New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-30

unfair, and the whole act was questionable III Its
| designs The Governor might have added that
the bill was passed by questionable practices.
| The men who were pushing this iobbng scheme
| will undoubtedly feel rebuifed for the moment
by their failure; but there is so much at stake
for them that undoubtedly they will return to
the work next winter and try to pass such a
| bill as they want in some different shape.
| Until we get fair general law on the sub
| iect they will not consider themselves beaten.
|
| TIE FORTH or PARTY CH4R1CTER.
| A strange unreasonablencss pervades much
of the argument upon which sundry Demo-
| cratic statesmen and newspaper editors are
| apparently relying for success in the campaign
| OF 1854. These gentlemen say, in effect ::
next year the people will simply inquire
"what is the then state and condition of the
two great political parties. They care nothing
about dead issues. If the Democracy i'll 1851
| can prove that it is capable and trustworthy,
Z" there is no reason in the world why its chances
| q" of winning should not be most excellent. The
| " Republicans have been in power n long time !;
much that is perncious III administration can
% be laid at their door, We believe that the
| peopIe would welcome change. SO only let
Democrats convince the voters that we can
safely be called upon to take charge of the
"NatiOnal Government and we will experience
" no difficulty in routing our opponents
The trouble with this sort of buoyant talk
is that it is founded upon grossly erroneous
conception OF the weight that attaches to estab-
lished character. The Republican party has
been in power for quarter of century. The
Democratic has been out of power for quar-
ter of century. Once every four years dur
Ing that period both parties have presented
their credentials and asked for the popular
judgment upon them. The electors, after a
full and free examination of the record pres
ent standing and tendency of each, have re-
tanned the Republicans in their ser
vice and kept the Democracy outside.
When the people come to the ballot
box, year from next fall. they viii not
simply inquire how the two parties stand upon
the tariff and the other issues that are then at
the front OF discussion. They will want to
know in addition if it will not be a more
prudent thing, a safer course for the country,
to intrust the reins Of government to the
party which, in spite of everything that can
be fairly said against it, has built up
a good character in the sight of all candid
which, granting all that can be fairly said to
its credit, has just as surely built up a bad
character.
And it is not Pharseesm, but the cold, I'M
diluted truth of history, to assert that the
party that has built up the good char
acter is the Republican party; that the |
party that has built up the bad |
character is the Democratic party. Apply |
such crucial tests as slavery, the war, enamel |
patton, reconstruction, the currency, to this |
statement and its correctness is established |
beyond peradventuIe. OF course the rank |
and file of the Democracy like the rank and |
file of its opponent, is composed in large part
of reputable, patriotic citizens. But party
character is not question of the Individual
merit OF private citizens. 1t is a question of
the public record OF an organization on public
policy. Thousands of Democrats in 1861 10
doubt spurned the idea that the war was n
" failure" But the party as a party is on
record In its National platform of that year as
taking ground that it was a failure" And
so, too, thousands of Democrats stood up man
fully for honest money, from the beginning to
the end OF the great fight over the currency.
But the party as a party is on record as hav-
ing been all things to all men on that vital
issue.
The people are always ready to make a
change provided they are convinced that the
change means reform. But change for
the sake of change--a change that is not likely
to be followed by any substantial improve
ment i'll public misunderstanding will not
order. Nor will they be readily induced to
believe that party which has established
reputation for untrustworthiness during long
course of years can of sudden escape it's
character and become truly good.