Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-23
a Glance at National POlitics-New
Men for 1885.

III Jue OOuIu3 anu IGCelNGS JH6 praise VI
all. QUELQUEFOIS.
a Glance at National POIitics-New
Men for 1885.
Editor Morning NelgS. Interest is
being manifested at this early day by
thinking people over the entire country
as to the Presidential election for 1885.
Delegates to the nominating conventions
of the tive political parties will soon be
selected, and the nominees chosen for the
suffrages of the voters of this great
country. Permit me, as one who has
always taken an interest in these cleo
tiOns, which, like leap year, come once
in every four, to indulge a few reflections.
All citizens ought to be thinking men on
the affairs of state and national politics,
even though, like the writer of this article,
they hold no political office. Freedom of
thought on questions Of this nature Is the
right Ofall men, but unfortunately for our
republican institutions, is too seldom eX-
ercised. Men are busy about their private
affairs, and these very business men
who should naturally be interested
most, as their fortunes, invested in what
ever form their judgment may have die
tated, are dependent upon good govern
ment, seem to think less upon questions
of this nature and allow politicians to
.
statesman were synonymous expressions
all would be right, but the observation of
all tell them differently, and the expert
ence OF others affirm it. This article |
am not writing in the spirit of dictation.
direction or prOphetical bonhast. If any
of your readers will peruse 1t and think
upon the question, my efforts Will be
amply rewarded. If the pen is mightier
than the sword it is supremely so, in that
it reaches ends by causing people to think,
while the sword allows no ultImatum.
With this eXOrdium, applying the word
to an article instead of a speech, shell off
the superfluities and commence upon the
kernel. ] write from a Democratic stand
| point. True, the Republican party of to-
! day and the Democratic party differ very
broadly only upon a few issues, which
the intuition of the reader will at once
call up. The history of the party since
1S65-and / select that date as approx
mately approaching the tune when rough
Yis0ged war smOOthed her wrinkled front
has been singular Your correspondent
was present, as a spectator, at Tammany
Hall when Seymour and Blair were nomi-
mated, which enthusiasm died away in
the gloom of defeat. Greeley and Brown
( later struck against the same rock. Til
den and Hendricks, still later, who,
elected Overwhelmingly by a popular
vote, and rightly affirmed by the Electoral
College had fair vote been allowed, sur
rendered the great trust to which they
had been elected to a commission that
was as peculiar as the heather Chinee,
but transparent by far more than those
almOnd-eyed, nOn-citiZeniZed individuals,
WAYS have been known to be, and wrote
upOn the banners of the National Demo-
cratic party, "Right compromised is pre-
ferable to right enforced" Then HaE-
cock and English, with canvas up and a
I hffrb n Gfnam n
bottom when everything looked fair.
| These repeated defeats have probably been
caused by the prestige the Republican
party has enjoyed by it's victory in war
and the liberal use Of patronage. The
more distant we get from the
causes which produced that party
/ the bette, the chances to overthrow
4 it. Defeated this year it should be, for
| the present has peace, fraternity and
/ prosperity in profusion, and efforts to re-
/ ViYe dead issues, such as the committees
! of Congress investigating unfortunate
/ local difficulties occurring in Virginia
and Mississippi, and which are liable to
occur in any Northern State, are en-
/ deavoTing to do. should be nipped in the
| bud by a patriotic people, who are as wise
ea tha nOlitieians. Democratic success
will ensure a reunited country. When
victory perched upon our banners in
! 1876, the royal bird was stripped
! of its feathers which had supported
! its flight, and was thus fixed to the
earth, by the hands of the Republican
| caterer who saw good meal for his party
in that noble bird, which, SINCE the fOrma-
ton of the government, had been looked
on as an ornament and not eatable. Three
States South Carolina, Louisiana and
Florida-were manipulated. They were
Democratic. Either one of them would
have secured the majority in the Electoral
| College for the Democracy, while the three
were necessary to give the Re-
publican party majority of one. The
country was in anxiety and doubt,
not doubling who was right, for that
was too plain, but fearing the right would
be subverted. The electoral commission
was the unconstitutional measure that
did the work. Clearly Congress had
no power or right to make that commits
sion, known as 7 to s. The people elect
Congress, and their powers are defined.
Here. Tilden and Hendricks, riding upon
a popular vote, the spontaneous out-gush-
ing of the people, having also a majority
in the electoral college, were deprived Of
a right by an objectionable wrong. If the
United States is to be a government of
compromises then abolish the constitu-
ton.
Mr.. Hayes was the recipient of the
honors that Justice Bradley, alias No. 8,
had the power to hestOw upon him, prov
ing politics to be dice box arrangement.
Nominate Tilden and you play a losing
game again. A New York and Ohio man
will fill the bill, but eliminate Mr.. Tilden
from the political equation; he is a known
quantity and not an u J ex-President, as
he by right should be. Don't encourage
the old man with the nomination. looking
to the chances of his feeble health enabling
a strong man, physically, to succeed him.
That would be infamy in politics, and
the unkindest cut of all. Try a new
broom, it will sweep clean; a new sched-
ule, it will land you quicker; a new idea,
it will brighten the mind of the party.