Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-05-09

The Democrats retained the National Ad-
ministration before the war, excepting three
presidential terms, because their policy and
ideas accorded with the impulses of the Amer
lean people in fact they comprised the only
party bold enough and sagacious enough to
meet the exigencies arising in the experience
of a rapidly expanding nation. So long rs
they did this, not even the incubus of an al
legged constitutional support of slavery de-
tracted essentially from the strength of the
organization. Its ranks began to be serious
ly depleted when Democracy belied its name
and insisted upon blind obedience to the be-
hests of the slave power. 1t lost its ascend
ancy by the most powerful wing of the party
striking at the existence of the republic to
preserve slavery. The history of the war and
of subsequent politics up to 1876 is almost an
unbroken record of Democratic defeats upon
the issues that party presented to the country.
The presidential election of three years ago
was contested by the Democrats, as every
body knows, on the ground of 'Tilden and
Reform" and that the resumption act was a
"hindrance" to resumption. The veriest
Ounce at the public schools would smile at
any capital being made out of ''Tilden and
Reform" at the present time, with the cipher
dispatches traced directly to Gramercy Park
and the reform" the Democratic party has
been giving the people in both houses of
Congress. No politicians ever encountered
more disastrous defeat than have the Demo-
Gratis on the question of resumption From
every stump in the East they ridiculed Sher-
mans shan, which would not only hinder
specie payments as they asserted, but post
pone that glad contamination indefinitely
The law was pronounced cheat, subter-
fuge, prepared for the purpose of deception
10y the willy Ohio senator As the enactment
under the administration of this same distin-
guished citizen, worked steadily towards the
end for which it was designed, its opponents
changed their tactics, and conceding that re-
sumption might be accomplished under it.
stoutly averred that it would create danger
Gus disturbance in financial affairs But how
sGnally have all their statements and proph-
eces been falsifed The "logic of events"
has stranded the party on this question of re-
sumption. In the contest with the Execu-
tive now pending, Democratic back-down is
the only alternative to swift and sure destruc-
ton. At present the Democratic party is
without case. 1t will come before the great
popular assize next year, with hardly ghost
of a chance to succeed, as it has got nothing
upon which to make fight. 1t dares not re-
cur to the issues of the war, and is beaten in
advance unless the advice of meddling, Off
cious, and not oyer-scrupulous Republican
politicians is followed. Unwise leaders, now
that the Democracy is reduced to this plight,
suggest the precise thing that would again
place the Democrats on their legs and per
haps render them invincible They are to be
supplied with an absolute necessity for
presidential campaign, a live issue, on which
the Republicans would be placed on the de-
fesive, viz, third term This, and the re-
membrance of the closing years ,of Grants
Administration, a certain demented portion
of the Republican party pertinaciously per
sist in forcing TO the front with the express
purpose it would seem. of helping the sor-
rowing Democracy out of the pit into which
it has plunged - Boston Transcript