.-THE agents
of the Rothschilds." and ct the same time
all the hard-m0Dey Democrats would be
outraged by the shameless barter of the
party with regulators. On the whole, We
cannot think Of scheme which would
more thoroughly show the utter dishonesty
and lack of principle Of the Democratic
party. 1t is to be very much regretted that
the natuOney lunatics and stubborn repu-
diators are probably so hard-headed-so
blindly and mistakenly in esrnest--that
this Otherwise promising decker will prob
ably fall through.
The Republican party has nothing to fear
from any such thimble- rigging. 1t stands
on guard to defend the Nauoas honor aud
its prosperity. The only foes It has heed
To 1esr are th0ss n0mlnally OF it, own
bOusehOld-me0 WhO pretend 70 be Jiepub-
Itcaas. sod - % astrsy agtsr idols Ut sill
W. o. ess-PsPeG ~ for TIE epsR spposi.