Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-05-28
Prom the New YORK Tribune
Some Timely Lessons.


people, Irrespective of party, to the Pres
ident. and to the Republican leaders.
These lessons must not be lost. There Is
every reason to believe that the mad par
tisanship Of the Democratic party, Its bad
faith, Its indecent unfairneSs, and Its reck-
less disregard for public opinion or the
public welfare, viii keep these lessons
fresh in mind until after the elections OF
this fall. The same wantOn folly which
brought upon the country the struggle OF
last week viii continue 10 threaten It's
peace and Its free institutions until the
people put it down by overwhelming ma
Joriues. Having burst through the re-
straint of conservative counsels, and
supplied itself with machinery for mischief,
the worst element Of the Democratic party
will teach the country once more what
Democratic victory means. IL becomes
the first duty Of every voter, Of the Ad-
ministratiOn, and Of Republican leaders
and journals, to give most serious atten-
ton to the teaching Of events.
/. There are good and bad elements
in every party. But events prove that
the worst element rules the Democratic
party in every emergency Men arc judged,
and trusted or condemned, not on account
of some subordinate virtue or blemiSh Of
character, but by the impulses which are
found on the whole, 70 rule them The
most generous and honorable impulses do
not make man at Tor any place Of trust,
fit l. found that under temptation he
becomes a thief No ability or skill
whatever Will gain any confidence or en-
ployment for a man who Is known to give
way, at most critical moments, 10 Its Of
lunacy or drunkenness. No party can be
safely Judged or trusted on any different
principle IL may embrace within ITS
ranks men Of the purest and most consery-
alive patriotism, Otuntarnishet honor and
unsurpassed ability, and yet, II 1t Is
swayed and ruled, in al emergencies and
whenever temptation assails, by It's drunk
ards, Its lunatics and It's scOUndIels, that
party Is no more 10 be trusted than If 1t
had not decent or Saue man within It's
fold The Democratic party taught the
country what sort Of stuff controlled It in
1861, and again IN 1868, and again IN
1865 snd 1858, and again in 1876 Its
professions have been protuse and cheap
It's acts. whenever it has been tempted by
the hope Of power, have been dictated by
IT. mad-men, Its scOundrels, and It's traitors.
Beaten last year, 1t put on mask Of con-
seryatiye patriotism Even ten days ago,
after the Maryland vote, and after the
so-called confession" by persons OF
Florida, it was thought utterly impossible
that the party would attempt to reopen
the Presidential strife Nearly all Dem
ocratic members declared that they would
resist to the end any step 50 fsithiess aud
unpstriotic. But the instant temptation
came with = hope Of partisan success, all
honor, conservatism, deceney and patriotic
feeling we're swept away a by an ava
lanche, and only two members were found
70 vote against the schemes Of madmen
snd rebels.
IL Not only is this party ruled In
every crisis by Its worst element, but that
element, at every trial, Is found reyolu-
tiOnary, lav-defying. and dangerous to
the public peace and order. Five times
already, within eighteen years the very
existence Of constitutional government has
been threatened by this party, and Dem
ocrats have resorted 10 organized violence
10 gain ends forbidden by law. Moreover,
that element grows more desperate, law
less and dangerous as the party increases
in strength. There Is more Of real peril
in the situation to-day than there has
been al any time since 1861.
III. IL Is 3 startling fact that Demo
Gratis who are called the most honorable
and conservative, under the pressure Of
party discipline and the temptation Of
party success, stOOp to acts Of the basest
bad faith and dishonOr. A year ago
Democrats demanded 4 Commission Il
settle the disputed question Of the Presi
dency, and it was granted. Democrats
then insisted that no public man could
live and no party could exist which
should refuse to abide by the result o
such an arbitration. Ii l. not two week
since large majority Of Democrats II
the House declared themselves bound II
honor by the finding Of a Commission
created at their own demand Yet nov
we see the same Democrats, with scarcel,
an exception, voting to set aside tia
finding. No gentleman would touch IN
hand Of any man who should thus repudi
ate.in private or business lie,the deeisiO
OF arbiters requested by himself A yea
ago Southern members stood with hand
uplifted, swearing by sacred honor t
sustain the President IN his course, and
Join him IN putting an end to strife an
securing the prosperity Of the country
That was when they wanted troops with
drawn. Within a short twelve month
they join hands in a new rebellion.
". As no regard for law, for deceney
or for honor restraints this party whe
tempted, 80 it casts TO the winds ever
profession Of principle Ii pretends t
have some convictions ABOUT the finances
the tariff, the reform Of public service, th
welfare Of the South, the condition of Ia
Dor. If sincere in these, it would hav
taken care TO invite Republican supper