New-York tribune., 1879-10-17
nEfE1rEn RLcAISE -DISLOT1L

Says Speaker Randall, if he is correctly re-
ported, "The tide seems TO be running for
"the Republicans, and | don't see how we
care to check it," Mr.. Randall ought to
know, if anybody, for no other man did more
than he 10 give the Democratic party its pres
cnt attitude, half repndiating and half reyO-
luuonary His was the hand which moved the
levers when Democrats III Congress committed
themselves TO a stubborn fight with the Exec
utive on a question which they professed to
consider more important than all Others. But
now he will probably say, with The Washing
ton Post " 1t is about time for the Democratic
"party TO recognize the fact that this Is
hard-money country" So it Is, but recOg-
nizng the fact will not help the Democracy.
On these two questions, which are one at
bottom, the Democratic party has taken its
position, and it cannot change now, if it would.
1t cannot undo all that its revolutionary adj
herents have done at the South, nor can il
blot from their minds all the teachings Of the
last ten years on the money question.
In truth, the Democratic party has been
caught a second time in an attempt TO destroy
the Union. 4 conspiracy against the credit
of the Government is dislOyal in purpose as
well as reasonable in origin. An attempt to
break down OF nulliiy laws of the United
States, and TO strip the Executive of the
power which the Constitution gives him, Is
essentially disl0yal, as well as revolutionary.
The Democratic party Is on the wrong side
once more, not by accident. but because its
shrewd leaders cannot resist the tendencies
and impulses OF their followers. 1t is repu-
dating party, not because those leaders think
that course wise one, but because they find
themselves unable to direct the party into any
other. This is a hard-money country, as The
Washington Post tardIly discovers, but I" it is
about time for the Democratic party to
"recognize the fact thatn it is a soit-money
party, and therefore cannot hope to win. SO,
too. il is true that the tide is running for the
"Republicans," and it cannot be stopped
but the reason is that the Democratic party
has once more manifested its dislOyal spirit
and purpose. But that spirit and purpose
exist, and the most that Mr.. Randall could
hone to do would be to hide it for q time.
Even this he cannot do, until the shotgun
and tissue-balOt Democracy of the South can
be educated to conceal its acts and feelings
better.
Let us look behind these excuses of Demo-
Gratis for Democratic defeat, and ask,
"What is the matter?' Once there was u
Democratic party Jealous i'll defence of in
diyldual freedom. careful of the rights of
maioiities, eager to defend the Nations exis
tence, its honor, and its sovereignty. Now
what have WEI A Confederate party.
Nothing more and nothing less; a party of
the rebellion, devoted TO the rehabilitation
of unchanged traitors and half-forgotten
reasonable dogmas. The Democratic party
has no business to exist at all at the North.
1t is essentially and radically disloyal IN
spirit and purpose 1t fosters Reputation
everywhere, in utter defiance of all old Demo-
cratic hard-money traditions. Why Because
its ruling element at the South has no desire
10 pay debts incurred in putting down a
Southern rebellion. 1t tramples upon law,
and with a spirit of defiance OF the authority
of the United States. and determination to
shake off that authority and substitute the
sovereignty of States. Whyl Because its rul-
ing element at the South Is above all things.
hostile to the nationality which the South tried
in vain to destroy. In a word, instead of the
old Democratic party, we have Confederate
party. which looks at every public question
with the eyes Of n pardoned rebel When
that party wants TO get control of the United
States Government, there are millions of
voters who remember that they did not fight
Oh the Confederate side. and do not propose
to vote on the Confederate side.
"That is secuonalism." some men cry. Very
well the name did not scare IN 1861, and
does not scare now. The North is in favor of
the Union. its honor, its laws, and its sover-
eighty, now as then, and it meets sectional as
Al. O.l.. 4 Al.
sistance by a Solid North. We did not believe
in giving the South control of the Govern
ment during the war, and do not believe In