New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-11
NEW PARTY DREAMS.

An era of good feeling" this is, according to
one acute observer. 1t closely resembles, he
thinks, the times of PresidcnG Monroe, and he
is sure that he sees in the near future break
ing up and reorganization of parties. Mean
WHILE turn the rascals ont is an evidence of
the good feeling of the Democrats. And the
two parties, as thoroughly organized and dis
ciplned rs ever, are confronting each other in
Ohio and Iowa, and preparing for struggle In
which moderate gain in the size of majorities
will be hailed by either party as great VIC
tory. To the ordinary observer, the signs OF an
"era of good feeling" or of a " breaking up OF
parties" are not visible to the naked eye.
The Republican party, for instance, is more
thoroughly united than it has been at any other
time for years In 1872, and again ceforc the
nomination in $780, and after the Inaugural
ton in 1881, there were signs of discoid An
observer might have believed, at these periods,
that a reorganization of parties might result
But there is now no indication whatever OF
probable rupture among Republicans. AbSo-
lutte agreement as to all details is not to be- eI-
pected. There are differences of opinion about
some individuals and some appointments, and
some details of the new tariff. Bat these and
all other differences that now appear are on all
hands regarded as wholly Insignificant in com
parison with the great and patriotic objects for
which the united party strives.
Not very long ago, man who believed that
Mr. Watterson and his followers were very
much in earnest might have entertained the
notion that the Democratic party was going to
pieces. In words, at all events there seemed
to be an irreconcilable difference between the
free traders, who declared it fatal ami shame
full cowardce to gloss over their convictions
any longer with mere tricks of phrase, and the
Democratic trmmers, who charged the defeat
of the party in 1850 TO Mr.. Wattersons i'm
petuous and inexpedient candOr. But that
seems an age ago, if enc looks at recent Dem
ocratic platforms and sperches. OF sudden
the trcksters and trimmers have it all their
own way. and the men who protested to have
deep-r rooted con victions are accepting another
trick of words as gleefully as il they had
never dreamed of free trade or of IA tarif for
revenue only" Ii is plain enough that there can
he no controversy in the Democratic ranks
about any question of principle, because either
faction is ready to sacrifice what 1t processes
to consider sacred principles for the chance of
Office Then as TO men, there may be quarrel
ling but there is no leader of commanding
Thought and influence, like Mr.. Douglas,
around whom faction can rally. Mr.. Tilden
il not such leader, nor Mr.. Bayard, nor Mr..
Mcdonald The nomination will be dictated
by expediency again. There is not sign of a
q breaking uD," though there may be local
ouarrels bitter enough to make success i'm
possible.
1t may he SGT down as a "hard pan fact" in
politics that the Republican party is not going
to pieces, so long as the old Democratic party
remains in existence, with its ancient traditions
and black record, to seize the Government mt
the first opportunity. If the Republican party
had no other reason for being, it would be- an
all sufficient reason that those who rebelled and
sympathzed with rebellion cannot safely be
left to maintain the fruits Of the war; that
those who resisted equal rights and specie
sumption to the end cannot safely be left to
preserve equal rights or public honor that
those who have never ceased to denOulce and
assal protective tariff cannot safely be left
TO enact new tariff OF TO administer the one
now in force.
The Democratic party has n reason fol con-
tinued existence also. For twenty years and
more it has represented, and it still represents,
every form OF resistance to the policy of the
Republican party. When that policy has been
fully and heartily accepted by the people, the
Democratic party will have 10 die, or to get it.
self new reason for being. AT present the
hostility to Republican ideas and measures is
AS vindctive, malignant and intense as ever,
though it sways fewer voters than il did years
ago. No other party can embOdy or express
that hostility as the Democratic party does, aad
NO party that does not embody and express il
can command a third of the Democratic vote.
Those who dream of new party divisions
must possess their souls in patience. The time
is not ripe.