Omaha daily bee., 1883-01-31
TIE ~DEMOCRAlIC HCIF.

It is too early yet TOD calculate the
chances Of tho next presidential cam
2sigu but the democrats are not at all
backward about claiming the victory
in advance of tho election. Some re-
politicians, too, are not more backward
in concedir z ii, while Others are CT tho
opinion that the contest will be more
uncertain and exciting than any of It's
predecessors.
No observer of the political situation
will deny that the ~disorgariz ,tion of
the republican party is the chief hope
OF the democracy. Il is generally be.
lieved hat the republican managers
have lost control mer their forces and
cannot count on the undivided eup-
port Of the rank and file in
aGy Of the doub full sta es OF the
union. Most OF the defeats last TALL
resulted from The deep seated dissat-
isf action and distrust of the best Gle
ments cf republic lnism with the party
management. Tne breaches have not
yss been healed, tho Unaffected, con.
oiiiated or tho mutinous ranks con
8 olidatsd. Unless there ia a rally
shortly, no honest man believes that
the party can enter the campaign of
1884 and win the fight against a
united and spells famished democracy.
But what efforts have been made to
harmonic the discordant elements Of
republicanism. In congress the same
old differences crop out in strong
antagonism. The party Is d.
vided on tho tar fl, OF the
question of internal revenue
reduction and on a doz,n minor
points which go to make up a national
policy. There is a fact lonal contest
over almost every presidential appoint.
ment, and hardly a country postmas.
ter receives his commission without q
score ef protests and afid ,vits from
c%ontending republicans. In q half a
dozen states the party Is split up over
merely local questions, which will,
nevertheless, affsc. tho vote on ma
tional Issues. And the worst is that
there seems to be no movement to.
wards oonciliation, and no p~erc,ptibls
tendency In the direction of harmony
1t must, however, be remembered
that the republican disaffection Of las
fall was not In any duo to return
Ing confidence In the democracy
Fifteen hundred thousand republican,
either stayed at home or voted for op
POSITION candidates because they wer'
disgustod with their own party man
agement; not because they wer'
pleased with the policy or performance
of the democrats. These million anC
a half voters cannot be expected t.
change filth and support the demo
cratic nominees in 1884 upon the nam,
basis as they opposed the republican
candidates ia 1882. Ii the democrac,
o,n offer no greater bid for republi
can votes than mere promises Of futur
Performance they are not likely to oh
tain them. Up to the present tim
the democrats have done moth
Ing to secure public ~confdenc
and to make the future sure
| Ia congress they are as devoid of
policy as the republicans. They ar
: rs hopelessly split up on the tart
: question. The me ority of vote
: against the civil service bill came froI
: democrats, and the shipping bill coul
: have been saved if their leaders ha
o had the courage to make a fight fC
i American commercial interests. !
n the three republican states OF Ne
h York, Massachusetts and Pennsylvi
mia, where democratic governors wei
elected last fall, there is general dl
It gust at the failure of the loud prom
ises of reform made by the victor
New York Is said to be sfiio'ed vii
l. the most worthless legislature viii,
D ever gathered at Albany. Govern,
r Buffers chief applause was gained |
his audAciouh inaugural. and Goyarn