Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-04-23
From the New York rribuno.I
4 Word about Parties.


that it must lose control of the Senate
next year, with little chance Of recover
ing control in the House; that the Ad-
be the virtues what they
may, is not one to make the party strong
and that after next March the President
will be efectually restrained, even If he
should desire to help the party, byl ad-
verse majorities in both houses. A de-
feat in 1880 seems to these persons
and that defeat, they say, will
be the last of the party, because 1t has no
longer the inspiration Of great purpose
to hold it together. If its voters were
led by name or a prejudice, it might
live as the Democratic party has lived
through seventeen years Of defeat, but the
Republican voters, we are tod, will adj
here to the organization only 80 long as 1t
mas tangible hope Of accomplishing deh-
mite and desired results. With these views,
many Democrats are counting unmatched
chickens, and some Republicans seem to
be growing weary in the defence of an
which they think doomed to
dissolution. 1t is as well to face the
facts. Undoubtedly, these reasonlngs
embody much truth, but not the whole
truth.
The advantage of the Democratic party
Is, that voters of the later generation
know it only by its professions. True,
they have seen it tried in some States.
But its misconduct there has been attrib-
uted to local influences, and has been but
little appreciated, moreover, in other
States They have seen it tried In the
House, and sometimes wonder whether
" bigger man than old Grant and Door
keeper Polk, fairly illustrate Its capacity
for reform. But excuses are made for
the House; it is cursed with a sense Of
responsibility and it is largely composed
of inexperienced men. Led by some pure,
and strong man as President, bound by
its formal pledges in a National contest,
to realize its responsibility for
every act, the Democratic party, 1t is
said, would show the country very diff
fereut record. 1t may be good thing TO
hAve the professors Of this party put to
the test next year. If it has control Of
both houses, and can shape legislation as
it pleases,it will be very sure to show the
what meaning there is in IT'S pro-
lessions ofreform. We do not now refer
merely to the Dotorious Democratic tacul-
ty for laundering In power, or out OF
power, the party will blunder. But Us
real character, its true purposes, can be-
come fully known by a large majority Of
voters only when that party Is IN position
to WELD some power
It's very true that the Republican
party cannot hope to live upon the mere
blunders Of it opponents. But broad
view of the nature,obJects and tendencies
Of both parties will probably control a
majority of voters. If it appears that
in the very nature OF the Democratic
party, there Is ineradicable hostility
to the equality of citizens, that will
have weight. If it appears that the
Democratic party, its elements remain
iug what they are, can never help
being hostile to the public creditor and
dangerous to the public credit, that will
have weight. fit appears that 1t is es-
,entially Southern party, controlled by
4 sectional interest, and ready to sacrifice
The public welfare at the behest Of
Southern greed or Southern vindictive-
less, that will have weight If 1t ap-
pears that its promises OF reform are
empty; that it abolishes no slnecures
which Democrats may hope soon to NIL ;
hat It clamors for non-partisanship IN It's
opponents, but manitests in its own be-
layior the most shameless and unscrupu-
Gus partisanship; that it uses the whole
,nblic service as machine for manufac
uring q partisan victory, lends itself to
he worst jobs for the sake Of votes, and
ills offices with the worst men in order to
'eward them for party work, that will
lave It's effect. If, in short, 1t Is found
hat the Democratic party, as now con-
Jituted, Is nothing but conspiracy OF
southern ambition and Northern Ignorance
md knavery, to seize the Government
md use it for ends partly reactionary
nd partly selfish, this will assuredly
ave weight
The Republican party would be very
much improved by experience Of defeat,
Is greatest faults have sprung from an
xcess of power, from long continued
uccess, and from the habit, which in such
come naturally to any
.arty, of relying more upon its history
nd its machinery than upon its principles
nd its performance. Defeat has purged
t to some extent already, and will purge
still more hereafter. II true to itself,
be party ought to become, not the weaker,
ut incomparably the stronger, Tor Its
everses.
For it represents, after all, forces
which will never cease to be powerful In
mis- country until those have passed away
7ho helped to beat down rebellion, and
hose who once wore the chains ofsiayery,
nd those who trusted the Government in
Is hour Of trial. SO long as the legiti-
nate results of the war are threatened, in
ny State, the Republican party will be
trOng So long as the equal citizenship
f the emancipated race is anywhere de-
led or menaced, the Republican party |
nh be strong. So long as the public |