National Republican., 1883-11-03
The Democratic sbIbbolctb.

The Democratic shibbolcth.
Our morning contemporary assures us that
"the popular current is setting toward
revolution" that the feeling of the country
is becoming ripor every day for a CHANGE and
that the cry of "turn tho rascals out " is to be
"the shibboleth and inspiration of the
people"
Well what changer What portion of tho
republican party's work of twenty-four years
would tho democratic party dare to undo If
thcy were to succeed in 1881? What candi-
date can they name who would court dostruc-
tion and defeat by daring to say he would
change" anything that has boon dono by
the party which the people have clothed with
their power in six presidential elections?
What leader would this party, so clamorous
for change, dare to follow if he should fail to
swear that his election really meant no
change? What platform maker could get
hearing in a democratic national convention
who would neglect to assert democratic
acquiescence in and hearty approval of each
successive measure carried through by the
republican party, despite the desperate kick
ing and squalling of tho nations most per-
verse and disobedicnt child, the democratic
party? Even now tho democratic tuning
fork is sounding the key which shall be in
unison with the republican party on every
question, not excepting the tariff.
The democratic party demands power on
the ground that it has been wrong at every
step for n quarter Of century, and it de-
mands the expulsion of the republicans for
having been the originators of all that has been
good during that time. Its position is that
the craftsmanship of the country is all with
the republicans, but the honesty all with tho
democrats "The rascals" who have been
the virtuous who have been wrong The
good democrats promise to sustain all that the
bad republicans have accomplished, aud, in
addition to that, we arc to have
the benefit of their moral example
Notice is served on tho republican
party that its works are irreproachable,
but its personnel Objectionable. Tho cam
paign is to be democratic assertion of 81 am
better than thou" The stews and sluins of
the cities and tho returning streams from
Blackwell's island and the various state peni-
tentiaries are to be drawn on to replenish and
purify the sources from which have been flow
ing the streams of law and justice since James
Buchanan turned over to Abraham Lincoln
what was left of the government in 1861.
Bourbon savagory and intolerance at the
south, which SCOTS at majorites aud kills
whom it cannot subdue, is to inaugurate its
mild reign by tho grace of such elements
as now make the name of democracy 4 terror
in New York, Chicago, st. Louis, and other
great cities. A comparison is to be made be-
tween the average personal character of demo-
Gratis and republicans. Tho associates and
hackers of Tweed are to challenge comparison
with their political opponents as to their rela-
tive trustworthiness in the administration OF
affairs. The American people are to be dragged
through n year of calumny and vitupera
tion in an effort of the rotten and discarded
democracy to howl down its opponents and
to thrust itself again, unropentant and un,
clean, into the public employment from
which it was discharged after being
scourged for corruption and servility
to slavery twenty-three years ago
If it could persuade the people to trust il
again they would deserve to be ruled by it
If its ISLANDERS or its pledges could gain
lodgment in the public mind the best disc
pline such dullness could havo would be
few years of its administration. But wis
housewife would as soon leave cat in charg
of her cream as the American people wOult
ntrust so old an offender as the democrat
party with the custody of its treasure box O.
the preservation of the public peace, Change
are desirable in many respects, but not sucl
changes as the democratic party would bring
Those who sell tho republican lions skin
while yet ho is alive may bo killed in hunt
ing him.