The Portland daily press., 1879-09-20
The Sick Party.

n SouiiCu VI puyolOidHc 10 SOhOioiy "
garded by the friends of sick patient in the
light of warning to them to be prepared
for the worst. 1t is a virtual confession on
the part Of the attendant physician that the
case battles his skill and that a remedy must
be speedily found if the patient is to be re-
stored to health Such a council has just
been held in Washington. The physicians
which composed it were members OF the
National Democratic Committee, and the
sinking patient was the Democratic party
The council is supposed to have been called
by Samuel ]. Tilden, who has been for years
prescribing for the patient in the State of
New York. Mr.. Tilden recently noticed
some alarming symptoms, the most alarm
ing being seeding the off of powerful
and important member known as Tammany,
and concluded to call in assistance.
What the council decided to do, if any
thing, has not transpired. The only hope
evidently lies in turning offall the old physi-
clans whose method of treatment has pro-
duced a large part of the diseases from
which the patient is now suffering. 1t won't
do to allow any more Greenbackism, or But
lerism, or Tildenism or Bourbonsm to be
administered. These things must all be got
out of the patients system before there will
be any chance of recovery. They are all
of them violent stimuants and their ultimate
effect is to make the patient worse. Wheth-
er the Democratic party has stamina enough
to bear such an entire change of treatment
is problematcal 1t has been accustomed to
rely on stimulants SO long that there is great
danger that total withdrawal of them will
end its life. Its stomach by long period OF
dissipation has been sadly untitled to receive
nourishing and wholesome food, and its will
has been so weakened by long indulgence
thai the chances are that it will not be
able to submit to restraint
The committee is therefore placed in
rather an unpleasant position. The only
treatment which gives any promise of restor-
ing the health of the party is one " hich is
liable to result in its speedy dissolution.
Naturally it will hesitate to assume the risk
which attaches to it. and the chances are
that hesitation will be followed by refusal,
and that the party will be left to linger along
in the same state it has been for years. In
stead, therefore, of doing good the
meeting will be productive of much harm.
It will give substantial grounds for the
belief that the condition of the party is des-
perabe, and such - tiea-eaa- the eve Of
several important elections cannot fail to be
very damaging to its prospects. Several of
the committee possessed of more foresight
than their associates, predicted this result
and protested against the meeting. The
future will undoubtedly show that their
fears were well grounded. John Kelly and
Tammany couldn't haye devised any scheme
better calculated to injure the chances of
the New York Democracy than this meet
ing called by Tilden and the National Com
mittee
THE United States supreme court will
soon have before it a case which will proba-
bly, fully test and decide the question wheth-
er the United States election laws are con-
stitutional on the points raised by the Dem
ocrats; whether the United States possess
any authority to interfere with State cleo
tions, or State election officers and whether
the United States possess any power over
the qualifications of voters, so as to protect,
or regulate, or meddle with the rights of
voters. The case arises from the conviction
before Judge Bond, of the United States cir
cult court, of several State election judges
and clerks Of Maryland, charged with OBJ
structing and resisting the United States
upgrvisors of elections and the United States
deputy marshals in the discharge of their
duty on election day. These parties were
convicted and sentenced to fine and impris-
onment Application was made to Chief
Justice Waite for writ of habeas corpus,
on the grounds that Congress has no consti-
tutional authority to legislate to regulate
elections held by State officers under State
laws, or to regulate, protect or interfere
with the alleged rights of voters; and it is
proposed to carry the case before the full
supreme court bench. The Attorney Gen
eral of Maryland, has been directed by Gov
ernor Carol to assist Bradley M. johnson,
attorney for the petitioners. The hearing
will take place in Washington, before Chief
Justice Waite, on the second Tuesday in
October; and the case will be watched with
much interest by tie bar as well rs by the
politicians of the country.