The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1881-06-02
A DEMOCRATIC DELUsION.

A DEMOCRATIC DELUSION.
Hope springs eternal in the human
but notably in the Democratic breast.
During all the weary years OF deferred
promise through which that tenacious
organization has struggled. il has ever
had its longing gaze fixed upon future
illumined by the prospective disintegra-
tion Of the Republican party, and the
final restoration of the Bourbons To pow
eE. For nearly quarter of a century
the dark and thOrny path Of the Democ-
racy has known no other light
save the fitrul CLEAN of this
i9nis Jatuus, which has danced
before its eager gaze, and played fast
and lose with its fond hopes. Just now
this cratic messenger Of cheer is play
ing a star engagement, and Bourbon ex-
pectancY is wrought to the very highest
pitch of intensity. The quarrel between
the administration and Mr.. Conkling is
doing service in the sanguine Democrat
ic mind as the sure precursor of fatal
and irreconcilable disruption in the Re-
publican party, which is bound TO result
In its demolition in 1884, and the conse-
qnent accession OF the BourbOns 10 power.
But the Democracy are again chasing
a delusion and falling into u snare. In
predicaiing their hopes upon the disaf-
fiction OF few Republican politicians
they are reckoning without their host,
and have apparently ignored the fact
that the great body of the party does not
intend TO permit disorganization, and
that the rank and file of the conIending
factions deprecate the differences be-
tween the parties to the
quarrel, and will be careful to
prevent its being carried to an exlen
which will endanger the life Of pOliti
cal organization whoSe ascendency is
necessary TO the safety and welfare of
the country. The division 10 the pres
ent instance is not one of political SEN
timent, and does not affect, in the slight
est degree, the great PRINCIPLES which
underlie the Republican party and
make IL unit on all vital issues Of pub
lie policy. The respective adherents Of
the President and of Mr.. Conkling may
entertain widely opposite views on the
merits of the issue between them, but so
long as the success of the Republican
party Is the paramount consideration |
with its voters, they will not al
low their pride OF opinion to stand |
in the way of such a desirable consum-
nation. When a great party goes to
pieces IL is because its rank and file, its |
voters. and not merely few of its lead |
ers, fundamentally disagree, and because |
they disagree on questions of policy and |
not on questions of public Office.
Another point seems 10 have been Ut
Ierly ignored by the Bourbon journals
and politicians who have waxcd so
wildly hilarious over what they are
pleased to denominate a "split" in
Inc Republican party, and that is
he entire absence in the Demo
ratio party of any well defined, clearly
policy. The late presidential
furnished ample evidence of
his fact, and it was the utter lack of
in the party on all of the great
ssues of the canvass that wrought its
iefeat. The position Of the Dem
'cracy in relation to the present
quarrel in the Republican party has
'een nowhere more clearly
ct forth than in the following from an
bile editorial in the New York Herald
IN this question:
1.-THE Democratic leaders arc not, unfor-
for their party and themselves,
greed upon any question which has the
east public interest or Importance.
'ome of them insist on destroying the
ational banking system. Others of
quail eminence in the party hold that
his is the best currency system
yer known, and that IL would be both
and mischievOus to
ubstitute It for greenbacks. Some are
trcnuOus prctectiOnists. Others are
qualify jealous revenue reformers, and
lold to n tariff for revenue only. Some
re for free ships, others for subsidies TO
o steamer lines TO encourage American
mp bullNluS NJ u lOoS. OOlIlC arc ul- |
United silver men, others mOnOmetal-
SITS. Some support liberal appropria-
ions for internal improvements, others
insist on rigid economy of the peoples
money. On one point of policy alone
he so-called Democratic party is agreed,
md that, unluckily for it, Is the most
they could agree upon.
They are united to maintain q solid
Democratic South.
Opportunities are of little use to peo-
pic who cannot grasp them. A party
which must go to pieces the moment it
ooks fixed policy in the face is not
IN condition to make much out of the
most splendid opportunity, and it is,
perhaps, because they know this debili-
~ of their opponents that the Republi-
can managers venture ON the desperate
quarrel in which, TO the regret OF their
party, they have engaged"