Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-12-01
A PARTY WITHOUT A PRINCIPLE.
From the Chicago Tribune. ]

Z
a Democrat somewhat advanced in years
and one who has been a Bourbon ever
since he became voter, gives up all ex-
pectation of having Democratic issue
again on which that party can success.
fully appeal to the people. In recent
interview he thus expressed his despair:
"What view do you take of the future
of political parties ?"
:" think that there are no differences
between the present parties of any con-
sequence. PROFESSIONALLY the national
supremacy is the desire of almost every
voter to-day, no matter whether he is a
Democrat or Republican. We ali take
filial interest in the United States OF
America. | don't think the Democratic
party can make any points by disputing
the superiority OF the central Govern
ment in all matters affecting the liberty
of the citizens, the right OF moving to
and fro, equal rights as creditor and
debtor, etc.
Mcpherson then remarked that there
were four open questions before the
country: First, the obliteration of in
of our whole revenue at the custom
houses second, the elimination of the
clerkships and smaller offices from
spoils; third, an opposition to transpor-
tation mcnopolies; fourth, policy OF
generous expenditure on internal inn
provements by the States.
We have no question that in this
abandonment of the State-sovereignty
or State-supremacy doctrine. as opposed
to national authority, Mr.. Mcpherson
expresses the real sentiments Of the
masses of the Democratic party, though
the party platform may still contain the
old legend. The Democratic party once
had strong and fixed principles which it
was accustomed to parade, and which
really commended themselves to the
people But the party was finally over
Swallowed by slavery, and gradually all
its once-honored principles were sup
pressed or subordinated 10 the divine
right of property in man. In fact, the
Rebellion was merely an assertion of
what had become the theoretic platform
of the Democratic party. After the
war, the Democracy were forever look
ing backward. They in 1864, and at
every Presidential election down to 1880,
made an issue III behalf of some
thing on which the people of the coun-
try had already made an authoritative
decision. just on the eve of Lees sur
render the party declared that the war
for the Union had been failure; in 1868
it declared that the war had been fought
in vio' alton OF the constitution, and was
therefore illegal and its results should be
set aside and so on, down to 1880,
when, by some sudden inspiration, the
suggestion was made that the tariff
should be for revenue only. This single
trace or modest revival of an ancient
policy of the party was in danger of
electing the candidate, when the Demo
Gratis of New Jersey and Pennsylvania
induced the candidate TO repudiate this
part of the platform, and then there was
theusual general smash-up of everything
Democratic. Well may Mr.. Mcpherson
declare that there is not q show of po-
itical principle left 10 the Democratic
party on which to frame the semblance
of an issue for the future.
The abandonment of the theory OF
State-rights as opposed to national
Union may, since the Virginia election,
be regarded as final, even at the South
When Virginia, the birthplace of the
resolutions of '9S, has formally declared
that this is national Government, and
that the States are municipal corpora
tons created for public convenience in
the administration OF local law, and
wholly subordinate to the national OF
general authority q the Union, what is
the use of keeping mp the nonsensical
doctrine OF State-rights i'll any of the
Southern States? Ii Virginia has be-
come heretical, and therefore has broken
the "Solid South" OF what avail is
it to be orthodox il the Carolinas OF
Georgia? If the policy of solid South
be failure. why should any of the
broken and disunitctl Southern States
stand any longer in The way of their own
interests and do violence to the civiliza-
ton of mankind by their inhuman efforts
to perpetuate a slavery that is con-
demned by law? TIE preservation OF
the solid South VI. ne last anchor that
held the Democra.icparty but even that
has given way, ald Senator Mcpherson
may well exclaim il his despair that the
party is wrecked, hor-lessly and forever.
Mr.. McPhersoa ijlds in the future
several schemes Of piunder which be
thinks the Dem 0cracy may well take
hand in, and at least share in the dis
tribution of spoils which they promise.
He proposes that the tax on whisky be
abolished. and the one hundred and
more millions Of dollars of taxes now
due on spirits in bond be RENTED, and
that forever thereafter whisky shall be
MS free from taxes as the air we breathe
This scheme will admit very large and
generous distribution, and the election
of Democrats wherever there is a con
stituency In favor of free whisky and
free tobacco. 1t is true that this will
prove loss of $40, 000, 900 of revenue
to the Government annually, which loss
Mr.. Mcpherson proposes TO make good
by an increased tax on the cotton and
wooden clothing of men, women and
children on their boots and shoes on
their articles OF Furniture on their
carpets and cutlery; on the tools of
labor on their wire fences, and on the
lumber the wagons, and harness. and
nails, md other iron and steel used in
mac merry and otherwise.
laving released whisky and tobacco
from taxation, the gentleman points out
that the $40. 900, 900 Of reserve thus lost
must be made M by increas ID taxes ON
ell the necessities Of life, and that this
increased re- enue shall be distributed
to the States, to be by them expended
in internal improvements. The country
has had one experience in the way of in
ternal improvements by the States, aud
we do not believe the people Of the
United States are willing to engage in
an undertaking from the cost Of which
forty wears of vigorous taxation has not
enabled them to recover.
Senator McPherson's lamentation over
the political bankruptcy of the Demo
cratic PARTY will hardly encounter re-
monstrance anywhere In the off-year
the States Of New York, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania and Virginia have written
their condemnation Of the party which
confesses itself without any principle,
and which has even lost its one element
of strength, solid Sonth. Virginia
Democracy. even, has broken down, and
the once all-powerful party Is now a
tramp. without hoIae and without a
name that il can call its own.