New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-11-16
THO DID TT

~
The Democrats are engaged IN n post
norton examination of their party. They
want to know what was the matter with the
dcfunct Men who hate Mr.. Kelly say that he
did it. Men who hate Mr.. TIlden say that be
did it. great many, who have Il keen apple
cation of Nj. Barnums mana cement, say that
he did IT, S1uihern journals generally insist
that the Responsibility rests with the indecent
management and unworthy Leaders of the
Northern Democracy. Northern Democratic
| Journals, not of the tOad-eau variety, insist
that the causrless sOhdlty and the lndcfcnsiblc
methods of the Solid South made the mischief.
All these critics are right and all are wrong.
Each of the causes they mention contributed
to the defeat of the Democl aric party. But the
pustults which dSfgure tbe face do not kill the
small -pox patient, and the disease which defeats
the Democratic party lies much deeper than
some Democrats suppose.
The Democratic party goes down again be-
cause It is not democratic; because it has no
faith in the people nor any real care for their
interests because it is governed by the idea
that the PEOPLE are either knayes or fools and
has no respect for any intelligent or honest
public opinion. 1t has no principle. 1t Is
mere conspiracy of spOil,mn and place
hunters. Brutality and dishonesty in methods
come naturally to such party. Suppression OF
free thought and free speech AT the South,
and the sOdty secured by shot-guns and
tissue ballots, are as natural as the scOunlrel-
ism and black guardlsn Of the Democratic
National Committee. the despOtism Of a
Boss like Mr.. Kelly, or the remarkable power
of a trckster like Mr. Tidcn Since the cipher
DISPATCHES were brought mo the keen bright
sunlight of publicity" it has never been pos
sible for Mr.. Tilden to have influence with any
PARTY that respects itself or the people, When
Mr.. Kelly became the Boss" Of Tammany, the
s0-called Democratic party of this city ceased
TO have any regard for public opinion OF public
interests, and it becam' a IN re conspiracy TO
live on the people bv welding blind, british,
and unprincpled mass of ignorant voters. Nor
would il ever have been possible for the
National Committee of any party that repre-
scented the people, cared for their interests, or
respected their rights, to seek power from them
by means of three months of Infamous SANDER
and two weeks of mpud"nt forgery and pei
jmy. All these are outward signs OF the rotten
ness within. The bottom fact is that the Dem
Ocratic party has no principles good or bad,
and regards the people as ut only to be cheated
and robbed
Dem0cI attic party that vas not utterly des-
tiiute of principle would never have promised
hard money in its National platform. in the
face of its own past record its nomination of
Landers, and its support Of Plasted. Men who
are capable of such a course of indecency and
dishonesty can be expected to use tissue-bal
lois, to make false counts, to obey the user OF
cipher kilograms and the buyer of electoral
votes, TO bow before Mr. Kelly, and to reiterate
every shameless Islander that Mr.. Barnum can
devise. A Democratic party not utterly dcsti-
tute of principle would never have promised III
its platform "a tariff for revenue only" and
then supported a candidate who tired to pass
himself of as prOtectiOnist. In this there was
an utter contempt for the popular conscience
and intelligence of which no party could pos |
siby he guilty that really believed the people |
fit to govern themselves, or cared for their in
terests, or respected itself. So of the rest no
party which sincerely believes anything, or
onestly seeks any good end, can possibly |
degrade itself and dishcuOr its beliefs and it's |
aims by seeking victory through forgery and |
PERJURY
The Democratic party once bad passionate |
belief IN human slavery, and an intense desire |
10 shield that institution from the assaults of |
humanity, and common sense. |
Men were picked from all former parties by |
he process of natural affinity to support that |
belief and that aim. When the institution OF |
slavery went down, the Democratic party |