The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-08-13
Democracy Exposing Itself.

Gus address. Braying. at such times,
is in accordance with the eternal
fitness of things. The universe ad
hors a vacuum, and an undecided
donkey. Hence the address of the
Democratic legislators of New York.
The Democratic party in the late
Legislature manifested degree OF
stupidity which language cannot des-
cribe. 1t found division among
Republicans. Democrats gifted with
a moderate amount of sense would
have remembered that ancient ex-
perience warns an outsider not to
interfere in quarrel between hus-
band and wife, lest it end in breaking
both cudgel and broom-kandle on the
sconce of the intruder. Upon the
same principle, Republicans were
more likely to arrange any family
jars. when they found the Democrats
medling in them. But the Dem, =
cratic legislator had not sense enough
to keep clear of the fight. He must
needs interfere, and tn.help Mr.. Conk-
ling against the Administration.
Thereby he helped many Republi-
cans to see that Mr.. Conkling's side
was not that which tended to pro-
mote Republican success.
For several weeks the session was
prolonged and the election of Ad-
ministration Senators prevented by
the conduct of the Democratic men,
bers. They could haye ended the
contest at any moment by staying
away from the Convention. Moth
ing else was needed no speech, no
vote, no act of interference. All the
cost of session prolonged thus fool
ishly for several weeks was caused
by the insane notion of the Demo-
cratic members that they might
somehow make party capital by
putting the State to great expense
and helping the wrong side in a fight
among Republicans. This muddled
and unpatriotic notion kept the Leg
islature in session, long after even
the dullest Democratic member had
discovered that the absence of few
Democrats would end the contest. In
a party point of view, the shrewd
course for the Democrats was to leave
the Convention in its earlier stages,
before the Administration men had
ascertained and compacted their
forces. But no Democrat had sense
enough to see it. The Democratic
members continued to hold the Leg
islature tog, Their, until the Republic
cans could agree. In the end, of
course, they did agree, and the Dem
ocrats received well deserved beat
ing.
Having to look back upon such a
piece of unspeakable stupidity as
this, of course the Democratic donkey
uplifts his voice. The address gives
historical review of the contest,
from a point of view purely Demo-
cratic. Since the average Democratic
politician cannot conceive that any,
body should get in earnest about any,
thing but the spoils, the address
assumes that the Republicans were
at war about the spoils and nothing
else. The infinitely lai ger questions,
whether Presidential nominations
should be made by the Bosses or by
the people. whether the Chief Mag
istrate of this country should be a
President or sort of entry clerk for
a Boss, whether the progressive and
liberal or the oligarchical and third
term element should prevail, the
Democrats We're utterly incapable of
seeing, much less of compreheding.
To them. it was all question
whether A or b should draw pay.
Having no comprehension of the
meaning of the struggle, the Demo.
cratic members show no respect for
truth in recounting its incidents.
Now that the fight is over, and hot
blood has cooled, candid men will
recognize the fact that there was not
a trace, from beginning to end, of
corporation influence, bribery orcor-
ruption in any form. No evidence
that any unprejudiced jury would
consider of the slightest weight, no
evidence that any reasonable man of
either party will now pretend that
he ought personally to act upon as
true. was found to sustain a single
one of the charges of corruption.
Everybody understands that the
charges will now die, with the not
temper which engendered them. But
the Democrats, who had courage
enough in the face of the cipher dis
patches to insist that Mr.. TiIden was
pure and spotless, also haye such lack
ofscruples and of decency that, with.
out proof of any kind, they can ac-
cuse reputable citizens of crime.
EWWa