The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-04-02
A Brand-New Party.
The Democratic Party Is to Be Finally
Buried-A New Party Is to Be Organized
on Free-Trade Platform.
Correspondence Minneapolis Tribune. ]

Correspondence Minneapolis Tribune.l
WASHINGTON, March 81 am enabled to
| apprlse the Tribune of a political movement of
the first magnitude, which the chief promoters
are not yet ready to announce. but the facts of
which reached your correspondent from per-
fectly authentic sources. 1t has been an open
secret that in less than forty-eight hours after
the result of the November election was KNOWN
an important conference of leading Democrats
was held in New York City, with view to
promptly meeting what was even then regard
ed as the final crisis in the career of the old
Democratic party. AT that meeting were no.
less than eleven members of the National
Democratic Committee, besides a consider
able number of Bourbon Congressman and
State politicians. Out of that meeting has
grown the movement referred to, and it has
gained such impetus and dimensions, especial
ly in New York State and the South, as to war
rant the prediction that it will prove reyolu-
ton. The movement involves the virtual
abandonment of the Democratic name and par
ty framework. In other words, a disbandment
of the Democratic organization and perma-
nent furling of the flag. As one of the South
ern leaders in the new departure puts it: .sThe
Democratic party is as dead as Julius Caesar,
so far as concerns any hope of again controlling
the Government or shaping the policy of the
Nation. We can shin along from campaign to
campaign as minority party, playing. the part
OF spy and critic on the successful and govern
ing party, but nothing more; and for one I've
got no time or stomach fo- any such = nom
sense, didn't go into politics for any such
and in foro q oh
There is so be new party and that before
another Congressional election. The new gen.
GRAFTON Of politicians at the South will come to
the front; the election of Garfield and Con-
gress Republican in both Houses VIII be ac-
cepted as the Nations final arbitration and
disposition of the subordinate questions, left as
a legacy of the war, and the main elements of
the old Democratic party, putting the past be-
hind them, will appeal to the country under a
new name, largely new leaders and on entirely
new issues. 1t is claimed and hoped by those
who are at the front of this movement that
with the war and the negro questions finally
and permanently out of the way, the solidity of
the Republican organization will YIELD that
the time is now ripe for recasting of parties,
for fresh division of the people North and
South by lines of political sentiment and opin-
ion that have had no influence whatever since
1860.
TPpearanceS lnulcato tnaI tne cnlet plank IN
the platform of the new party will be ''No
protection-No Special Privileges" 1t will
attempt to draw off from the Republican ranks
all who favor free trade, and will endeavor to
I'LL its sails with the wind of anti-monopoly
and local hostility to railroad abuses. The
present labors of ex-Congressman Frank Hurd
OF Toledo, In travelling over the country and
organizing free-trade leagues in each State Is.
in fact, a feeler for the new crusade and while
he is ostensibly working of his own accord and
oxxry, h. l.. At.
agent of the coalition. Senator Thurman is
known to sympathize with the new party idea,
and there is scarcely Southern Congressman
below the age of so who has not lent a friendly
ear to the new gospel of change
There will shortly appear in a number of
leading Western and Southern journals, nomi-
nally Independent, with Democratic leanings,
tentative articles and interviews with promi-
nent Democrats, looking to this change of
base, and designed to break the news gently to
the rank and file. Charles A. Dana and his
New York Sun, ex-Mayor Cooper of New York,
and the World of that city, the Butler wing of
the Democracy in Massachusetts the Chicago
Times Senator Pendleton and the Cincinnati
tion and the Louisville Courier-J Journal both
Senators Hampton and BuJler of South Caro-
lima, are all named as sure to take an early
place in the movement.
The detection of Senator Malone and the
admitted fs ct that he can carry a majority of
the Virginia people with him have gwen a
great stimulus to the new party "boom," for it
is recognized that very large and probably
controlling element at the South are on the
verge OF rebellion against the hide-bound poll
cy OF the Bourbon Democracy, and it is felt
to be wiser to join and direct this new current
than 70 resist and be overthrown by it. 1t is
part of the plan that the old guard of the De-
mocracy shall keep up an imposing front in
Congress while the details of the retreat are
being carried on by the subordinates in the
rear; but the Democratic army is moving out
of camp all the same, and looking for place
to hide its uniforms. The name of the new
and future opponents of the Republican party
has not yet been born, but it is suspected to be
stroke of genius and an omen of success.