The Red Cloud chief., 1884-04-04
The Great Blunderer.

There are uDmi>takable indications
of dependency with reSpectto the COM
ing election cropping out from time to
time in tie Democratic Journals. And
they all refer in some shape to the
fac lily of the r party in laundering. 1t
is pretty universally admitted that If it
had not been for blunders the Democ-
racy would have gained the Presidency
before this. But the ''if' in the case is
a tremendous one. There are very few
failures of any description which may
not be attributed to blunderS of some
kind. 1t NAV be admitted, however,
that the Democracy are peculiarly af-
ilicted with q tendency to blunder; that
they are subjected 10 it in a way which
calls Tor cOmmiseration. II is their
misfortune. The only error in the
premises lies in the assumption that it
is possible for them TO avoid laundering.
The New York Wcrtd talks about the
mistakes of the Democrats when they
have hitherto had control of the House
of Representatives. and which proved
f~atals.to them in the Presidential cam
paignS, aSHvcnts which were entirely
unexpected and prgventible, and it now
laments that they have frittered away
nearly three months of the present Con-
gressional term without doing anything
to inspire popular confidence. 1t COM
plains that some of them ''bave been
trying to frame a Tariff bill which can
not possibly pass" and that they are
making q middle of il generally. AL
though this testimony from a
Democratic source. it will be heartily
indorsed by observant people prospect
i've of party.
Now, there is no salvatioa whatever
FOR the Democratic party. with regard
to laundering. except through literally
being born again. 1t a no more es-
cape it than a bOor can escape making
mistakes in polite company. Its very
constitution is hOpe,e>sly against it.
There are some members of it who are
intelligent men with a reasonably clear
conception OF what a civilized govern
ment ought to be. but even these differ
radically among themselves. And. in
addition to this. the majority of the
party is composed of ignorant and
prejudiced elements. In order TO hold
the whole togetner in am kind of organ
lied coherent shape. different methods
of appeal must be adopted in different
sections of the country. Business oppo-
sitiOn must be allayed in the East by
the advocacy of sound money and pro-
tective principle: in the West the
prejudice against banks and capital in
pretty much every shape must be
catered to. and free trade sustained.
But perhaps AL this could be managed
IS .hn ra,,a-nr.ofiyo- IN (Enpp-- unl
the pres. could be placed under proper
discipline. If m ignorant mar al be
made 10 keep his mouth shut he may
pass for n wise one. Rut the Demo
cratic constituencies will persist in
sending men 10 Washington who can
not help creating CONSERVATION and dis
may among the really able members OF
the party. These men persist in ad-
dressing from their seats the voters who
elected them. In the intricate matter
of the tariff and finance they teal around
like a bull in q china SHOP and create a
frightful mass of broken crOckery. And
they are in the majority and irrepressi-
bic. Then again 4 prominent point in
the Democratic platform is the demand
for pure government. and all the while
III patty Has Ict tlt SAiGlitsl CiIdICC
Of success If il does not acknowledge
and sustain the Tammany crowd OF
gamblers. public plunderers
and riff-ratf generally in its hold upon
office in New York.
How can a party thus composed avoid
blunders2 Whatever way it turns II
will blrnder in the estimation of some
part of itself. There is nothing
to hold it together save the desire for
office. and the only element of outside
strength it has rests n the support of
The people who want a change for the
sake of change. To say that such 3
party would nOt be defeated If it did
blunder, is equivalent 10 saving that
would not be defeated if it did not
1t is one vast aggregation Of
blunderS itself. 1t IS a mob of ind:vid-
Ial blunderers. so 10 speak, with here
and there an individual trying TO shout
A little sense in It's ears. 1t groans
about taxation. the surplus. business
the tariff and what not, but
t any one can point out 4 single meth
)d of treating any of these subjects
which can be- called an item of party .
the country would be pleased to
know what it is. The great and COM
orehensive Democratic blunder is that
he party is endeavoring TO gain control
If the Administration without present.
NO any claim for it. Nobody knows
u>t what the party would do with the
Government after it had got it. beyond
urning out the Republicans and put
ing Democrats in Office, though the ir-
'esistible conclusion is on general prin-
,iples that it would keep on blunderIng.
4 conviction of this truth keeps a great
many who take little interest in politics
Is a rule, strong advocates of con.inu-
nc the Republicans in power. And
hey reason very logically. By their
confession the Democrats have
,een laundering steadily for a series of
ears; why should they be expected to
top Immediately sfter winning a VIC
ory?-St. Louis Globe Democrat.
The South has q new terror in the
person of . tramp who steals children.
lie does not claim rewards, but seems
by simple viciousness. A few