The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1882-04-27
IN. Y. Tribune.]
Another Mistake.

political party. Intense while 1t lasts,
strong nough with a small proper
tion of the people, it is never broad
enough or enduring enough to keep a
political party in power. OF all its
forms, race hatred is the weakest for
political purposes in a Nation like
this, which blends into one people
men of all races, and has for its cor
nerstone the doctrine that all men are
created equal. 1t will be very long
before Americans will be content to
abandon their proudest boast that this
land of the free is refuge for the op-
pressed of all nations. Yet the Dem
ocratic party appears to have no high
er ambition at present than to become
the exponent of certain narrow and
un-American hatrtds Of race.
On the Pacific Coast, the Democrat
ic party hopes to become strong
through hatred Of the Chinese. Atthe
South, it has no other basis for exist
ence except hatred of the negro. In
some Western States, it appeals with
the same shameless demagogism to the
hatred of the Celt for the Teuton, and
in others to the hatred Of the white
for the red man. If there is despi-
cable prejudice anywhere in this land,
of which all decent men are heartily
ashamed, the Democratic party has
not failed to appeal to that prejudice,
and to stake its existence upon the
strength and permanence' of this mar
row and contemplate policy. 1t does
not succeed, because the majority of
the people Of this country do not so
far demean themselves as to sacrifice
all their true interests to blind hat
red Of anybody.
Negrophobia was the strongest and
most general prejudice to which it was
possible for the Democratic party to
appeal. There is not shrewd mem
ber of the party, however, who does
not know by this time that it has
damaged itself beyond measure by
making itself the instrument Of infn-
ite injustice to the negro. There are
great many citizens who do not love
the negro at all, but do love justice
exceedingly, and they have taught the
Democratic party by succession of
defeats that a solid negro-hating
South tends strongly to bring about
solid iustice-loving North.
Hatred of the Chinese is much
narrower and less potent feeling. 1t
happens at present to be very strong
in certain States. Then it appeals
also to the belief that the importation
of Chinese labor that is not really free
has been tolerated under cover Of pro-
visions for freedom Of voluntary i'm
migration. But, even within this
narrow territory, hatred Of the Chi
nese may cease to be political force
whenever the importation of labor
that is not free shall be plainly pre-
vented, or the immigration of the Chi
nese reasonably restrained by proper
legislation. The passions that blaze
so fiercely now will then die out and
vanish, and even the shallow dema-
gogues who are striving for the favor
of the "Sand Lots will wonder that
they were ever foolish enough to sup
pose that political party could be
kept alive on an issue so narrow and
empty. On the other hand, this par
ticular phase of demagogism threatens
TO give GHe DeluOCIdGlC PAL by, dO oIC
worst, only three small States, of
which they had two at the last Presi-
Dental election. If every vote from
all of these States should be turned
over to the Democratic party by this
issue, that party would gain just four
electoral votes that it did not get in
1880, when it was beaten by majority
of fifty-nine.
But the Democratic party loses, in
this as in every other instance of base
appeal to race prejudice, more than it
can gain. 1t loses because its vulgar
demagogism and its shameless disre-
rard of American principles disgust
good citizens everywhere. That party
will be the weaker, for this cheap at
tempt to catch little local favor, IN
many States, any one of which casts
more electoral votes than the whole
! Pacific Coast. 1t will be the weaker
because there is everywhere strong
attachment to the principles OF the
Declaration of Independence, and a
keen sense of pride that this great
Nation can welcome to its hospitality
voluntary immigrants of every sort
and from every land. 1t will be the
weaker because the conduct of the par
tv is in direct conflict with all its old
time professions. In close Eastern
States the effect of this piece of dem
agogism will be felt hereafter, not to
Democratic satisfaction.