Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1880-08-19
Democratic Little Games.

The Democratic party has been scheem-
ing to return to power for twenty years,
and the history of !, each Presidential
nomination which 1t has made during
that time shows that it has sought
power only, without the slightest re-
gard to principles or policy. 1t has
asked for the confidence Of the country
merely as the Democratic party. and il
has tried every "dOdge" and trick, ac-
cortling to its view of the popular feel
ing of the moment. In 1864, at the
darkest hour of the waS when the na-
tional resources and spirit were strain.
ed to the utmost, it declared the war a
failure, and nominated candidate who
was confessedly so. The, response was
the overwhelming reelection Of Mr..
Lincoln. In 1868, at the end of the war
counting upon reaction Of feeling, IL
nominated the most eminent representa-
tive of "Copperhead" sentiment. The
response was the triumphant election Ol
of the General of the Union army. In
1872 the Democratic party, fierce fol
success, threw oyer every pretense Oi
distinctive principle, and nonai mated an
old protective anti-slayery sWbig. THE
response the overwhelming re
election of the Union, General. In 1876
the Democratic party raised Che cry OF
'reform" and public virtue. and nom-
mated an old Tammany politician who
had broken with the Tammany and
Canal rings, but by reduced electoral
majority, the party was again deg II.
In 1880 the Democratic patty, hAx X
tried every other device, aHnfiug e6p-
perheads and Anti-sfaVefy Wings ahd
adrOit politicians. nOminates soldier
whose sole distinction was achieveIf in
fighting battles which the Democratic
party derided as failures, and it hopes
to renew the Wing campaign of 1910,
and hnrrah the candidate into the White
House. Bat the trouble is deeper than
the party seems to suppose. It is not
the absurdity of the Democratic attempt
to masquerade as soldier party or war
fOr-the Union party, nor that Of n0mi-
mating soldier as symbol of the su-
premacy of the civil authority over the
sword, both of which performances are
ludicrous, but 1t is the deep distrust of
the party itself. When the Democrats
nominated the Republican Horace Gree
ley, who had not a political principle
or conviction or tendency. In common
with those who selected him, the silly
trick failed, because, however Mr..
Greeley might have been trusted, the
party hands in which he would have
been puppet were absolutely distrust-
ed. Gen. Hancock is an amiable gentle
man, but as President, from the very
fact of his total and professional aunfa-
mfliarity with political affairs and men,
he would be especially in the hands of
his party managers. His strength as a
candidate is precisely that of his party,
and no more. He will get the vote OF
no man who does not prefer to sec the
government in Democratic hands.
Now there Is much less dispositionto
than there was In 1876. The cipher ex-
peosion Of Tilden reform and public VII
tue; the significant relations of Demo-
cratic views and plans made by the
extra session; the Garcelon plot in
Maine, and tile Morgan bill for the
electoral count, the natural and, UNI
versal. wish of reviying Industrial pros
perity not to make q. violent change in
volvfng every kind of financial cOnfu-
sion and peril, and the evidence that
the Republican party is not mastered
by "bosses" who are profoundly dis.
trusted-all these things incline public
confidence to the Republican party,
with an able, experienced, and unblem-
ished leader and statesman at Its head,
who Will be no mans man, who is per-
fectly familiar with public affairs and
men, who has been one of the most sa-
gacious and most influential of the
chiefs Of the policy under which na-
tional prosperity has recovered itself,
and who by universal consent is pecu-
liarly fitted for the duties of the Prcsi-
dency. Mr.. Garfield's "record' greatly
strengthens him, because upon all great
questions he has been singularly sound,
and yet independent and moderate.
General Hancock's utter want OF "rec-
ord" except In a war which his party
denounced, greatly weakens him, be-
cause it leaves him necessarily prey
to Democratic politicians Harper's 5
Weekly.