National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-03-23
Secreted Treasures.

The Democratic party possesses q 1und OF dignity
sufficient TO stock the world Washington Post.
In the light of recorded history such u
positive and distinct declaration reads
and looks like romance. As a satire it
would be tolerable, if not admirable; but
as recorded declaration in history it
may be regarded among those things
which "no feller" has ever been
able to "fnd out" in exemplifed
truth. What pity that the world has
been so long oblivious of this claimed
treasure for the Democratic party. Why
should it have so long concealed the rare
wealth ofits possessions? Dignity usually,
in the progress ofhuman affairs, yindicates
itself in proper demonstration. 1t is not
usually hidden in a napkin and laid away
in uselessness, when it really exists as a
possession. Dignity, like murder, will
out. 1t develops itself not in the boast
fulness of those who fancy they possess
it, but in the bearing and conduct of in
dividuals and parties who, really possess
ing it. can no more conceal it than they
can the color of their skin, eyes, or hair.
True dignity is irrepressible and uncon-
cealable, and needs no other advertise
ment than is found in the constant attri-
butes of its own existence and action.
The Democratic party is no chicken in
point of age. 1t has been laboring to
stamp its characteristics upon the Gov
crnment of the United States for more
than half century, and if any one at
tribute more than another has been miss
ing in the makeup of its character and
conduct, it has been that Of dignity. 1t
occurs to us that twenty years is ample
time in which to develop practically the
fact that the Democratic party possesses
fund of dignity sufficient to stock the
whole world" if it really has good title
to such funded possession. We are not
disposed to harrow the feelings of our CO.
temporary by recalling all the undignifed
performances of its party for fifty years.
But there have been periods and circum-
stances when, if the Democratic party
possesses the fund of dignity of which
its champion boasts, it would have been
creditable to the character of that party
to have exercised it. A glance at the
history of the country since the war was
brought to close brings with it feeling
of surprise that the most excellent quail
ity of which the Democratic party
now boasts-that it has such fund
has not been brought into exer-
else. When the amendments to the
Constitution which secured freedom to
the slave and clothed him with the right
of suffrage were established in fundamen-
tai law, and the laws of reconstruction
were enacted by Congress, it afforded an
admirable opportunity for the Democratic
party to have drawn upon the fund of its
dignity to a degree that would have Sc
cured cheerful acquiescence in those
Just and beneficent measures. Instead of
that it initiated the markedly undigni-
fed policy of hostility to the principles
involved and to the ends sought to be at
tanned IN the interest of right and justice.
Where was the boasted dignity of the
Democratic party when it inaugurated q
reign of terror throughout the States OF
North Carolina, South Carolina, Missis-
sippi, Alabama, Florida. and Louisiana,
to say nothing of Arkansas, Tennessee,
Georgia, and Virginia, to subyert the guar
antees of the Constitution, override the
laws, and by intimidation, violence, out
rage, and murder to despoil Republicans,
white and black, of their dearest rights
The fund Of dignity has not been as often