New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-05-20
SOME TIMELY LESSONS.

The events Of the past week teach lessons OF
the grayest Importance to the people, ire
spective Of party, 90 the President, and
to the Republican leaders. These lessons
must not be lost. There is every reason
to believe that the mad PARTISAN
ship of the Democratic party, It's bad
faith, its indecent unfarness, and IT'S reckless
disregard for public opinion or the public wei
fare, will 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 will
continue TO threaten its peace and Its
free institutions until the people put it down
by overwhelming mdjorties Having burst
through the restraint of conservative cOunscls,
and supplied itself with machinery for
mischief, the worst element of the
Democratic party will teach the country
once more what Democratic victory means
1t becomes the first duty OF every voter, OF
the Administration, and of Republican leaders
and Journals to give most serious attention
to the teaching of events.
/. There are good and bad elements i'll every
party. But events prove that the worst ele-
ment rules the Democratic party III every
emergency. Men are judged, and trusted or
condemned, not on account of some subordl-
nate virtue or blemish of character, but by the
impulses which are found, on the whole to rule
them. The most generous and honorable i'm
pulses do not make a man fit for any place Of
trust, If 1t is found that under temptation he
becomes a thief. No ability or skill whatever
will gain any confidence Or employment
for a man who is known to give way,
at most critical moments, to fits OF
lunacy or drunkenness. No party can be
safely Judged or trusted on any different
nrinciple 1t may embrace within its ranks
men Of the purest and most conservative
patriotism, of untarnished honor and unsur-
passed ability, and yet. if it is swaycd
and ruled, in all emergencies and whenever
temptation assails, by its drunkards its luna
tics and its scoundrels, that party is no more
to be trusted than if it had not decent or
sane man within Its fold. The Democratic
party taught the country what sort of stuff con-
tro,led it in 1861, and again i'll 1868, and again
ip:1S65 and 1868, and again i'll 1876. Its
professions have been prOfuse and cheap; its
acts whenever it has been tempted by the
hope of power, have been dictated by its mad
men, its sc0undres, and its traitors. Beaten
last wear, it put on a mask OF conservative
patriotism. Even ten days ago, after the Mary
land vote, and after the so-caled confession"
by persons of Florida, it was thought utterly
impossible that the party would attempt to
reoDen the Presidential strife. Nearly all
Democratic members declared that they would
resist to tue end any step so faitbless and I'M
patriotic, But the instant temptation came
with hope of partisan success, all honor,
conservatism, decency and patriotic feeling
were swept away as by an avalanche, and only
two members were found to vote against the
schemes of madmen and rebels.
ii. Not only is this party ruled in every
crisis by its worst element, but that element,
at every trial, is found revolutionary,
law-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 Democrats have reSorted to
organized violence to gain ends forbidden by
law. Moreover, that element grows more
desperate lawless and dangerous as the party
increases in strength. There is more of real
peril in the situation to-day than there has
been at any time since 1861.
III. 1t is startling fact that Democrats
who are called the most honorable and con-
servative, under the pressure of party dlsci-
pline and the temptation of party success,
stoop to acts, of the basest bad faith
aud dishonor. A year ago, Democrats de-
manded Commission TO settle the disputed
question of the Presidency, and it was granted.