Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-11-13
Political Prospects.

There can be no Disgusting the fact
that the recent elections resulted very
disastrous1y for the Democratic party.
That this is due to the acts of Democrats
ic congressman, during the extra session
of last spring and summer, there can be
no question. On the 18th Of last March
when the extra session commenced, the
prospects of the Democrat tic party were
splendid ; it had majority of both houses
of Congress; 1t had the good will and
support OF a large majority of the people ;
and the next presidency was within it's
grasp. But the Democratic congressman
immediately proceeded to force issues be-
fore the people that any person Of ordi>
nary intelligence ought to have been able
to see would prove unfortunate for the
party. We earnestly protested against
the policy they were pursuing, and
pointed out what the results would be.
We explained that while the position
taken by the Democrats was not wrong
in principle, it would be unfortunate in
its results; and that while we did not
favor the surrender of the principle in>
volvea, we regarded it as the extreme of
folly to adopt a policy that would bring
defeat upon the party that represented
that principle. Our position was briefly
stated in the following words, taken from
an editorial IN the Transcript of June 10 ::
"It would have been much better ifthe Dem
ocrats had passed repeals of the Objectionable
laws separately, and then passed the appro-
priation bills and gone home, no matter
whether the President approved the repeating
bills or not. This would not have required
any compromise of principle, and would have
been in harmony with the proper dignity of a
Legislative body. The entire Proceeding
would have been so quiet, orderly, digniGed
and dispassionate, that q revival of sectional
hatred on that issue would have been impos-
sible''
But, Of course, what we said about it
made 10 difference, and they went on
making jackasses of themselves just the
same as before. Meantime several of our
Democratic exchanges set us down for Il
fool and all we could do, after having
giving publicity to our ideas, was to
await the result to be shown by the fall
elections. The fall elections have been
held, and it is shown that the policy of
the Democrats during the extra session
was unfortunate, just as we said. We
deplore the disastrous result as much as
those who believed the Democrats were
acting inte]ligently,but we derive little
consolation in saying awe told you So"
But while the elections have been unfort>
unate, because they resulted unfav orably
for Democracy, they have in one way
been beneficial. They have killed, pollt~
ically, all the weak Democratic candi-
dates for presidential honors. TiIden,
Ewing. Thurman and Hendricks all he
IN political graves. The present coudi-
tion Of affairs is favorable for the nomi-
nation of a candidate for the presidency
upon whom Democracy can thoroughly
unite. Senator Bayard may also be
numbered among those who sleep in po-
lltical graves, for no one man has con-
tributed more to force the Democratic
party into the uncomfortable position
that caused its defeat IN the elections this
fall. During the contest over the silver
question, he repudiated the action Of his
party, and worked with the Republicans
in the interest of the bondholders. In
short he has forfeited all just claims to
consideration at the hands of the Demo-
cratic party. Itappears to:us that Gen
Hancock, of Pennsylvania, is the coming
man, whom the Democracy of this coun>
try will do themselves the honor to nom
mate for the presidency. He can COM
mand the full strength of the party, and
he is a man against whose record no fault
can befound. The next presidential con-
test will be close one, but we predict
that if Gen. Hancock is nominated, he
will be elected. s,: *z;. -
E%s1e5 &S5rS" sfEss.t@ 4 2s y