Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-02-21
4 Dem,cratlc Newspapers kdvlos.

opportunity to elect Democratic
President. It's favorable conditions arc
apparent Out of thirty-six States
thirteen only have Republican Cover
nors. The great States of New York,
Pennsylvania, Ohio and Connecticut,
generally classed as doubtful. now in
cline toward the Democratic party.
Even Massachusetts, is witnessing q
gradual displacement of Republican
footholds. The Democratic movement
in Massachusetts grows as the popula-
ton grows, while Republicanism is
standing still, with future only of de-
cay, dry-rot and impotence. Moreover.
tie general sentiment of the country is
one of dissatisfaction with Republican
methods. If reasonable guarantees that
change to Democratic administration
will be desirable are gwen, the majority
of the voters will have that change.
But it will be serious mistake for
Democratic party leaders to regard the
existing dissatisfaction as triumphant
enthusiasm for the Democratic party.
The forces at work for the disintegra-
ton of Republicanism are almost en-
tirely nom partisan. 1t will be long
time before my party right or wrong!"
will again be cry of victory for either
of the great political bodies. The bal
ance of power to-day is in the hands OF
men who care very little more for one
party than for the other. They have
outgrown the old convictions and
prejudices which. based on issues that
were vital, attached men to one party
or the other twenty years ago. They
form body composed of all conditions
of men, who take business interest in
good Government. They call them
selves one thing or another, but they
vote together for the best man and the
best measure. When swayed by no
passions or strong beliefs, men, whose
livelihood in part depends upon sound
principles of Government, think much
alike on public questions. This class.
which grows larger yearly, asks of an
Administration honesty, economy,
simplicity and stIaightforwardness. It
wants no jobs, no subsidies, no swollen
appropriation bills, no Federal favorit-
ism, and no trafficing in offices. The
candidate with the strongest character
and most sterling qualities gets the solid
vote of this class, and. it is getting
yearly more difficult by party platforms
to persuade its elements into voting .
straight party ticket.
It is fact which has got to be rec
ognized, that men are no longer forced
to take sides on any strict party ques-
ton. Tariff reform is not yet a party
question. If the Democrats make it the
the desertiOn of PrOtectiOnist Demo-
Gratis as well as gain bv the accession
of Republican opponents to q high tar
i'll. Nothing could better show the
prevalent laxity of party ties than the
fact that some Republicans will vote for
q Democratic tariff measure and that
some Democrats will vote against it.
We think it well that the Democratic
party has identified itself with the rev.
enue reform movement, because it
shows courage, resolution and convic-
ton. We believe majority of the
voters of this country to be in favor of
revision of the tariff. But let not it be
forgotten that the majority is made by
the support of the independent voters,
and these will not vote with the DEM
ocrats for the sake of old times, but of
new facts.
This state of public feeling imposes
upon the Democratic party two essential
conditions of success this year. One is
that the country be given sound
and valid reasons for turning the Re-
publican party out of power. The other
is the candidacy of man whose char
acter is a guarantee that he will justify
the confidence of the country. No
amount of bumptions, bombastic and
declamatory denunciation will gain the
Democratic party single Independent
vote. A sensible man. who cares for
neither party as much as for his own
interests, will not patiently hear that
the Republicans, on general principles,
or of artv nd h0
Gratis angels of light. We have passed
the blind-staggers stage of politics.
The men who will elect the President
next November must be appealed to on
grounds of reason, profit and common
sense.
The Democratic party has already
given assurance that it will neither
dodge nor rant. 1t is in a position to
dispense with both those familiar expe-
dents. Corruption is at the core of the
Federal Government, and facts can be-
shown to prove it. The tendency Of
Republicanism to Capitalization; its
policy of lavish appropriations, of the
most government possible instead of
the least, of paternalism, of meddling,
of aggrandizement and of extravaganza;
its record for twenty years of fostering
rottenness and shameless plumber; its
present of neglect and humbug and
throbbing rascality, are matters Of
logic, of history and of figures. The
Democrats have TO state the case, and
if correctly stated the verdict will DO
guilty. But there will be no denounc-
ing in the lump. Abuses will be speci-
fed and the indignation may be safely
left to the voters. Then, too, the Demo-
cratic party is rich in men. in whom the
country at large have entire condolences;
men Of brains. character, conviction and
conscience, who would take the Office
as an unsought honor and administer it
Is mighty trust; who do not depend
upon Office for living. and who bar
gain with nobody for support; who ara
men of business, not theorists, and who
understand what economy, simplicity,
energy and thoroughness mean; and
above all, who would be guided in their
judgment on measures and their selec-
ton of men for Office solely with view
to the best interests Of the country
albany ArQtIS.