The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-08

Cowardly and Unprinciplcd.
We desire 10 do no injustice to tho Demo
cratic party. 1t is a party Of great
and noble traditions. It's original prin-
ciples are most emphatically the prlnci-
pies Of the American Revolution and Of the
Incompatible Constitution in which the SUI
preme law Of the land is set forth. These
principles are of the very essence Of
liberty. without them, republic in
this country is an impossibllity and n
republican form of government is farce.
Through them, and through them only,
Is kept alive that admirable dis
tribution of authority, that regulated ndc-
pcndonce OF the township, of the county, and
uf the State, that equilibrium and that ical-
ous separation Of local and Of central legis-
lation and administration, through which
this country has become free, great, and
powerful. All this, we say, belongs to the
traditions OF the Democratic party; and for
this we have regarded it with reverence as
deep as can be bestowed upon anything his
torical or finite
But when from the past we turn TO the
present the case Is altered, and we are
transferred from an age OF heroic men and
lofty ideas into an atmosphere Of pettiness
timdity, and bascness. Indeed, it has passed
into provcrb that for the last dozen years
the Republican party has lived through
the imbecility and the laundering OF the
Democracy: that is to say, through its lack
Of faithfulness to principle on the one hand
and OF practical wisdom on the other. These
facts, we say, are doplorable for the country
as well as for the party; because 1t is
Of vital Importance in every free nation
that the great parties by one Of which it
must be ruled should alike possess princi-
Piles and craftsmanship. For the absence OF
the latter, the Democracy may partially be
forgiven, since through long exclusion
from power they have lost the habit OF adj
minstration; but for the absence Of the
former there is no forgiveness. The faults
OF inexperience may easily be cured but the
want OF principle and Of sincerity must be
burned out as with fire.
Only two years ago the Democrats elected
the President Of the United States; but the
Republicans conspired to cheat them out OF
the election through certain vicious part-
san machinery which they had established
in some Of the conquered commonwealth
Of the South. This conspiracy could
only be consummated with the assent
Of the House Of Representatives.
Here the Democracy had the major
ity; and had they stood firm. the
conspiracy must have failed. But they were
unused TO success and unfamiliar with the
responsibilities Of power. The Republicans
threatened violence They assembled
contemplate force OF thousand sol
ders in Washington and loudly pro-
claimed that with these they would
shut the House Of Representatives up In
the old Capitol prison unless the DEM
ocratic majority should prove itself
submissive This wretched buster accom-
plished its purpose. The Democratic House
was cOwed. Forsaliing the sure and safe
ground of the Constitution. and turning
their backs in q panic upon all our
presidents they agreed to a novel and
illegal plan OF determining the cleo
tion, having in it certain vague
element Of chance on which they counted.
Thus through their weakness and their
folly the conspiracy carried its point, and
Fraudulent President was naugurated.
But the mischief was not without rem
edy. The truth might yet be established.
and the great wrong be set aside. The
lnitiatory steps were taken. The facts were
made plain and certain. The day Of justice
and Of triumph seemed to be at hand for
this long-tried and ill-advised party. But
this prospect was too much for them. Tho
Republicans were again at hand with their
silly bugbcar, and the Democrats once
more lost their heads in terror. Like a flock
If sheep flying before an imaginary danger,
they made haste once again sOlemnly To
abandon the heritage that was theirs, gra-
;uitously declaring their determination to
maintain the sacredncss of Fraud and their
readiness to defend the Fraudulent Prcsl-
dents title to the very Office OF which he
had robbed them!
From that moment the Republican party,
guilty as 1t was, and broken as it was, be-
gan TO revive, to renew It's ancient audacity
and TO kin lie again its almost eXtingushed
hopes On the other side, as If struck
ny paralysis, the Democracy fell from bad
10 worse; and now the end OF it all is before
US In the figures Of the elections Tho Demo-
cratic party. disEracod by its repeated acts
Of cowardlce, pal7lcd by its announcement
u every animatng principle, Is not only
divided and beaten, but utterly Inundated
while the Republicans, with the shamcs %
Granti,m stil deliling their record, ano
with their anti-American policy of centrai
cation and OF hostility to local sclf-govcrn
mcnt and t. personal liberty still weaken
Ing their Efforts, once more stand fortl
crowned with victory, and confident Of stil
keeping indefinitely the power they have
already kept too long.
These are the fact, Of our political situa
ton as they are to-day; and every one O
them is notorious and uuque-tionahlc. 70
every reason, it is most desirable tha
the principles Of true and genuine
democracy should prevail in ,H land
hut Is it possible that such principles
ohce ropudiatcd can hcresumcd and carrie
out bya party simply because it bears tina
h"norcd name? lIa, the Democracy bee
sufficiently chRstcncd by defeat and disastc
to learn Unew the stern lessons Of idolit
hud "i wisdom OR VIII it continue here
ritter as in thc past 10 secure the Rcpuf
Leans IN tho possession Of the Govern