New-York tribune., 1882-02-21

outyoted struggles to enforce his ideas and to
restore to Parliament the vigor it has lost.
EXPECTING TOO MUCH.
The Hon. Thomas L. Clingman, of North
| Carolina who was reported some time since
to he sympathizer with, and possibly a
leader in. an Anti-BOurbOn movement IN ms
own State. has Just published letter in Ihe
| Vasbjngfon Post setting forth at some length
his views of the present political situation.
The previous publications concerning MS
views and purposes, he says, were unau'ho-
rized. Although he does not complain OF any
serious Misrepresentation in them, his present
communication contains very free criticism
of both parties, without reaching, so far as we
can see. any practical conclusion as to his own
future action He objects to the Republican
party because of its sectiOnallsm, which, ne
saws. is not only unjust TO the South, but in
furious to the North and that, by preventing
needed reforms and Wholesome legislation,
the Democratic party, he says, " has not only
shown itself very clumsy in its political efforts,
"but it has utterly failed to make united ana
vigorous efforts TO carry into practice the
principles it has prOfessed." His special crtl-
cism of the Democrats touches three distinct
| points. to wit: their course with reference to
financial questions, the tariff and civil service
reform. Upon finance he complains that many
of the abest and most influential Democrats
acted with the Republicans against silver ana
greenbaclls; upon the tariff, that they seek ex-
cuses to avoid making an effort to carry out
| their platform and upon civil service reform,
| that their professions were a mere sham. sum
ming up his criticisms of both parties he says
"On the side of the Republicans there seems to
be more effort to screen criminals than
to expose and punish them, while it also
Clocks as if certain Democrats, either because
&" grateful for favOrs bestowed or from fear oil
retaliation, were averse to pressing Investl-
"gations."
For these reasons he would not be unwilling
to see both parties dissolved, as the old Jetler-
sonian party was broken to pieces in 1924.
Mr. Clingman is one of the Old Southern
leaders who has not been returned to public
life since the close of the war. He was for
many years a member of Congress, ana at the
outbreak of the Rebellion Il Senator. 1t is not
unlikely, nor is it an entirely unchantaDle
suppostiOn, that somewhat of his dissatlstac-
ton with the present condition OF politics ana
parties arises from his own enforced retire
mcnt from active and prominent participation
! in public affairs. The sheved politician Is apt
To be critical always, and sometimes even
cynical. The reasons why Mr.. Clingman would
| be willing to see a breaking up Of both parties
are so obvious as hardly to need pointing out.
| He makes the mistake. however, which most
of his class of Southern politicians fall nto or
considering the possibility of a general break
ing up of both the old parties and reorgam-
cation upon new issues. Such an event Is
simply impossible. The Republican party Is IN
its twenty-third year of continued and scarcely
interrupted power, and its prospects Tor re-
tanning its hold are to-day as good as, II not bet
ter than at almost any previous time There
is no reason for its breaking up, and 1t Is
simpIv wild to talk of it. On the other hand
there is every reason for the dissolution OF the
Democratic party All the questions that ever
afforded il Il reason for being are settled and
ont of the way The few issues upon which
it makes Il point of fighting are new and novel,
unconnccled with any party traditions, and
having nothing in them, as Mr. Clingman
points ont, upon which it can establish union
or Conference. The South. which has so long
adhered to it, not only has no further use for
if. but suffers constant damage in all its in
upon life at the North is so feeble that it is
powerlcss to render any aid to its Southern
allies. and the alliance itself is, and must al
ways be- a source Of weakness rather than
strength.
The dissatisfied Southern Democrats who
wait for both parties to break up before de
c)aring themselves will wait long and in vain.
Doubtless it would be very agreeable TO them
to see the party which has so often defeated
them and which was the ruin OF their cause
dissolve and disappear from the scene. 1t Is
not in human nature that it should be other
wise. But it is too much to expect. What
they need to do is to sit down before the ac
tua facts and consider them from the practical
point of view of what is best for the interests of
the Southern States and people. 1t is for them
to say whether upon the whole it is better for
them to perpetuate the Bourbon rule with the
sole purpose-for there is no Other-of antag-
onizing the Republicans or to oppose them
selves to the ruling BOurbOns and trust the
future for what may happen after their dom
ination is broken, and with it the strength OF
the Democratic party has dissolved. They may
agree with Mr.. Clingman that both parties
are bad. Suppose they are. They can
only reach one of them. Let them break
ND that one That is the first step, and the
only practical one, toward the desired dissolu
ton and reorganization.
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AMERICAN HUMOR AND COMuON SENSE.
Mr.. Oscar Wilde is troubled about the lack of