The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-01-25

in the armies of republican France, and dis
carded the white favor of Henry the Fourth
for the tri.color of the Convention. The young
er men sometimes chafe it is true, but yet
cling to their chains. They heatedly con-
denim mistakes; they critcise savagely and
unsparingly; they scornfuly point to de-
vations from the old paths, to the abandon
ment of ancient doctrines, to the sacrifice
ofprincipe to expediency. They meet and
protest; they intrigue; they form associations
like the Young Democracy; they fout the
greybeards and talk loudly of the rule of the
dotards. But, in spite of all their fumiDg,
their dislike of leaders and methods, the old
sentiment, stronger than reason, dominates
them. 1t was a Scotch Highlander who,
pressed by Jealous evangelist, confessed
that Professionalism was reasonable and
Catholicism unreasonable; but he said, re-
ligion good enough for his father was good
enough for him. And he died Catholic.
The Saxon chief in the familiar historical
tale had become converted to Christianity.
As he stepped into the baptismal font
thought came to him, and he asked "Where
are my ancestors now?" "In He'll with all
other unbelievers," was the prompt reply of
the priest. every WE'LL" said the other,
drawing back his foot, IL would rather be in
I(ell with my fathers than in Heaven with
your little band of Christians"
So these men prefer to err, If error 1t be,
with their fathers, and when battle is actual
ly Joined the Young Guard falls in behind
the Old. Holmes says when British officer
thinks he recognizes man who has been in
Her Majesty's ranks he comes suddenly upon
him and says, sharply "Strap!' If the man
has ever worn the shoulder-strap the old word
of command flashes through his muscles and
his hand goes up in an instant to the place
where the strap used to be. These younger
men wander off. and talk dlsloyally, and you
would think they meant to leave the old
camp forever. They even loiter about the
enemys lines and parley with his sentinels.
But on election day the sharp command
comes, "Fall in" and they take their places
in the ranks.
This feeling of loyalty is not SO apparent
now as it has been-not because of weaken
ing OF fidelity but because for some time past
the Democracy has been recruited from de-
serters or has taken to itself much that other
organizations have sloughed or thrown off
So it CONES about that the Democrats by
birth are not SO great part of the organiza.
ton, and the mass of new recruits and
camp followers and soldiers of fortune, weak
en- the tone of loyalty. Nor is the historical
contrast between the two parties SO great as
it once was. The Republican party has now
history-a history in which it glories. 1t
points to many harG-fought battles and great
victories, aud to the records of its prowess
found on the statute book, ard in the very
Constitution itself. 1t feels that it is his
to,ical party; it proudly thinks that for near
score of years now it has been the Govern
ment, the Country. aud has shaped our poll
cy and made our laws. Aud so the senti-
ment of loyalty, OF pride 10 the organization
and its history, has grown apace. And there
has come about that feeling of love for, of f.
deity to the organization itself apart from the
objects to be achieved by 1t, which once the
Democrats alone bad. The party is no long
er merely means to an end. 1t is loved for
itself. The Republican party now has its
grey-beards, its veteran reserve, and numbers
in its ranks mddle-aged men whose first ser
vice was with it, whose first ballot was cast
for its nominees, who have no other associa-
tions, whose traditions are all of its fortune
and its glory; who look to it as the first set
tier looks to the great city which has sprung
up on the spot where he made clearing and
built his log-hut quarter Of century ago.