The Republican journal., 1883-08-30
The Democratic Situation.

The Democratic Situation.
The Boston Herald says that the Republicans
We're victorious in 1872 because the people chad
no confidence in the professions of the Demo-
cratic party, despite its change of front and its
acceptance of a lifelong and bitter antagonist
as its candidate" The same cause had its eff
feet i'll subsequent elections, and the same want
of confidence is felt to-day. The present attitude
of the Democracy must necessarily strengthen
this feeling, and recent developments in Mary
land will increase the determination to 'keep
the rascals OUT The party organs are devot-
ing themselves to desecratng graves and dis
cussing dead issues. The administration of
Buchanan, the defeat of Hancock in 1880, the
treachery of Tilden and of Kelley, have as lit
tie pertinency to the coming national contest
as they do to the affairs of Siam. 1t is all dirty
Democratic linen, anyway, and had better be
washed in private at least. so far as that party
is concerned. AS an exchange well says: 1.-The
discussion in regard to Buchanan's administra-
ton between Judge Black, Attorney General
under Buchanan, and Jefferson Davis, a rebel
sympathizer and the arch traitor, both within
the lines of the Democratic party, is as entirely
the affair of that party it is senseess, and is
moreover, twenty-five years dead" But it is
matters of this kind which occupy the attention
of the Democratic press rather than such issues
as the tariff, finance, or civil service reform.
When compelled to define their position on
public questions. as in the recent State conven-
tons, the Democrats have involved themselves
in a hopeless muddle. Take the tariff question.
They are for protection, incidental protection,
and tariff for revenue The Pennsylvania
Democrats, after some hesitancy as to which
was the safe side of the fence, declared for pro-
lection, while the Minnesota Democrats are for
ga tariff for reyenue"-only this and nothing
more. On the other hand, eX-Gov. Hendricks
of Indiana one of the great spokesman of the
party, comes out fatty against tariff for revenue
only. He says: IF any one supposes that peo-
pie engaged in manufactures. the farmers who
supply them food or the tradesmen of whom
they buy. will support movement designed to
strike at system under which they flourish and
on which they are more or less dependent,
especially when they know that a change to
free trade would impose direct taxation as well
as cheaper labor and hamper industry, l say if
any any one supposes that he will find himself
much Mistaken
While portion of the Democratic press has
advocated civil service reform, another portion
has abused and made sport of Senator Pendle-
ton who stood as sponsor for the bill passed by
the last Congress; and of prominent Demo-
Gratis. Hon. W. 5. Groesbeck, of Ohio, is the
only one who is publicly advocating reform in
the civil service at this time. 1t is notorious,
further, that reforms in this direction have
always encountered Democratic opposition. both
in and out of Congress, so that the declarations
in their party platforms TO the contrary can
only be regarded as devices to catch votes and
lis evidences of insincerity. ON the temperance
question the Democratic party generally is COM
mitted 10 free rum The Minnesota Demo-
Gratis deny in their platform that any State
has the right. either by statute or Constitutional
amendment, to prohibit the sales of intoxicat-
ing drinks. This is a step ahead Of anything
yet advanced by any distinctively Democratic
authority. and is doubtless what is meant by
the obscure. and otherwise incOmprehensible
ausiOn in the Pennsylvania Democratic plat
form to personal liberty
In the discussion as to candidates the Demo-
Gratis make pitiable exhibition of weakness. 1t
is admitted that their candidate must have a
"bar'l," and a strong disposition has been mani
Tested in behalf of the old ticket of Tilden and
Hendricks This is certainly case where the
tail should wag the dog. If Mr.. Tilden were
as robust in health as Henry Watterson has
pictured him, neither his strength nor his
"bar'l" would avail in the coming Presidential
contest. The Sage of Creamery Park has been
found out. He entered upon the campaign of
1876 with the reputation, now believed to have
been undeserved, of reformer. But the Ore
gon cypher dispatches, Barnums mot p. IT,
"mules,' and the character of the men Tilden
selected to represent him in Washington and
elsewhere, placed him in a bad light even with
Democrats. Of the men and methods employ
ed by Tilden the writer knows something, and
the Philadelphia North American puts the case
in nut shell when it says that 1.-THE post-elec-
ton happenings of that memorable year (1S,6)
revealed so much that was discreditable to Mr..
Tilden and 50 abhorent to the average moral
sense of the people at large, as TO forever put it
out of the power of Mr.. Tilden TO figure as
formidable political power any more Yet Mr..
Tilden's name is to-day despite his physical in
trmities, to say nothing of morals, most used
in connection with the Democratic nomination
for the Presidency in 1884.
writer in the Sunday Herald has inter-
viewed Mr. VIM. r. Smith, superintendent of
the Botanical Garden. Washington, concerning
the botanical tastes and instincts of public men.
There are many" said Mr.. Smith, with pas
sion for Botany"
Mr.. Fessenden, of Maine, was an ardent
that his wife had a sweet verbena at their home
in Maine of which she was very fond. Mr.
Fessenden shared the feeling so throughly that