Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1881-06-04
THE OPPORTUNITY.

49, -
The New York Herald takes a very
warm interest III the fate OF the repuo-
lican party Just now. In an elaborate
editorial on "The Pending Conflict" it
said, last Monday There is one 9th
er consideration worthy OF special note.
The defeat OF Messrs. Conkling and Platt
means the disruption of the repub lean
party aud the formation OF a new party
on the platform OF civil service reform
or some other vital question lear to Inc
hearts OF the people. Democrats may
possibly be wise enough to avail them-
selves OF their present unexampled OPP
p~ortunity OF regaining power through
the discussions OF their opponents. But
he democracy has not been famous for
political wisdom in these latter years.
In the event OF their making another
blunder, men like Mr.. Conkling will
come to the front as the leaders OF a new
party. A party gaining power under
such conditions would bid fair to domi-
nate American politics as long as the
PARTIES created by Jefferson. Jackson or
Lincoln" Apart from the erroneous
assertion that either Jackson or Lincoln
created parties. and the assumption that
a party leader deposed when occupying
one OF its highest places can ever hope
to organize an extensive following there
is some truth in this declaration. Conk-
ling will be defeated. both by the legis-
Iature and by the people. His defeat
will disrupt the republican party and
there will be, to a certain EXTENT for
nation Of a new party. This new party
will be the democratic party minus its
time-servers, moneY-changers, winners,
jelly-fish and traitors. The man who
calculates now upon democratic mistakes
is reckoning without his host. The
democrats have at last learned who they
can trust as leaders; they have detected
their Judases. and they have learned to
be aggressive. More han this. they are
beginning to value and to cultivate DIS
cipllne. The success of the democratic
senators in defeating the republicans at
all points, has wonderfully restored the
confidence and improved the morale of
the rank and file. The. only thing that
was needed was internal dissension in
the republican party. and that has come.
on.1 ann,n with u vonnno n democrats
have learned that vacllIation will not do.
They have learned that coalitions with
other parties do harm rather than good.
They have learned that tricksters and
trimmers must be kept IN the back
ground. They have learned that a Gear
enunciation OF principles and a subse:
quent adherence TO them will always
succeed better than setting sails in all
directions to catch all sorts of supposed
to-be popular breezes. The consequence
is. that in the next congress there, will
be no uncertain sound, from the demo-
cratic party. It will declare for state
rights; a sound currency, issued con-
s%titutionally, in the interest of the peO-
pie; a firm purpose to provide for wind
Ing up the national banks as rapidly as
a be practically done /; unlimited coin.
age OF silver; regulation Of railroads by
the state; free. trade, free ships and
sailors rights. This is the honest plat
form OF the democracy, and those who
cannot stand upon it will be invited to
step into the ranks of the enemy. For
every loss there will be a dozen gains.
These objects may not all be, pleasant to
the Herald, but they are each based on
justice and good sense. They conserve
the liberties OF the entire people, and in
economic points they are for the great
est good to the greatest number. No
Kelly can play his double-dealing game
next time. Dorsey is dead. The star
route will tail to pay the score of the
bribe dispensers. Conkling will not be
there to lend his eloquence to a bad
cause and the ten thousand necessary
Votes in New York will be furnished
several times over. The democracy is
awake. 1t is progressive. alert, vigilaut.
1t means to fight, and its enemies will
be less intelligent than we think If they
calculate on its weakness or its blunders.