Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1882-02-03
SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

ANol"iliioldAidtIS 2hS istSA eAisss shS
past twelve months have been remark
able for the absence of political excite
ment or party movements, evidences
are continually cropping out that there
has been a steady under-current at
work among the masses, which may
result in some startling changes IN the
near future.
In Virginia the revolt from bourbon
ism las already come to the surface
and proved a success, and that success
has doubtless contributed or at least
accelerated the changes which are de-
stined to sap the present foundations
of southern political organization.
From Texas, Arkansas, Georgia and
Kentucky the evidences of a weaken
ing of thh bourbon ranks continue to
multiply, while in our own state the
more astute of the democratic leaders
have themselves raised the first cry Of
warning and alarm. The Poa-Dis-
PATH among the most far-seeing of in.
dependent democratic organs, admits
the possibility and even probability Of
an overthrow of democratic ascend
ency. 1t says the democrats to-day
could not cast as strong avote as they
did for Hancock and that even under
his leadership change of nine thous-
and votes would have been a defeat.
There is a law Of political organization
which seldom fails where the condi-
tons are at all favorable. 1t is this !:
that the minority grows at the expense
Of the majority, and the larger and
more insolent and self-sufhcient that
majority, the more rapidly ripen the
conditions for its disintegration.
Every mistake, and every failure con-
tributes to the ever increasing cata-
logue of causes which will finally result
in complete reversal of the political
situation. There has been a dozen
times in the history of the republican
pa1ty when democracy, except for its
lproverbial talent for blundering-might
have stepped into possession of the
government.
But the golden opportunity for dem
ocracy has passed. She is no longer
sure of her own. A solid south, like a
solid west, or solid north, will soon be
one of the absurdities. More and more
as the years pass are the people for
getting the lines which divide them,
New issues, new interests, new gen.
Grafton, and an awakening spirit of en-
terprise and and improvement have
opened mems eyes to the foolishness oi
maintaining fanciful or clannish poll
teal division long after the causes and
events which brought it into being are
past. We must sooner or later look
to the present when called upon to say
why we are democrats or why republi-
cans. The reasons offered score ol
years ago, are not valid now. As well
ask men to maintain their political affil-
liations, on the basis ofsquatter sov-
ereignty, or the slave trade, or the ac-
QUESTION of Texas, as to expect them
still to be divided on the war or the
question of the constitutional amend
ments.
So We may conclude that this
movement now coming to the surface,
means something. The name by which
it shall be called, matters little, if it but
substitutes for local prejudice and
narrow political creed, the broader and
better spirit Of liberal tolerant and pro-
gressive, nationality.
Whether the revolt is to become gen.
eral the coming election, or later, Of
course depends more or less on the cur
rent ofevents, and the wisdom or unwis-
dom of present party leaders on both
sides. But enough is already appa-
ant to indicate that It will and must
come sooner or latter. The recent sue
cess of the Atlanta Exposition and
the wonderful increase manufacturing
enterprises in the south, go to show that
a new order Of things has grown up in
the past decade which is foreign and
fatal to the political bourbons of the
past.
AFTER all the fuss that has been
made over the conduct of the Guiteau
trial, the sequel gives evidence that
the wisest course has been taken by
the prosecution, Judge Cox was placed
in very unenviable situation, and
there are few men who would have
borne SO patiently with the antics of
the prisoner. But different course
might and probably would have given