New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-11
IN LOT OF F0LLY

The position taken by Jue Deinocratic oehd-
tors is not only entirely indefensble as Senator
E.imunds pointed out so forcibly in his strong
speech yesterday. 1t is also supremacy foolish,
and in that respect is of piece with nearly all
the conduct of the Democratic party for twenty
Years. One of the worst things that could pos
sibly hapl IN to that party-indced. almost the
only thing that would make the people hate
that party worse than they do nOw-would be
It's capture of the Presidency by the means now
employed. by keeping three lawfully elected
Senators out of their seats, the Democrats
snatch an Office of no consequence whatever IN
itself, solely because a repetition of the recent
tragedy might make the holder of that Office
the successor of President Arthur. The sole
object is to defeat the will of the people, as ex-
pressed in the late election; TO get possession
of high Office which the people decided not to
intrust to the Democratic party. AS this end
could he reached only by the death of second
Republican President, the attempt is distinct
and shameless anticipation of the possibility
that he also might be assassinated.
The Democratic party forgets some things
which il would be wiser 10 remember. II did
capture the Presidency once, in violation of the
will Of the people, not by the assassination but
by the detection of Andrew Johnson. For years
the Democrats enjoyed all the advantages which
Executive power, so obtained could give them.
They revealed in the Offices and in fat contracts.
They rewarded the workers of party. They
used in the most unblushng fashion all the
patronage and emouments at the command Of
the Executive to build up tho Democratic
party. 1t is strange that Democrats do not
keenly remember the result The people be-
came more indignant every day. Their wrath
waxed hotter every time the stolen power was
used to defeat the peoples will Mr. johnson
was supported by some very strong and able
Republicans, who remained with him, but no
effort by him or them was able TO avert the dis
grace which attached to the violation of the
will of the people. The country had elected n
Republican Administration, and had no mercy
on the men who transferred the power to
Democratic hands Not one of them could
escape political death, and the Democratic
party was beaten, in spite of all its efforts, by
overwhelming majorities. Nointelligent man
will deny that it was made weaker by its cap
ture of Executive power.
But the case against that party would be i'm
measurably stronger if it should now succeed in
stealing power through the assassination of
GreSluSut. III tnls ctSc, ueiinCiaOo tiiu ioniOoo
usurpation is employed, in order to make de-
feat of the peoples will possibility. Disre-
garding precedents which establish that
newly elected Senator may be sworn in by any
member designated by the Senate for that pur-
pose the majority blnntly avows its intention
to steal the Office first, and afterward to admit
members whose votes, if east, would render
the theft impossible. IL it should happen, in
consequence of this outrage and the subsequent
death of President Arthur, that any Democrat
should obtain Executive power, the cOnse-
quences TO the Democratic party would be far
more disastrous than those which followed the
detection of Mr.. johnson. The memory of
President Garfield, cherished by the whole peo-
pie, would give peculiar intensity to the hatred
of party which plotted over his open grave to
steal the power intrusted by the people to him.
This feeling of hostility, the Democrats may
rest assured will show itself from the moment
the plot to capture the Presidency has culmi-
mated. There will be intense anxiety, all over
the country, from the hour that it becomes
known that the Democratic party has offered O
premium for the assassination of the President
In State and local elections, the determination
to keep such party ont of power will show it.
self stronger than ever. Seats In the Senate
and seats in the House will be lost by the
Democratic party--and not only one but many
because of public indignation ut this scheme.
Yet the party decides to risk all this loss, on the
bare chance that the President may die!