The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1879-01-16
From the N. Y. Tribune.I
The Democrats and The Ciphers.

The fatal error of the Democratic par
ty is that it has never paid enough atten-
ton to public opinion. Popular whims
and prejudices it has consulted far too
often for its own success. The meanest
passions of the meanest rabble-passions
of which the rabble itself is ashamed
when it gets cool-the Democratic party
has often stopped to flatter, feed and
obey But it has never had any
comprehension of that steady, intelligent,
conscientious, slowly growing public opin-
ion, which rules everything in this free
country, and before which even the pas
sions of the widest mob cover and cool
In truth, the Democratic party is not an
organization fit for any service whatever
in a free government; it is incompetent
to lead or to rule, lacks the sincerity and
conscience for useful criticism, and en-
bodies so much of all that is most danger
Gus and knavish that, instead of restrain
ing and correcting a party in power by
its opposition, it only gives to that party
a greater and more mischieyous sense of
security. The Democratic party is just
such party as serves, by its senseless
and conscienceless forms of opposition,
to keep alive some of the worst despot-
isms in Europe. The highest praise that
philosophic history will accord to the Re
has so rarely abused its power, though
tempted continually by such an opposi-
ton.
1t is not possible for the Democrats to
understand, for example, that sober and
conscientious public opinion, in respect
to all charges of fraud in elections, and
more broadly and permanently in re-
spect to every claim of the Democratic
party that it has reformed or will reform
anything, has been very firmly set by the
conduct of that party in regard to the
attempts to buy electoral votes. The
rabble cares nothing for proof that po-
litical leader has been guilty of crime. 1t
only calls him "smart" and hippantly
sneers at the Excessive virtue" Of men
who would expose misdeeds by their own
party associates. This is the moral level
of the mob, and the Democratic party
thinks only of that mob and its sweet
voices. Yet there are thousands of Dem.
oerats who have very different feeling
To them, it has been matter of shame
and grief that conspicuous leaders Of
their party have been unable to reply
when charged with most infamous
crime. To them, the first day that wa:
suffered to pass without swift and con
elusive answer to the indictment contain
ed in translated ciphers was day O
SnanS, anu WOis0 tudu great Q0I6al
Yet they hopefully presumed that tn,
party itself would strictly investigate, a
soon as Congress assembled, and punisl
without mercy, if any one acting for tn
Democratic party had been guilty of sucl
crime.
These sober and conscientious voter
have waited. To their anlazement, Dem
ocratic Congressman are dumb. Demo
cratic leaders upon whom the brand G
dishonor has been fixed make no effor
to remove it. The Democrats in Cor
gress, with one accord, shirk the Who'll
subject, as if publicly confessing that n
man can lose standing or influence i
that party by perpetrating any crime
however Infamous. The more decen
men of the party are forming an opinio
of their associates-an opinion whic
will last for lifetime. They will kno'
what hypocrisy it is, when next some d,
fender Of ciphering coparceners makes
great outcry about Fraud" They wi
share Republican disgust and contemp
the next time the Democratic party lift
up its voice for Reform" Quietly BIT
surely, this change goes on. Men wh
never despised the Democratic party b
fore, despise it now Men who neve
voted any other ticket before will go I
the polls at the next election with d lee
ing that they do not want to vote in tb
company of confessed scoundrels.
Shirk the matter as long as you lik
Messrs. Democrats! The Republican
can wait, if you can.