The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1878-07-25

There are many men in the land who
are Democrats by instinct who are not
Democratic at the ballOt-box. Massa,
chusetts is q Democratic State, If the
Democratic idea could be voted on
simply and singly, for it was in Msssa-
-chusetts, in her town meetings. that
the present Democracy in history was
born. Those early Colonial days in
the most potent of the Colonies were
the days of almost no government,
but of almost q perfect government.
1t was great, because little. 1t was
the germ of tho Republic. The Re-
public has never been in danger by
clinging closely to this idea. 1t has
only been in peril in SO far as it has
departed from it. In the elections of
this year, SO rapidly approaching.
there are important duties resting
upon two classes of voters. The Dem.
ocrats who are such in name should
be absolutely steadfast. They should
not be led about by every wind Of
doctrine. They should not fondle
epheMcral parties. There was never
q better time for Democrats to hold
fast. 1t has been many years sisce- the
Inducements were so great to cling to
the Democratic organization, and there
has not been q time when the "Ohio
doctrine" has commanded 60 wide and
powerful following as now. The
Ohio doctrine has been received with
unexpected cordiaiity in unexpected
quarters. This is not the time for
Democrats, who are really Democrats,
to desert their posts. to abondon the
ship, to. quit the field, to run off after
some strange doctrine, after some new
machinery, some new party. The
genuine Democrat in this hour will
not court the attentions or encourage
the labors of third or fourth party
professedly pursuing the same things
with those the Democratic party is
pursuing. The Democratic party is
to-day almost lifted up from the earth
and it ia about to draw all men unto
it, to borrow the expression of an idea
from the New Gospel. Ben Butler
may talk about a National party"
third party bearing any name, but he
now processes no Democratic allcgi.
ance. One of the duties of real Dem
Ocrats in this hour is to cling to the
slOwly but surely conquering anthori-
ty, the Ohio idea, the Democratic idea,
in the foremost question of finance.
There is another. duty resting on
nom partisan, Independent voters, on
men who care nothing for party, but
everything for measures. These men
owe 1t to the course they advocate to
inquire after the truth touching the
question that most concerns them.
We insist that the Democratic duty
bids men within the Democratic party
stay there. We insist also that the
desires of men outside the two great
parties, whether they call themselves
+" Nationals" or "Greenbackers," or
"Currency Reformers," or labor
Reformers," &c are foolish if they do
not avail themselves of the vast and
costly machinery ready made to their
hands, the mechanism of the Demo.
cratic party. When Maine clasps
hands with Texss when Vermont and
Iowa are agreed when the Democra-
cy Of Massachusetts and New York
become frightened, .he Ohio idea is in
q good way. The duty is that Demo-
Gratis in name and profession should
not appear now to falter, and that the
Democrats who are Democrats from
interest, though not acknowledging
allegiance to party, should vote at
home, aud not throw away their suf-
frages ON party without power.
# Enquirer.