Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-05-24

The conflicting ambitions OF Demo
cratic leaders and the blind devotion Of
their foil wers gave Radicalism the pur
chase by which it climbed to power.
The 'cohesiveness Of public plunder"
has kept it in supremacy for over
two decades. and it is only after long
years o. usUrpation and corruption that
would have disgrsced a Roman or a
Grecian mob that there are at length
signs that it is about to join the com
pany Of its many predecessors, which in
the name Of freedom have outraged the
dearest rights Of our race.
Hitherto the claims Of rival leaders
have been subordinated to the welfare Of
the party at large, but Of late the in
evitable results OF long -cOntinued domi-
nation have begun to manifest them
selves. Blsine. one of the ablest
Of the Radical leaders, has twice
been slaughtered for the party's good,
and the faction that now has control in
its COUNCILS, have apparently resolved
that his claims shall never be recognized.
Tire Maine statesman, however, though
careful to make it appear that he is out
Of politics for the time being is none the
less busy laying his plans to bring about
DENOMINATION Of his hopes. He is be-
lieved to be the guiding spirit of the
impending bolt against Cameronism in
Pennsylvania, and the mass of the Gar
field Republicans regard him as the
leCstee Of their fallen chief.
However damaging this threatened re-
volt Of the conservative elements Of
Rsdicalism may prove, there are not
wanting other signs which tend to show
that the tide of public thought is turn
ing. Recent municipal elections in the
West show surprising and uniform gains
for the Democracy. True, local issues
in some instances had their effects,
but the results of the contests were too
uniform to be accounted for otherwise
than on account Of popular disspprOval
Of the Arthur-stslwsrt programme. The
present incumbent of the White House
is accidentally President for one term,
and strive as he may, he will find it diff
cult TO succeed himself. There are
many men Of his own stripe who would
be 10th to see him do SO, and his only
means Of accomplishing his purpose is
by 8 iudicious use of the patronage al
his disposal Great as this is, he must
depend upon hearty unanimity in the
party to secure mis- election, if not his
nomination.
That the party leaders recognize the
danger that confronts them is evident
enough. and it is made perfectly clear
by the efforts that are being put forth to
turn some Of the Southern States from
their allegiance to the Democratic party.
As the only bait that can be offered to
this end is patronage to soreheads, and
but little at that, the chances of the
Radical leaders in the South are certainly
far from promising. In Georgia,
for instance, the best places have
been already allotted to tried Radicals,
and few Democrats of any standing
hitherto could be tempted by the resi-
due. The prospects of the Democracy,
therefore, were never better than at
present Unity of purpose and the sur
render of personal aspirations to the
good of the country are all that are de.
manded to secure success. Harmony
and resolution, seconded by good judg-
ment, must, if the signs of the times are
not misleading, speedily bring about
what the patriotic have longed for SO
lOng-the restoration of the government
to the dignity and honesty that marked
it in its better days.