The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-04-26
ssDistrust Of the Democracy"

Hdrper's Heekly, discussing the POI
litical outlook, declares in the usual au-
thoritative manner of that paper that
there is one vital consideration in the
situation (which many of the most
vehement and dogmatic spectators
overlook, !" which, it proceeds to ex-
plan. is s.the profound distrust of the
Democratic party" Other ''vital con-
siderations" are mentioned. but they
are of nature which the editor of
Harper's thinks necessary to explain at
length, whilst ''the profound distrust of
the Democratic party" is apparently
regarded as a sort of automatic truth in
politics, requiring neither explanation
nor proof. Now if this compiacent ed
itor will just spread a political alma
mac before him and give ten minutes
careful study to the recorded history of
the last twenty years, particularly the
last ten, we are confident he will find
little evidence of the distrust of the
Democracy which he has SO ignorantly
taken for granted.
We challenge him to find in all this
period single case in which the people
have declared against the Democracy on
a free vote and fair count throughout
the whole Union. These conditions
were impossible during the war and
continued impossible for quito ten years
after the war. Indeed there has not
been a free, full vote and fair count in
the whole country since 1860. We made
the nearest approach to it in 1880, but
the golden stream which the Star-route
ring poured into that campaign prevent
ed the full accomplishment of fair
count or q free vote even, as is unan-
swerably evidenced by the fact that In
diana polled an aggregate vote equal
to ninety-four per cent. of its whole
male population over twenty-one years
of age. There could be no evidence of
profound disgust in the only defeat
the Democracy has met in a full vote of
the whole country, purchased ny such
patent bribery.
Now let the Republican party moral
ize upon its own record. Since 1872 it
has not been able to elect majority in
the lower and popular branch of
Congress. in despite of the combined
power of intimidation, bribery and
fraud. Since the 4th of March, 1877, it
has not had a majority of irs own party
on the floor of the Senate. Since 1872
it has been able to prevent the people
seating Democratic majority in Con-
gress but once, and that time only by
alliance with Reputation in Virginia.
True enough, it has seated its nominee
in the Presidency twice within these ten
years, but by fraud one time and brib-
cry the next.
These facts do not indicate profound
distrust of the Democratic party"
There was no distrust in 1874, when .
Democratic majority was sent to the
lower house of Congress; no distrust in
1876, when a Democratic Congress and
q Democratic President were elected; no
distrust in 1873, when the Democracy
again carried the Congressional cleo
ton; no distrust in 1880. when the De-
mocracy lost Congress only through the
coalition of Republicanism and repudia-
ton in Virginia; no distrust in 1882,
when outraged public sentiment again
reinstated the Democratic majority in
Congress. Out of five Congressional
elections in ten years the Democracy
have four victories to show; the Repub-
licau party an unbroken series of de-
feats. Now let Harper's Weekly say
which party the country distrusts. al
bonv Argns.