New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-30
TILE DEMocR1ric PARrY OF T0.plY.

THE DEMOCRATIC PARIY OF today.
Hes the Democratic parry any principles?
We affirm that it has not. But the persons
who met at Cooper Institute affirm that It has.
Let the Issue be tried, and let Mr. Hewitt,
the principal speaker at the Cooper Institute
meeting, appear as a witness.
The resolutions adopted assert that g full
"and free elections, an honest count, and all
measures which oppose " Federal interyen-
ton to secure full and free elections and an
honest count. fare essential to the existence
and continuance Of the Republic" This
resolution, evidf ntly drawn by somebody who
does not know how to express himself in
English, ia sheer nonsense III so far as 1t
aflirms that " all measures to n certain end,
whether WISE measures or unwlse, consbtu-
tional or revolutionary, " are essential to the
existence of the Republic" 1t Is also nom
sense in so far as II afirms that any measure
not now in force is essential to the existence
OF the Republic, for the Republic exists with
out that measure. That full and free elections
and an honest count are essential to the con-
tipued existence OF the Republic is true, and
it is a Republican, but not Democratic
nrjpciple. 1t is the highest constitutional
duty of the Republic to maintain its own cx-
istence. Since honest elections and an honest
count are essential to the existence Of the
Republic, it is the highest constitutional
duty of the Republic to secure such
elections by Federal Intervention wherever
other means prove inadequate. Mr. Hewitt,
though be carefully asserted and eXp0unded
what he considered Democratic principles, had
too much self-respect 10 mention fIee cleo
tions and an honest count" as one of them,
for he knows that no other party in orr whole
| history has ever SO Systematically detied and
| disregarded that prime pie, and prevented free
elections and an honest count, as the Demo
cratic party since the enfranchsement of
colored voters. The first resolution is fraud
It is the assertion of a Republican principle
which the Democratic party practically resists
with all its might, even to the verge of reyO-
| luton.
The second resolution "opposes centraliza-
| ton of powern and aflirms that " this prin-
"ciple is as applicable to political organlza-
lions as it is to the General Government"
By most people. the General Government is
supposed TO he political organization. Let
Mr. Hewitt testify. He says:
| We proclaim that power has its only legitimate
source IN the people, and oppose all centraliza-
ton Of power which does not defeat the
will of the people. And yet here IN the City Of New
York we had organization which expressed only the
will OF one man. . Such organization
than offensve; twas living lie 10 which no answer
| coud he made when pressed home by our opponents
According to Mr. Hewitt it is shameless
untruth to say that opposition to centraliza-
| ton has been a principle of the Democratic
| marty. as hitherto organized. 1t is principle
| which a new organization in posse promises TO
| assert and maintain. But if it does. the new
| organization will not be Democratic. For the
| Democratic party, not here only but else
where. has existed by means of its absolute
subordination of individual opinion to the
| dictation of a caucus or leader. Through
ont the South one man is dictator in each
| State or District /; throughout the North the
Boss y system prevails Wherever the Demo-
| cratic party has power; and throughout the
| Union and in Congress caucus dlctatlon makes
| the average Democrat slave.
| The third resolution opposes assessment of
| oficehoiders. THIS is an idea which the
| Democratic party never has acted upon in a
| single instance where it has had any Office
| holders TO assess. In this very city Office
holders are assessed as regularly when they
belong to Irving Hall as when they belong to
|
CITY or state in which the Democratic party
has not required those who hold offices by
means of its votes to contribute to the party
expenses. This resolution, theIe;ure, is lie.
The Democratic party really opposes, not
assessment OF Ofceholders, but assessments
for the support of any other party.
The fourth resolution declares that "the
democratic party should cease to compete
"for the support and votes of those who dc
"pot believe in a tariff for revenue only
This is a confession that "a tariff for revenue
onlyr has not been a Democratic principle
hitherto, and declaration on the part of GER
tain persons that it ought to be in future
Mr.. Hewitt also declaims against the "un'
wise concessions" by which the doctrine o.
"a tariff for revenue only was explained ant
"m0dited to suit the atmosphere of Connect
"cut aud New-Jersey." No party can be sale