The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1882-02-07
HUMAN NATURE AND POLITICS.

The EXAMINER, few days since, in &
good-natured way, referred to Nat. Q
Henderson's prospective postoffice, aDG
intimated that Nat. was neither better
nor worse for being either democrat ol
a republican Our hard-sheu contem
porary, the Mexia Ledger, conued the
item and distorts it into fragrant piece
of heresy. That paper says:
We entirely dissent from the EXAM
INER's position that democracy is no,
superior to republicanism, and that the
standard of democracy is so low that
a $1,000 office would be sufficient to make
republicans of most democrats. Such Z
standard may possibly include the
EXAMINERS editor, but it certainly does
not include the bulk of real democrats
who have for long, long years withstood
the encouragement OF repeated defeat
aud the Establishments of an enemy who
would gladly have silenced opposition
by the bestowal of many such positions
as the writer alluded to.
We fear the Ledger is guided much
more by the intolerant spirit of heredi-
tary creed-worship than by the light OF
liberality and experience. 1t is just such
close-communionism as is portrayed
in the above extract that makes democ-
racy play second in the political concert.
The spirit of progress, let us gently re-
mind our neighbor, infects politics
equally with religion, business and soci-
-, 10 = hJc, tInr
who profits by the fortunes or mlsfor-
tunes of others. The principles applied
to government, as promulgated by the
two dominant political parties in this
country, are absolutely identical, and
the differences which spring up and give
rise to what we term politics, are born
wholly of the administration of those
principles. An accident placed the re-
publican party in power. Time gradu-
ally ameliorated the Issues of that
accident, and the fundamental princi-
pies of the two parties were merged into
an almost indistinguishable sameness.
With this condition of things the bal
ance of power was so nearly equalized
that gentle ripple of popular feeling
gave the democracy control Of the legis-
lative branch of the government. After
years of weary waiting the lifedream of
those whom the Ledger Is an arrant,
ardent supporter, and the Examiner,
we trust, a consistent and sensible advo-
cate, was realized, and the country
looked for wisdom, purity and states
manship. What did democracy, or its
leaders, at least, do? Need we recount
the history? Two years suficed to re-
mand democratic rule to the realms of
unpopular failures, and the republicans
were again placed in charge of govern
ment. Was it by reason of widely
divergent principles and issues? or was
it through an unfortunate and blunder
ing administration of well-known
The EXAMINER honestly /
believes it was from the latter reason;
and it is likewise from an honest and |
earnest desire to see party which is
capable, with all its toibles, dominant that
It so plainly points out faults and coun
sells cutting loose from policies WI ch
he experience oft ~ years has clearly
'hown to be unwise. Catching the
irift of events the republican party has,
n spite of its corruption and spoils ad
kept itself steadily before
he people and at the helm. Can the
ledger read the writing on the wall If
can not, what need of further argu-
nent