, 1882-04-08

The Democratic party needs leadership
1t has men ft for leaders, bu. they do no,
lead. The long lease of power to the Re-
pubicsns has deprived the Democracy
of the material incentive TO practical or
ganizstion, and the great men of the par
ty are merely nursed in the lap of hope.
There can be no achievement in war with
out commander. Eminen; success in
politics depends largely on ability and
skill in personal leadership. We need
somebody to 60 to the front and shout
''come On" not to wait for the masses TO
proceed in disorganized snd disorderly
condition TO blaze away
The Democratic party has glorious ira
ditions, and it still has q great mission.
In fact 1t is the only party in the country
which has the dignity of sge, and is III
d structible in principle But its leader
ship is in history We love to dwell on
Jetfers Dnisn doctrines; but Jefferson is
dead, and We need another hero. We
annually celebrate the democratic virtues
Of St. jackson, and become So wrapped
IN the recnllec.ions Of his greatness that
We forget that We have no Jackson TO-DAY.
We live gloriousiy in the past and leave
the present and the future to take care of
themselves. We extol oar dead heroes,
and Quarrel about the men who might be
made heroes q the present day. We ac-
knowledge the ability, the zeal, and the
wonderful organizing power Of Samuel j.
Tilden, who carried the country for the
Democracy in 1876; but if any body un-
dertakes to Set him up as leader now he
is told that the Democracy repudiated |
Tilden i'll 1880, and that the time when
ne might have been made useful to the |
party and the country has been permitted |
to pass unimproved.
The Republican party is also suffering
Ii is in brawl. lis twenty years of pow
er is the result of the practical training of |
its politicians; Of the skill of its leader |
ship; of the discipline of the great body |
of its members. But those who have |
been It's greatest leaders have passed |
away, and these who remain are In a |
state If hopeless division-hopeless if the |
Democratic party Will grasp the situation,
and he practical as well as sentimental |
The Republican leaders are leading the
factions If the party against each ether. |
They are involved IN scandal, and are |
violating the rules of deeeney toward the |
dead. The quarrel has overthrown every |
thing there was to respect in the Repub-
lican party; 1t has removed the last pre-
text for Democratic liberation. The pa
citic intentions OF Eayes We're overthrOwn |
by his own party. and a faction If the |
Republican party Is now seeking TO throw |
a shadow over the memory Of Garfield, !
who WAS as generous in his partisanship |
as was possible within his surroundings,
Who viii lead the Democratic hostsl !
Who will lead the Democratic party be-
tween the Republican wings to victnrya
What are the Democratic leaders doingl
Or, rather, what are the men who ought |
to be Democratic leaders doingl Are they
yelling for Jackson at 9Th of January
banquets, and the likei Are they rend-
ing the air with their lamentations over
the loss Of the fruits of victory in 1S76i
Are they cursirg Kelly for disintegratinE |
the party in New York; Are they har-
boring narrowing "reminiscences OF the |
Ohio campaign of 1892 Is any body who |
has influence and power in the party do
ing any hing To- put it on firm basis for |
the fuiurel Is any body taking advan-
tage of the trouble in the Republican
rank and filel
Let the ranking Democrats of the coun-
try lead Oh in the fight. Let them learn
that they cannot glorify themselves with
out glorifymg their party. Instead Of
supirely waiting for the Democratic party
to hoist them into Senatorships, Presiden-
eies, etc, let them propel the Democratic
party into popular favor; let them work
shoulder TO shoulder, and the man who
develops the highest qualities OF the lead
ershIp will be entitled TO the highest
prize-C CiilciI.adti Enquirer.