Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-10-30

vote against the NORTH, ana were uscrplng
the political powers of their late slaves, re-
fusing to the latter the exercise of any
of the privileges and rights which had been
granted to them. A solid South was thus
organized, and the Democracy advanced to
the attack, not only destitute of any ra-
tional argument in its favor, but handi-
capped with the obvious lawlessness Of tie
methods by which it had made the SoAth
solid. Not only had itno reasons to a.lege
for preferring it to the Republican party,
but it was disqualified in a peculiar manner
by the illegality of the measures it had
adopted to gain itself standing ground
Never in the history of parties has polit-
ical organization made such a fight upon
more feeble grounds than the Democracy
possessed this year. 1t was asking that
singularly successful and prosperous adj
ministration should be set aside in favor of
a singularly unsuccessful and mistrusted
party, which had committed itself against
every measure that had conduced to the
prevailing prosperity, and which, more
over, had violated the fundamental laws
of the Republic in arranging its forces for
this very contest. A more audacious prop
osition could not have been made.
In vain the Democrats have endeavored
to obscure the issues by sensational frauds
and reckless abuse of their opponents. De-
spite all their noise and all their wiles,
men recur to the crucial consideration,
and ask themselves what possible reasons
can exist for making the change proposed.
The Republican policy has conducted the
nation to its present pitch of prosperity
has raised the public credit higher than it
ever was before; has given US peace and
progress and increase in every direction.
What can the Democrats set against all
these palpable advantages? Their distinc-
tive policy has never had free application
anywhere but in the South Is the mate.
rial condition of that region such as to
recommend the doctrines which obtain
there? The South is behind the rest of the
country hundred years. 1t is so because
it has been Democratic The statesman
ship of the Democracy is that of past
generation. Its financial ideas are those
which were rife IN Europe in the middle of
the eighteenth century. Its governmental
theories are those which experience has
proved to be utterly incompatible with the
survival of this republic. 1t comprises the
least intelligent, least progressive, least
law. abiding, least civilized, least educated
elements OF the nation in its ranks. 1t
attracts to itself By chemical afinities the
most backward, perverse, sinister, malg-
nant, unpatriotic tendencies and influences
that are extant. a steady monotony of
contrariety marks all It's policies. 1t is
uniformly found in opposition to whatever
noble and liberal and tending to enlight-
eminent and expansion is urged. 1t in
stinctively revolts from all educational
agencies. 1t has no sympathy with the
schoolmaster abroad. 1t willingly lends
itself to organizations which aim
al lettering the soul of man and putting
out the eyes OF modern civilization. This
is an age of growth What claims has the
Democratic party upon such an age? 1t
stands before the people today without
promise or pretense of reform, and without
hope or capability Of reform. 1t has pre-
sented in this campaign notifying
spectacle of principles spurned, professions
abandoned, guarantees repudiated, posi-
tons reversed, in short of all the incon.
sistencies and impossibilities which party
is sure to be guilty of which sets out with
out sincerity, and which has no higher
programme than the filing of the Offices.
Upon the Republican party, on the other
hand, devolves the duty Of maintaining
and continuing the benefcent conditions
which il has established a duty which it
can be fully trusted to perform, seeing how
well it has accomplished the work already
done. This is the situation upon which
the people are now called to adjudicate,
and it cannot be doubted that they will
decide on behalf of the party which can
say that it has brought the country to
prosperity, and against the party which
can only say that it did not succeed in de-
stroYing the Union twenty years ago. or in
indicating the tenacity Of its disloyalty by
repeating the Resumption Act year since