The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-04-10
Wanted--A New Policy.

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Just now with great earnestness, prin'
cipally by journals in stl ong but 'dlse
tant Democratic States. They say
that it is a matter of life and death
for the party to get rid of "the fraud
ISSUE" and to shape for itself a posi-
tive, aggressive and definite National
policy upon which it can appeal to
the people. Easier said than done!
1.-THE fraud issue" does not profit
the Democratic party, it is true.
Long ago that party ceased to be able
to gain anything by repeating accu-
sations which it has had every con-
ceivable opportunity to prove. which
it has nevertheless completely dis
proved by,abundant and convincing
Testimony eiicited by its own iifvesl
legations, and which, moreover, it
has turned into a deadly weapon
against itself by its conduct in respect
to cipher dispatches, tissue-ballots,
the steal in Maine, and the attempted
expulsion of duly elected Senators
and Representatives from their seats.
The Democrat who does not perceive
/, that 1.-THE fraud issue" tends to make
the success of his party impossible, is
lacking in common sense. Yet it is
not easy to get rid of that business.
"Can a leopard change his spots ?"
Easier than the Democratic party can
get rid of the logical consequences Of
its claim, so loudly and persistently
made, that it really elected Presi-
dent in 1876,
If that issue were out of the way,
the difficulties of the Democratic par
ty would not be diminished. 1t is at
least as hard to find any new policy,
upon which that party eau unite, ss
to carry the country upon the explod-
ed slanders which make up 'the
fraud issue" Upon what doctrine or
declaration of ofprinciples can that par
ty agree? Once it was Hard Money
party. Now it has been so long Sc
duced by disloyal prejudices into hos
tility to resumption, and SO complete
ly eaten through by the pestilent
notions of Greenback demagogism,
that there is hardly State in the
Union in which the party dares to
plant itself fairly and squarely upon
its old hard money doctrines. Once
it was rigidiy opposed to internal
improvements. Now its leaders. and
voters, in all the States from which
Democratic majorities can be conf
IDENTIFY expected, are almost crazy
with hunger for large expenditures
of public money, in Improvement of
rivers and harbors, building of rail
ways, canals and levees, and jobs in
Vulnerable. Once it was Free Trade
party. But now old Wings by the
Thousand have taken places of inhu-
ence in its cOunsels, and new devel.
Opment of industries has caused hosts
of Democrats in Pennsylvania, Lou
isiana and other States to become
passionate believers in Protection,
and the party might as well 60 into
the Presidential election with no
candidate at all as with one known
to be hearty and uncompromisipg in
his devotion to Free Trade ideas
Once the Democracy boasted that it
was "the party of the Constitution" !"
and swore by decisions of the Su-
preme Court, and demanded thatthe
most strict and absolute obedience
should be paid to the Constitution so
interpreted. But now Democratic
Congress bids defiance to DEGREES of
that Court, and shouts with approba.
tiOn when member declares that the
supreme law is not the Constitution
judicially interpreted, but the will of
a majority in Congress.
AS there is not a single old issue,
so there is not single new one, upon
which the Democratic party can
agree. Some of its members were
traitors to the country ; others taunt
them with the fact on the floor of the
House. Some Democrats still believe
in rifle club and shotgun manage
ment; others insist that such conduct
is defeating the party at the North,
and driving away needed laborers
from the South. Very many, like
General Malone, believe in repudia-
tion, atlas "readjustment" of local
debts others, like the regular Dem
ocrats of Virginia, refuse to admit
such persons to their conventions. or
to recognize them as Democrats
Some follow General Butler, Wright,
of Pennsylvania, Kearney, the ilcar.
cerated, and other champions of de.
structive communism but there are
Democrats, also, who believe in q
short shrift and ready halter for
suvh enemies of society. What prin.
ciple, doctrine, or notion, dead OF