National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-04-21
From GnYetY TO Grief.


Somewhere about two years ago the demo-
Gratis were an exceedingly merry set and
looked forward to their magnificent seventy
eight majority in the house as q fair inkling
of a tidal wave that should sweep all before
it in the coming election of 1881, The NOR
riment has subsidized altogether, and the dem
ocratc minds arc now soberly reflective and
thoughtful. The two ablest men in the party
have concentrated their thoughts upon the
problem of an issue on which to conduct tho
campaign, and have arrived at results which
have been given to the world through tho
Chicago IOrquois club The conclusions diff
fer, and the difference represents very fairly
the state of mind of the party. Tho wisdom
of Bayard sees in the Morrison bill the ele-
ment of popularity that can save the
party. Tho wisdom of Tilden sees the
necessity of avoiding the tariff issue at the
present time. 1t is the first time in the his
tory of parties in this country that tho con-
fessedly longest headed man of any of them
has written an important public letter on tho
situation Just before the battle, and made no
commendatory allusion to the vital measure
which the representatives of his party in con-
gress have concocted as q campaign issue.
Tho democrats have always been divided
on the tariff, as they are now, but have got
on well enough because they have not made
the issue prominent. But the time has come
when they could no longer subordinate it,
The old subjects of contest about currency,
internal improvement, notification, slavery,
resumption of specie payments, and the reso-
buttons of 'OS have all been settled Not ono
of them is now contested, aAR their sub
sidcnce below tho surface has left no object
above the waste of waters but the tariff.
Necessarily it became prominent, and the
only thing that is prominent as a business
question. To make tho matter worse, there
was the palpable fact that in the settlement
of the great questions above enumerated the
democrats lost their case every time. They
meet year after year and quietly drop from
their platform ono by one the old planks
on which they formerly sat and drifted, until
it came to pass that acquiescenco in what tho
republicans have done was regarded as n
chief merit, and they began to put on airs
for having the virtue to accept and be CRATE
full for the good things their opponents have
made them swallow by sheer force against
their will. On all the great measures before
the country in past years the democrats now
know they were wrong and have been
beaten. They give all up but free trade, and
are debating among themselves whether their
last pet lamb is to be surrendered or fought
for and kept in the family us cossot for the
amusement Of the children aud an object OF
affection.
The struggle excites commiseration. The
cry went up, For Gods sake, leave US some
thing p and by the aid Of five tender hearted
republicans the leaders protected their for.
lorn little eve by n majority of two votes
and thus will be able to hear its plaintive
bleating for few weeks longer. 1t is a sad
thought that so much effort has been ex
pended by great organization to prevent
what they conceived was a wrong policy
from prevailing. 1t is mournful to think o.
the number of prophets that have come tc
grief by results that have contradicted al
their representations Tho letter writers
send out statements that Cox is a sod maj
and no more laughs 1t is natural How
cou Id he laugh when driven to vote agains
protecting the wool ON the back of the las
democratic sheep, as he was the other day
by party necessity? Morrison is sad, too, and
cannot help IT, All democrats are sad.
Ono of tho writers Of tho Chicago letter
expressed his abiding faith that Providonc
would yet come to the rescue of tho domo
cratic party. Such faith borders on the sub
lime, for it is long time since Providcnc
has shown much inclination that way. JET
Davis exhibited no less faith in Providence
aud never gave up the lost cause until h
found his wife's garments too short to hide
pair of pronounced cavalry boots then faitl
died, and Providence has not since been muc
counted ON as a support in the tribulations q
democracy.
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