The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-04-21

TuE Chicago Times, which certainly is
not Republican newspaper, has some
very hard.hitting comments on an old
acquaintance: "Thero is no such thing ss
apolilCaI party having the name OF Demo.
cra, party. There are election machines
oI that pame-merc articles for Office
getting, controlled and manipulated by OF.
flee hunters. There is an organized ap.
petite Of that name-an eager, covetuous
desire to hold office as an easy mode Of liv-
invand getting money without earning 1t.
There is also an irrational, senseless, and
rather psganish force Of habit Of that name,
which impels multituies oil electors to arm
themselves with voting papers having that
word printed on them, and TO obey the
sell seeking humbugs who say their
prayers TO that word, without being able
to give reason for doing so. But that
there is'a Democrat party, in the sense
ola body OF citizens formed around politt-
cal object by united action to that political
end, is not true, and has not been true
sncethere wasa Democrat party organized
tOuphOld and enlarge the area Of slavery.
The last act Of the Democrat political party
was to organize a rebellion OF the slave
provinces in support OF its greatest political
idea. When its rebellion was put down,
the Democra, party ceased to have politi.
cal reason to be, and thereby ceased to be
@RpOlitical party. All that since then
has been manifested under that name has
been either m appetite for office, an in.
herted prejudice, M unreasoning force Of
habit or coac,ioA in mode OF idolatry
resembling the indefnable notion OF kin
ship which binds barbarian society in
the tribal relation"
The reader will search in vain for as
much truth in smaller compass. The old
time principles Of the Democratic party
have passed away, most Of them knocked
Out" by the elimination Of the controversy
which vexcd the country for three.quarters
Of century and was finally terminated at
AppOmaltox. Since then the time OF the
Democratic leaders has been divided be-
tween the swallowing Of principles and
measures which they swore they never
would swallow, and tho reaching ont for
office. These leaders have been obliged TO
content themselves with leading q band
Of camp followers in the wake OF the
Republican party, whose advance they have
sometimes obstruCted, but have never been
able to prevent. Democratic platforms In
this day are made up OF issue-dodging
panks, and doctrines, written in the Con-
Stitution by tho Republican party, sugar.
coated for the Democratic palate. 1t has
been the misfortune OF the Democratic or.
ganization TO be on the unnational side ot
every question, to view every public mat
ter in It's narrowest sense. See where 1t
stands on the tariff Question-on the Eng.
lsh side Of the controversy.
We do not believe that the loudest
tAril.iorrevenue.only advocates want TO
wreck the Industries OF this country for the
bened! Of foreign labor and capital. That
Is not the idea OF such men as Mr., Waiter.
son. Mr.. Springer and Others OF their set.
The Republican party, inheriting this
among other Wing traditions, is on the
side ot protection, that is to say the nation
al side. The Democratic leaders are on
the other side, which may be called the
side Of individual sel6shness. Unable to
stand on the right side and make an issue,
the Democratic leaders thought that there
w@ an opening for profitable business by
working on the individual, trying to
convince every man that be is taxed to
death to produce this wonderful national
prosperity, ltthey succeed in this venture
lheygetvoies,a and votes in sufEicientquanti-
ties get oilicr.and here Is where the" organ
tzed appetite" comes In to glut itself. The
nrill is about tho only thing which offers
the Democratic leaders any hope, and with
them 1t seems n taritI.ior. otiiCc'only. That
sensible men, men who have no axes to
grind, who desire only The welfare Of their
country, will follow such leadership 10
more wonderful than the seven wonders ol
thA worlJ