New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-06-30
FJCS FROU THISTLES.

FIGS From IHIS1LES.
The Republicans are to be congratulated be-
cause they do not Sview with solicitude" the
action of the Democrats at Chicago. PitIabie
indeed must be the condition of those who are
reduced to a solicitous dependence upon the old
Democratic marty. One might with some reason
despair of self-gOvcrnment and might regard
tine future of the Nation as gloomy III the ex-
IRENE, if the only chance of good government
were such chance as the Democratic party can
offer.
Ii is worth while to remember that stream
cannot rise higher than its source. The very
best that can possibly be expecte'' of the Demo
cratic party is that the wishes and feelings OF
the average of its voters may be represented In
its nomination and platform, and in its conduct
of affairs if successful. To expect more-to sup
pose that in some miraculous way the good men,
who have no chance in Democratic caucuses
and conventions, and who are smOthered under
unit rules two-third rules, and the potent in
Auence of barrels will nevertheless make the
candidate and the Platforms surely the
height of folly. If these Democratic good men
could get possession of the Government, they
could not keep it for an hour. The raging TOR
rent of raVenOus politicians which would then
burst upon the capital could be resisted only
by n President of extraordinary power, sus-
tanned by Congress in hearty sympathy with
reform. and conscious of the support OF the
great body of those who elected him. Who
imarines that the party which has put the
knife to PendletOn would encourage and sustain
n President in reform Who imagnes that
Democratic Congress which deliberately steals
the seats OF Republicans elected by the peO-
nile. would cOuntenance q reform President
What are the wishes and feelings of the ac-
tive Democratic politicians Let any man who
means to be conscientious and patriotic ask
himself that question. He cannot deny that
four-ffths of the party supported the attempt
TO steal the votes of Oregon, and would have
reioiced if the votes of Florida had been
bought. Can any reform grow in such soil
Does any honest and conscientious man mag
inc that it is possble7 Consider again did
not more than the average OF Democratic poll
ticians in intelligence, and far more than the
half of them in number, heartily welcome the
Morey forgery, and labor with great zeal to
make it foully effective, and conceal contradlc-
tons of it as far as possible, and stOop to lie
about it wherever there was hope of success !
Honest men know what the fact was. They
know whether a party which stoops to such
things can be expected to give the country good
government.
Within the past year there have been several
tests The truth about political murders In
Mississippi and Virginia has been published.
Has the average Democratic voter felt any regret
or uttered any censure7 Vile ISLANDERS of Mr..
Blaine have been circulated industriously, and
the truth about them has been carefully sup
pressed because it would justify him. Has the
average Democratic voter refused to use what
he knew was foul calumny9 Caucus and con-
vention have been bought in Ohio, and seat
i'm the Senate secured by means which ought to
he Indignantly condemned by every decent man.
Have the average Democrats of Ohio or of
other States, shown any aversion for the cor
ruptionists Is there any man Of common sense
who seriously hopes for honest government or
any kind of reform from such party?
The constituent elements of the Democratic
party have not changed. No thaumaturgic art
has transformed the men who mac the Demo
cratic party what it was in 1861 or 1864, or
1868, or 1872, or 1876, or 1880 No miracle
has been wrought upon the men who perpe-
trated all the shameful things that the Demo
cratic party has done within the past twenty
five years. What they were, they are. Tie
worst that they ever have done, Infamous as it
is, the Democratic party would do again with
absolute certainty, if it had the same motive
and occasion. Yet this is the party to which
some persons " look with extreme solicitude."
Republicans do not look in that direction for
virtue, purity, reform or patriotism. They are
not so weak that they can forget in an hour the
whole record of a quarter of a century. They
cannot stoop so low rs to depend upon the
Democratic party for principles or candidates.