Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-08-31
Aa1raster f,ltelllQcnres
THURSDAY EvKNnao, AUG. 81. lse2.

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THURSDAY EVENING. AUG. 81. 1854.
The Demands OF the Future.
Political affairs were never in a more
chaotic condition in this country than
they are now. Old things have passed
away and new conditions demand new
political treatment. Party lines have
been broken and are in a formative
state. It is an era Of political readjust-
ment, and the party that chooses its
ground most wisely is the one that will
plant itself most firmly. There are.
always ng4ny men of many minds, and
there will always be differences of views
in a party upon many questions /; but
there is union upon vital issues For
some years the great parties have been
kept together rather by their traditions
and prejudices than by their principles.
The distinctive issues dividing Demo.
Gratis and Republicans have been more
difficult Of precise definition than ever
before. In different sections the parties
are differently arrayed upon like issues.
In Tennessee and Virginia, for instance,
it is upon the matter of preserving the
state credit. In Virginia the Democratic
party has been temporarily submerged
by its opposition to reputation while
in Tennessee it has been defeated by the
refusal to plant itself firmly upon the
solid ground taken by tho party in Vir-
ginia. It is evident that in this state of
political affairs the very wisest leader
ship is needed. 1t is easy to lead in a
beaten track but not SO easy where the
path must he cut afresh. The traditions
of the Democracy are such as naturally
incline it to the true ground which
needs to betaken by the successful party
of the future and if it can be preserv-
ed from the leadership of those who
are controlled by selfish motives only, it
will be sure to emerge from the existing
chaos in good trim for future battles.
The party in the past has been greatly
troubled by selfish leaders. Itneeds to
free itself from them to cut itself loose
from old mems quarrels and to start
out with a single devotion to the inter-
ests of the whole people and country.
That Democratic sage, ,Horatio Seymour,
has lately given this advice to the party.
He has declared that it has suffered
sadly during all his long connection with
IL from this trouble. His active expe-
perience dates from the Van Buren,
times when New York was rent with
quarrels between Democratic leaders, as
it is now. 1t is strange that party
which has such counsellor among its
state members should be torn
by a question of adherence to
inferior men like Tilden and
Kelly. Horatio Seymour's word and ad.
vice should control the New York De.
mocrAcy easily, and would if they had but
to control the honest voters of the party,
uninflue,ced by the selfish Vaccinations
of men who make it their business to
manipulate the political machinery for
their own profit and aggrandizement.
The Democracy in New York are di-
vided and by no issue of principles.
There is no substantial reason for their
quarrel, which would be speedily
quieted if certain of these leaders were
required to step down and out, and to
stay there.
In Pennsylvania we have happy
unity; and in the country the party is
ina satisfactory condition outside of
New York and Tennessee. In Virginia
Malone has taken away all the party
that he can get, and part of his follow
ing is on its way back. He bit off more
than he could masticate. When he gave
in his adhesion to Arthur, it was notice
to all the good Democrats who had fol-
lowed him that they had got into the
wrong camp. Congressman Fulkerson,
the strongest leader in the southwest,
and MaiOne's ablest lieutenant, has re-
fused to join him in joining the Repub
lican party and leads the movement
against Malone in his section.
While these troubles are quieting and
the political waves are settling let us
get our ship in readiness to sail out in
good trim. What we need to do is to
show ourselves to be the true Democ-
racy-the real friends of the people and
of their government. Let us be clear in
our declarations against the control of
this nation by the few and emphatic in
our demand that the influence of money
shall not outweigh the voice of men.
Then We will he secure in our political
foundation and certain of our ultimate
power.