New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-18
n1SrRUsTJYG TIE DEMOCRACY.


DISTRESSING TIE DEMOCRACY.
The Buffalo Courier, in reply to the asser-
ton that q the general feeling i'll regard to the
Democratic party is profound dIstrust'" says
that " if this means that the Republicans dis-
trust the Democratic party the remark Is
adonbt,ess correct but it ought to be added
that the Democrats distrust the Republican
sparty quite as profoundly" 1t strikes us that
The Courier would find it impossible 10
prove to the satisfaction of the ordinary
intelligence that the Democrats profoundly
distrust the Republican party. The TACT
of the matter is, as comparison OF 'he
National platforms of the two parties since
1860 demonstrates that Democrats so far
from profoundly distressing the Republican
party have repeatedly Endorsed it Ill most
emphatic and unmstakable manner. Our
contemporary certainly will not claim that IN
dorsemenU is consistent with dlstrust. Ana IL
is simply the truth of history to Affirm that
since the beginning of the war the Demo-
cratic party has advanced in the countrys
regard only as it has come upon Republican
ground.
The National Republican platform OF
1860 famed with love of liberty and
uncompromising hostility to the system OF
African slavery. The two National DEM
ocratic platforms of that year, both the
| Douglas and Breckenridge, contained not
| 80 much as "a line for liberty, bnt the!
| both did contain earnest South soothing pro-
| tests against the enactments OF State Legs
latures in opposition to the fugitive slave law
| The Republicans have not come upon Demo-
| cratic ground since then, but the Democrats
| have come upon Republican ground, as regards
| slavery And so the National Democratic plat
form of 1864 took the ground that the war for
the Union was a failure" and called for " a
cessation of hostilites" while the National
| Republican platform OF that year called for a
vigorous prosecution of the war, giving no
place to the idea that it was or could be
failure The Republicans have not come
upon the Democratic ground since then, but tie
| Democrats have come upon Republican ground
they do not look upon the war as failure
Once again, the Democratic platform OF 1868
| favored the payment OF at least portion Oh
| the public debt in deprecated gTeenbacks. ne
Republican platform of that year, on the other
| hand. denounced all forms of reDudlatlon as a
crime against the Nation. The Republicans
buve not come upon Democratic ground since
| then, but the Democrats nave come upon Repuo-
lican ground as regards reputation. One more
| comparlson The Democratic platform OF - y
contained the following plank: ave pledge
! ourselves TO maintain the Union OF these States,
| euancipation and REIMBURSEMENT, and to OPP
pose any reopening of tine questions settled
bv the Thirteenth Fourteenth and Fifteenth
Amendments to the Constitution" What was
| this plank but notable surrender OF the
! Demorratic position and the adoption OF the
| Republican position in regard 90 emanclpa-
tion and reconstruction But the Democratic
| National platform of 1876 contained still
louder affirmation OF ditto to the RepuOlcau
party in the plank winch declares Tor the
Democracy OF the whole county we 30 mere
"rralljrm our devotion to the Constitution Oi
the United States with its amendments UNI
versally accepted rs a final settlement OF the
| u controversies that engrndered civil wal" III
order to appreciate the full significance OF the
words " a final settlement it is only necessary
To recolect that the Democracy took n false and
| vicious view Of the controversies that en9en-
dered the war, that it's sympathles were gwen
tc rebels during the war, that ii fought emanci-
nation and reconstruction and related questions
TO the best OF its abilities, and that III New ork
|
cure the repeal of the Constitutional Amend
ments referred to.
Now we submit to The Courier that it is idle
TO contend that Democrats distrust party
whose principles and policies it has made those
of the Democracy. The fact that Deroerat'
ale now walking in political paths Will err
frat troduen by Republicans is a demonstration
of our proposition that Democrats do not dis
trust Republicans. Dstrust does not s" mani
fest itself. Trust does 1t is hardly necessary
TO add that the Democratic record at which W.
! have glanced has LAID broad the foundation o
popular distrust OF the Democratic party How
could it be otherwise The country has'got ST
that it expects well OF Republican and Ill o
Democratic administration, for the extremely
GOOD reason that it is aware that Repub
licans have been on the right side OF al
the great issues that have come up during thu
last quarter of a century, while the Democrat
have been on the wrong side
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