New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-10
REYE1LjXG THEIR REAL PURPOSE.

1t Is quite possible tnat, III the neat ana OK
element of a Presidential canvass, injustice
may be done a political party by holding it
responsible for haSty and Impusive utter
ances which, though they come from men
of recognized position and influence,
are really only expressions of individual
opinion, perhaps not always even
that. THE TRIBUNE means to avoid falling
into such an error or committing any such IN
Justice. At the same time, 1t must be admit
ted that the genuine spirit and real purpose
of party are much more likely to be
learned from the individual expressions
of opinion of its leaders in conversation and
public communications-parti when they
exhibit marked coincidence and indicate a
prevailing sentiment-than from the art
fully prepared declarations and glittering gen
eralities of platforms. The platform usually
presents in plausible form certain truths or
theories in outline. we get at the actual
aims of the party when the leaders and repre-
sentative men come to fill in the spaces and
give upon the stump. and in the press and
elsewhere the true Interpretation OF it.
If only an occasional Democrat of no great
prominence or influence in the party councils
had said in the heat of discussion that the
peOple of the North were to blame for forcing
the South into secession. and that the whole
policy of the Government under Repub-
lican administration was mistake. to
be corrected and a wrong to be made
right, we might not justly charge the
whole party with holding such views. The
formal avcrments in their platform that they
accepted the results of the war and would main
tain them, might fairly be said to outweigh
the occasional Outburst of an Over-heated
partisan. 1t is different, however, when
from considerable number of their
representative men-men inside the inncrmost
secret councils of the party who. more than
conventions or platforms shape It's policy and
lay out its plans-there come almost stimuli
taneOusly expressions of opinion, substan-
tally agreeing, which are Numerically OPP
posed to the smooth assurances embodied in
the platform.
We refuse to accept the declaration so Of
ten made by Democratic Conventions that they
are willing to abide by the results of the war.
Not because any one hot headed stump orator
or red-hot newspaper has justified the Rebel
lion and denounced the entire course
of the party that put it down; nor
because Congressman Blackburn and others
have boldly declared Their purpose to
sweep away the legislation of the past sixteen
years. Were there 10 other indications than
these Of the reactlonary spirit of the DemOc-
racy it might not be fair to hold the whole
party responsible. But there are other
signs, upmistakable that the threat of
Blackburn is intended to be carried out
If the Democrats ever get the power.
Al. "a, 10
tone of criticism and condemnation just now
INDUCED in by prominent DemOcrats-not so
much of the present Administration, or even
of President Grants, but of Mr.. Lincon's and
of the conduct of the war. The people who a
little while ago were so ANXIOUS to forget the
past and let bygOnes he bygones, have
changed their tune entirely. Within a few
weeks they have begun to rake over the
ashes of the war with great eamestness.
Mr.. George TicknOr Curtis, TO whose Tam
many Hall address we have heretofore called
attention as giving the Democratic keynote for
the campaign, not only critciscs the conduct
of the war, but with great harshness
condemns the people of the North for
organizing sectional party, eccting
Mr.. Lincoln, and driving the South
into rebellion, while he denounces the vacil-
lating policy of Mr.. Lincoln, which, by refus-
ing to give guarantees to slavery, forced the
Border States into the COnfederacy. The
tone of Judge Blacks recent letter,
to which reference was made in yes
terdays TRIBUNE, is Enthusiastically one
of sympathy with the rebelious States
and hostility to the Lincoln Administrati IN.
And as if this were the uppermost topic in
the Democratic mind, and no Democrat could
avoid reference to it, we find Mr. Nelson j.
Waterbury, in an interview reported In The
Herald breaking out in the same strain.
He says: "There was no real necessity for
"the prolongation OF the conflict which
" O, ,senched the land in slaughter: and II hMr,