New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-18
4 COMMITTEE on THE MOUTH.

The Democracy is just now in very Jolly
mood. Its organs are filed with predictions
of what the party is going to do this year IN
the wav of electing Governors, Legislatures
and Members of Congress. Political observers
are reminded forciby of the few weeks follow
ing the Maine election in 1880 when the same
party went about with a smile on its connte-
nance as broad as pumpkin. 1t then imagined
that it saw the postoflices, cOnsulshlps ana col
lectorships ready to drop into its lap like ripe
plums. But one October morning chilling
blast from Indiana struck the Democracy, and
giving one cOnvulsive clasp across It's stomach
the party collapsed with a suddenness that
surprised even its most sanguine opponents.
To prevent if possible repetition of snch a
catastrophe we would like to make sugges-
ton in a wholly disinterested spirit. 1t Is
this: Let the Democracy appoint Committee
on the Mouth. 1t has been organizing lately a
Congressional Campaign Committee, FL
nance Committee, or to speak technically, a
committee on the Barrel, and several other
committees. These are doubtless useful III
their way. But what the party really needs Is
n Committee on the Mouth. With such an al-
thority to control the utterances OF its can
didates, orators and organs, the party, even
if if did not succeed, would be saved from
MANY vain regrets on the day after election
Mr. Tilden had the same idea in mind, no
doubt, when he established his Literary Bureau.
That did not go far enough, however, as he
found To his sorrow several times during his
anxious search for the Presidency. a few
illustrations from the campaign OF 1850 VIII
show in u striking manner the need OF such
Committee to the Democracy II 1t Is ever to
achieve success. If there had been Com
mittee on the Mouth in 1850 Wade Hampton
would never have told the Virginia BOurbonS
chat they were contending for the same prln-
ciples for which Lee and Jackson fought. II
General Hancock had had a committee to
watch over his mouth he would never have
made haste to assure Governor Plalsted that a
Greenback victory in Maine WAS glorious"
nor would he have made that profound obserVa-
ton on the tariff which is likely to Outlye the
fame he won on the battlefield. Committee
on the Mouth would have saved the party from
indorsing the Morey letter, and from doing in
Vulnerable foolish things when it was necessary
for it to do as few as possible.
These are only few instances in which the
Democracy has shown the need of a committee
to take charge of its mouth They are enough,
however, to prove that until it is under the con-
troll of such an authority it is doomed to defeat
A Democratic paper in Indiana proposes that all
the Democratic Members of Congress, orators
and politicians take July steamer for Europe
and remain there until after election. But this
would be only more expensive way of accom-
plishing the same end and would draw too
heavily upon the exchequer of party that has
been SO long out of office. Taking everything
into consideration it is doubtful if that party
can cOntrive any more economical means OF
aiding itself in the coming campaign than to
appoint Committee on the Mouth. And 1t
would better appoint it quickly, too, before
some unnuzzled orator, candidate or organ
blurts out a truth that will keep the party all
summer in state of chronic explanation.