The Portland daily press., 1880-02-16
N. Y. Tribunel
Why the Country Distrusts the
Democrats.

Yes, the Democratic party is distrusted, and
most profoundly, by that same conservative
class to which it appealed so effectively but
few years ago. The very men who felt in 1872,
and some of them in 1876, that change in the
Government was necessary, are now the most
earnest to prevent a surrender of the Govern
ment to Democratic hands. Men who have no
rooted partisanship, men Of conservative in
stincts and habits, men who want no office,
and look with contempt upon the strife of par
ties when it involves nothing more than a SUBJ
stitution of "the outs for those who are in,
are precisely the men whose votes turned the
scale in many States last Fall, and whose de-
termination not to aid the election of any
Democratic candidate for the Presidency has
given the Republicans their strongest hope.
What is the reason of this change?
1. The Democratic party has been tried in
the control of legislation Its spirit has been
shown, and its methods. Perhaps no other
thing has done more to disgust conservative
and intelligent men with that party than the
revelation of its utter incapacity to govern
Not single public interest can be named.
which has been better served since the Demo-
cratic party gained control in legislation than
it was before. Not single public question
can be named which that party has treated or
proposed to treat in sensible, judicious and
statesmanlike manner. The party has shown
itself absolutely incapable Of framing single
measure which has commanded public atten-
tion by its importance, and public approval by
its merit. A Democratic Congress has frit-
tered away its time in paltry and contemplate
political squabbles, and bas neglected the pub
lie business as il never was neglected before.
II. Under trial, the Democratic party has
shown that its otfice-seeking and plunder-
grasping end is the only one that has any pow
er to shape its action. 1t is managed as mere
conspiracy of spoils-hunters. The country sees
the fact. 1t sees that all its interests are sac
ritced, first, to enable the party to get possess
sion of the offices, and second, to enable this or
that clique within the party to control the dis
tribution Ct the offices when secured.
Ill. If the party has shown any unity and
earnestness of purpose, III respect to anything
beyond the strife for office, it Is for the Grip
pling of the public credit, the plunder of the
public creditor, the substitution of bad money
for good, and the overthrow of sound National
banks in order to make room for wildcat State
banks. In the direction of reputation of the
war debt. the Democratic party has moved for
years more unitedly and more persist tently than
in any other direction whatever. Ii it is not
wholly agreed in respect to this matter, the
-
element does not dare or does not intend to re-
sist effectively its worst element at any crisis.
This proof has thoroughly alarmed that part of
the conservative vote which cares for business
| prosperity, stability of investments, and fair
| protection for public creditors.
w. Hatred of bondholders and National
| banks is traced to its source in Democratic dis
loyalty. 1t is seen that the party OF the rebel
lion cannot safely be trusted to guard the in
terests and rights of those by whom the rebel
| lion was put down.
| v. The Democratic party has shown itself a
| thin mask for Solid South. vt every step
the overpowering influence of the South with
| in that party is made manifest. 1t can de-
mand what 1t pleases, and do what it pleases,
| i'll Democratic councils, because the solid
| South casts nearly all the electoral votes that
| the p ,rty can hope to command 1t was hoped
| by conservative men that the sectional spirit
| would fade away with the removal of troops
| and the establishment of Democratic local gov
| ernments at the South. Instead, that Sc ction-
| al spirit appears more intense, more aggressive
and more dangerous than ever.
| vi. The methods to which the party has re-
| sorted have been essentially revolutionary. 1t
| has defed and thwarted the popular will when
| ever it could in order to gain its ends In
some States it has crushed majorities by a con-
| spiracy OF assassins; in some by systematic
| cheating; in some, bribery of officials or eec-
tors has been attempted to defeat the will of
| the people, and in Maine shameless fraud
was attempted by prostitution of official trusts.
All these things tend toward complete Mexi-
canization of our Government. They tend to
disgust the people with the very forms OF self
government which are thus abused, and
thoughtful citizens begin to ask whether self
government itself could long retain its hold
upon the regard of the people if Democratic
methods should be permitted to prevail.
VII. The party has proved its readiness to
| ruin If 1t cannot rule-to stop the wheels Of
government if it cannot sweep away all obsta-
cles to its success by fraud. It's daring revolu-
| tionary course at the last session has been nei-
ther dsavowed nor abandoned. To this hour
Congress refuses TO make the provision which
the existing laws require for their enforcement.
| 1t stands upon the threat of the last session,
that the election laws should be practically
nullitied, if they could not be constitutionally
| repealed.
Certainly it is not strange il, in view Of all
these things, conservative and thoughtful men
think of possible Democratic success with
dread. The only wonder is that any intelli-
| gent and truly conservative man can be found
to give further aid to party incapable, SO
corrupt, so communistic So hostile to tue pub
lie credit, so controlled by the rebellious ele-
ment at the South, and so dangerous, demoral-
izing and revolutionary in its methods.