New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-14
THE DEMOCRATIC OPPORTUNITY.

leaders and statesmen-wh0 a. Just now hurry
ing into print with their full disclosures or the
plans and purposes of their party, and their
favorite methods for retaining the confidence
of the people so that tho seed of 1882 may
como IN n harvest in 1SS4-are firing trlfie
wild Here come immediately on the heels OF
tljs great Democratic success considerable
troupe of statesmen. each wi til his own notion
of the meaning of the victory and his own idea
of the proper methods for securing and making
permanent the results. Mr.. Samuel j. Ran
dali under whose leadership when his party
was in power the appropriations were so be-
logged and mixed up with deficiency bills as
to make it quite possible for HIM to claim the
credit of having effected great retrenchment
in the expenditures of the Government, Is OF
the opinion that the thing to do is to cut down
the appropriations, exhibit the Democracy to
the country as the party OF economy, ana on
that record 60 to the people in 1854. 1t isn't
ct all strange that he should view the situation
in that light That is his hobby. IL his party
takes it up, the chances are several to one that
It will take him up with it. There are many
apostles of the gospel of cheese pairing re-
trenchment in the Democratic party, but OF all
of them Mr.. Randall is chief. And if retrench-
ment is to be the issue fur 1854, there is no
one filter than he to lead the hosts.
But here comes Mr.. Wattcrson to the front
with the only real true blue, simon pure, sure
to-wOrk recipe for q Democratic victory III
1884. in the shape of straightforward and
manly adoption of the fIee-trade dogma as
the issue Behind him are Frank Hurd, of
Ohio. Carlisle, Beck aud Blackburn, of Ken
lucky, Hewitt, Cox and Dorshemer, of New
York, and stragglers from all the States. TO
the Watterson mind the thing seems perfectly
plain. The party, according to his notion, did
not suffer defeat in 1850 because the tariff
for-reyenue plank was In the platform. but
because the party leaders got frightened in the
midst of the canvass and, fearing the effect
upon the voters, undertook to explain 1t away.
What the party wants, according to the Wat
terson theory is simply the courage of Its con-
yietions 1t should set itself right before the
people upon this question at its first opportunity
which will come with the opening of the
next Congress-and thereon boldly go to the
country as the open advocates Of free trade, or
in tho milder phrase in which they put 1t, of "A
tariff for revenue only. According to the
leaders of this class of Democratic politicians,
the great need Of the party is an agreement
upon n fixed and definite economic policy and
that policy must be the traditional free-trade
policy of the party.
Other Democratic leaders talk in vague
wav about the necessity for the partys being
IN IFS good behavior and doing nothing to
offend the public sentiment which has lifted the
marty into power, but without going into specifi-
cations. A noteworthy feature OF all their
10 IN bp aGOptpl
the continuance of public confidence, and
thereby secure some permanent fruits OF the
victories Just gained, is the entire absence OF
any suggestion regarding the reform OF the
public service. About this and the assessment
of oliiceholders there is great deal OF loose
and ainlless talk, and the Democratic party out
OF power has made no end of talk with regard
to these abuses and the need OF reform. Now
that the party has been taken at its word ana
led up by the people to its opportunity TO 40
| something, we hear very little about 1t. Now
| TEE TRIBUNE Is much more anxious for good
| government and honest administration than for
| party success. In this view it does not hest
| tate TO point ont the Democratic opnortunity
and III its belief the only opportunity the party
| has, to gain any permanent results from the Ie-
cent successes. Let the party abolish-effectu-
ally and in such way that there can be no
| doubt about it In the public mind-the system
of assessing its own oflicehOlders. Let Il
begin right here in the City of New-York.
| Then let it initiate Civil Service Reform by
refusing to make removals from Office on
| partisan grounds or to make appointments ex-
cept after examination and upon the score of
| merit, fitness and capacity.
We honestly believe that if the Democratic
party should do this in good faith. in the pres
ent condition of the public mind, it would re-
tain its vantage ground to such degree that
nothing could hinder its carrying the country
overwhelmingly in 1884. OF this we are CON
fident But we are equally confident Of another
thing-tO wit, that the party has neither the hon