Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-04-04
The Democratic Party.

Tie Democratic party has been associated
with the defence of an odious institution
which was condemned before it fell by the
moral sense OF the civilized world, and
whi,h since its fall no one has yentured to
regret. During the civil war the party was
eoyortly or openly in sympathy with the
public enemy, and would at any time have
gcquiCsced in or have been pleased by hi,
SUCCESS Dv-'-- ~ sfaLte1a year. too
4. lias Distinguished itself by attacks on the
public credit, and on nearly all the conser-
yatiye forces Of society. 1t has been dis
credited by the most mOnstrous frauds CON-
mIttcd by prominent members in places
which they had reached through its votes.
1t La- appealed to the basest passions of the
ha-c,t portion Of the community. 1t has
steadily resisted everywhere even the mild
ct legislative attempts to prevent cheating
at elections. No registry law has ever been
loose enough or ineffective enough to satisfy
1t. 1t has completely abandoned, TOO. the
sound aud conservative position on monetary
questions which constituted 1t chief merit
IN the early days OF its history, and become
the ready advocate, not simply of certain
Wild financial idea, but of any financial idea
that was Wild. A Democratic platform has
rarely been drawn since lsGj which did not
contain new theory about money, that
Ignored the facts of history and the princi-
ples OF human nature. In fact, no party
has ever more effectively earned the title Of
dangerous. But in spite Of this unfortunate
history, IN spite of Its fOllie>, its excuses,
and the lncapacity Of it, leaders, it has, dur
ins the last ten years, been steadily recover
my ~ Old place IN the Government
SO says most truthiully the New York
Na'oH. 1t can be added with equal truth
that probably no one paper has done more to
bring about the restoration of this reckless
AMI dangerous party to power, than the
NaHoH. 1t has been to the Republican party
the kind Of friend that people pray to be
delivered from. Protesting, doubtless sin
eercl y,adherence to Republican principles, its
criticisms Of the Republican party and of its
chief opponents have been 50 bitter and un-
~pTins that they have led many men Of not
very strong political attachments, or of
captious dispositions, to the conclusion that
there WAS no good left in the party, and that
any change must be a change for the better.
Thy have depressed instead Of encouraging
the true friends Of reform within the Repub-
lican party, aud have stimulated and given
all and comfort to the life long enemies of
Republican principles. The consequences
are seen IN the return of the Democratic
party 10 limos: complete control, under the
leadership OF mel who, a few years ago,
were doing der utmost to destroy the Gov
ernmcnt, and who are looking forward to
and y. ming for time when the war
will be renewed with this difference that the
South will have possession of the Govern
meat, while the North will have been driven |
into rebellion.
The N"'oH- We are glad to see !. not |
icasel with the results it ha-
had 50 much To ID in bringrng about. 1t
say ~ ats last issue:
There are many mi~giying4 on the part
Of thJ-e Ucr-un. welding the balance of |
power who actively OF tacitly consented to |
bring about tins result. Their motive in
nine cl-,- out Of ten was TO put the Repub
can IIrty on the stool of repentance rather
tina 20 lat the Democrats into the places of
aut Ority. Toe experiment has not given
them unbounded satisfaction.
Yet the resIls of 1t has been lust
what night have been expected and
what wa predicted. These people, rep
resented by the Na,,oH, who snecreI at
the very -nsge ton that it was possible to
reform the party from within and vino
"hlstlcd down the wind, a of no importance.
the suggestion that II was not worth ybi.e
to destroy the Republican organization TIL
some better party waS presented t. take it,
olace-are the men vino have Gifted tie
Democrats into the places Of autbority."
The Democrats have leen very wilIin, IN
IS them but, It - needless to say, they
consider them Of 10 account except as tools
hey desFi7e their counsels, an care nothing
or their rcrroD's. The Democracy having got
he control trust t. their own ability to 80
lse the patronage and spoils Of Office, as to re
ain the power, They do not expect the future
Import OF macy Of these experlmenters but
hey intend to upply their places with men
whom they can buy, whose votes will be
worth as much, and whose support they can
'e..sure Of as long as they make it worth
While t'r them to render it. II their rlal.,