The New York herald., 1879-11-17

uttioH VI tne uemocfatic party, soiHo VI
whose members have fallen into a dolorous
spirit over their defeat in New York. which
turns out to be more complete than the
earlier returns promised. Tammany Hall
is accused by these disappointed democrats
OF having caused the party's defeat, which
is true enough but though the tactics OF
Tammany during the canvass did not meet
with our approval it's grand strategy, to use
military term, was unexceptionable, as
1t was successful, and has not lessened
but on the contrary improved the chances
of the party for4next year. Tammany elm
mated Mr.. Tilden from the list OF possible
democratic candidates. and the party could
very we'll afford it's defeat in this State to
have that done, because with Mr.. Tilden as
candidate next year its defeat was abso-
lutely certain. The result of the New York
election has, therefore, saved the democrats
from certain defeat next year; they have.
at least, chance of success.
How good a chance it remains for them
to determine. There is no doubt that the
proceedings of the extra session have
proved very damaging to the democrats.
That they caused them the loss of Ohio and
New York is but little; the men who took
control of the party, forced the extra session
and conducted their party's share of the
discussion in it gave shock to the
confidence of the whole country. The
policy they developed, it must now
be seen by even themselves, is
policy which the country will not
have. The extra session was q very silly
blunder, as the HERALD persistently warned
them it would be. 1t was opposed by a
large number of democrats, but.their oppo-
sition was timid, perfunctory and vain; and
for their weak acquiescence they ought to
blame themselves, for it is that which is
now remembered by the people, and which
may prove fatal to their hopes next year,
no matter how good their candidate or how
unexceptionable their platform.
The country is not in love with the pres
ent leaders of the republican party it does
not entirely like the ''stalwart" ideas; it
does not believe in the stalwart cry for "a
strong man at the head of the government"
1t would prefer Mr.. Bayard--to name only
one prominent democrat-to either Of sew
eral republicans, if only it dared to believe
that Mr. Bayard would be the master of his
party; if it We're persuaded that Mr.. Bayard
would control, and that he would not as he
did last February, weakly surrender to the
democratic extremists. It is that surren-
der of Bayard, Herman. Randolph. Lamar,
Gordon, Hewitt and large number of
other democrats known as wise, prudent
and conservative men, to the extreme and
untrustwortly wing of their party, which
to-day almost fatally weakens the demo-
cratic prospects, and not the loss of New
York and Ohio.
When Mr.. Bayard's name is mentioned
in political discussions men ask al once,
''What reason have we to believe that Mr..
Bayard would control his party2 that his
spirit and his policy would prevail9 that
he would not onco more submit to the i'm
petuous bulldozing of the Randalls,
Springers, MacMahons, Blackburns, Tuck
ers, and accept their policy instead OF his
own? Concerning Mr.. Bayard's own
policy and patriotism" these people say,
''we have no doubt; but will he stand
up?" Now it must be confessed that there
is reason for this doubt, and yet the doubt
is fatal to their party. It is we'll known
that large number of democratic Senators
and Representatives were strongly opposed
to the policy which brought on the extra
session, and at their head stood Mr. Bay
ard. 1t is equally we'll known that the
men who forced the extra session
were, with perhaps the single excep-
ton Of Mr.. Thurman, not men whom
even the democratic party, much less the
country, regards as its trustworthy states
men. Yet these men-the rag tag and bob
tail Of the party-wers able to control its
policy able to coerce the wiser men,
including Mr.. Bayard, to silent acqui-
escence. What can Mr.. Bayard and those
who acted, or rather who submitted, with
him now do to convince the country that
what happened last spring and summer
will not happen again? That is the knot
of the democratic difficulty.
We have no doubt that the pretentious
and impetuous men who forced the extra
session and made themselves offensive and
ridiculous by their contest with the Presi-
dent will ''sing smalr' when they return
to Washington in few weeks. 1t would
require greater impudence than even
they have for them to re-enter the Capitol
as conqucring heroes. II is more probable
that they will voluntarily abdicate the
mastery which they assumed last Feb
ruary. "Growl they may, but go they
must" That wing of the party whose
head is Mr. Bayard will secure the control
in both houses, We may suppose, without
much difficulty without any prolonged
caucussing. They may even be able to i'm
pose their policy on the party without re-
sistance. But it will depend on their
course. on their attitude, whether even this
shall be of avail. If there are wise and