Daily Republican., 1880-11-23

CAN II AZ Dttu NluulOatoAs
Adherence to Political Principles
Wuen the people Of a nation inves
q political party with legislative and
! executive power without first shaping
the cours' OF their financial, CONNER
cial and other interests to accord with
the pur poses and political policy of that
party they place national honor, indus
tries and foreign credit in ,fslse and
daugerou1 positions. Any reversal Of
a stable political policy is disastrous to
the welfare Of any government.
When two parties define their posi-
tons on national issues, maintain them
in the heat of a political struggle, and
defend them against adverse criticism,
there Is no doubt Isit in the mind of q
voter concerning the position OF the
government II either party were clothed
with supreme authority. II this were
done there would be no sudden smbar
rasspent to commercial transactions or
ureasiness concerning the security Of
invested capital when political changes
occur. The victorious party would find
the people convinced Of its sincerity,
and thoroughly informed on the sub
jects Of its principles and readily
adap. itself to the existing state ofgov-
ernmcnt.
One Of the causes that le to the de
feat Of tbs Democratic PARTY was the
failure Of that party to dwell upon any
national issue for sufficient length oi
time to make favorable impression
upon the mind Of any voter. The par
ty found that Its declaration Of princi-
pies did not me st with the approval Of
a maj ority Of voters, aud necessity com
PEELED it to shamefully repudiste those
principles even at the risk Of being de
ieatsd. When the Democratic leaders
abandoned their platform and began
The discussion of questions with which
they were totally unacqusinted they
exposed their own ignorance and held
up their party to derision and con.
tempt. Toward the close OF the late
campaign they were bitter in their
attacks on the Republican party, and
at tho same time they borrowed q Re.
publican shield with which to protect
the Democratic carcass from the bsrbed
arrows OF criticism. Prominent Demo.
cratic leaders do not conceal the fact
that in many sections Of the country
they We'd with the Republicans in dis
cussing the merits of Republican doc
trine. They even went 80 far as TO 60.
licit support for the Democratic candi-
dates by assuring the psople.that there
should be no depar ture from the line
Of policy so successfully established
and maintained by the Republican
party. When they tried to convince
the people that their party advocated
the continuance Of the present tariff
laws, and was inimical to the nation al |
banking system, their false position |
was clearly exposed by simply refer |
ring to the.past record OF the party and
its national platform together with q
ma ority Of it's State platforms of 1878, |
which we're almost unanimous in de.
manding that paper money be issued
exclusively byi the government, and
that National bank bills be Withdrawn.
While they were forming alliances
with the Greenback party, they de-
manded large share of the credit Civ.
en- to the Republicans for having plao.
ed the money Of the country upon a
sound financial bases.
Tbs Democratic party in its present
con ii.ion is totally unsb'e to make a
iecl sra.ion of National principles. A.
he party has ceased to be a national
one, its fragmentsry factions do not
show any attempt made t. unite them in
the interes. Of one Political faith.
II the Democrats had he4n success.
tul at the late Gle 2tion, a large nut bsr
Of people would have withheld their
influences aud capital from business en-.
terprises and would have spent the
winter in studying public opinion TO
learn whether the Fourth of next Ma ch
would witness the ascendancy Of Green
bAckism, free trade principles Ku-
kIuxism, tyranny and ignorance, or the
advent Of the era of prosperity. TIE
Republicans defined their position on
all national questions and steadfastly
maintained it. They gained confidence
and support by enlightsning the pep
pie on the subject of the character aud
policy OF the next Republican admins
tration.
The Democrats have probably learn
I'd by this'time that they cannot hope
to gain an election by trying to misltad
public opinion or trimming their sails
to catch every tickle breeze. This
wavering curse has wrecked the party
Il