National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-04-24

private life unexamped in length and un-
! questioned in tenure. If by any possibility
| il gets control of q city like Boston for a
short timc It's power is usually extingushed
as soon as tho people can get at it. 1t is the
same in Brooklyn, and in New York the
change from Tweed to Thompson is only
change in individuals which leads the more
surely to despair and cry for hello from the
legislature. In nino.tenths OF the states
where democracy has gained permanent
control the mildew of decay and the blight Of
ill.goyernmont arc conspicuous, and people
only seek homes in their borders when forced
to by considerations of climate or want of
| funds to buy land elsewhere.
out of power, democracy is forceful and to
some extent pleasing; in power, it is feeble
and disappointing. As private citizens tho
gentlemen who compose the majority, in the
present democratic house were exemplary
enterprising, and useful; as Legislators, they
arc dangerous when they are not imbecile
uncertain, and demoraized. 1t has boon the
same with all democratic congresses in tho
last decade, and SO manifest is the tendency
to evil that the men who send them here con-
fess tho great improbabiity of their not
laundering, and their opponents count upon
their plumbers with confidence not bestowed
upon the predictions OF Hazen nor tho promise
OF the restoration of the Jews. When they
attain majority in either house tho fear in
both parties outweighs hope and business
men shake their heads. The last time
the senate was on the point of falling into
their grasp the alarm was so great that the
democratic side of David Davis Immediately
shrvelcd to minimum, his republican side
blossomed out like magnolia tree under the
rays of u tropical sun, and the country
praised heaven for tho gift of balance of
power that kept the senate republican.
When hedcmocrats of Illinois sent Mr.. Davis
to the senate they builded better than they
knew-this is q chief merit of the party when
any good is got out of it. They kept Tilden
from securing the majority of the electoral
commission and saved the senate to good gov
eminent, and quieted the well-grounded fears
of all classes The democratic party is sensi-
BILE of its condition. 1t never calls upon the
people to love it for anything it has done
since Thomas Jefferson retired from office,
and the proceedings of Polk, Pierce, and
Buchanan are no more quoted in its ranks
than murder is commended in a family whose
most noted members have dangled from the
end of a rope under the verdict of an incor-
ruptible jury.
Men like Slocum, Rosecrans, and Ben
Butler who went to the front, cannot praise
Buchanan, Floyd, and Toucey for their wisdom
or the shining quality of their patriotism;
aud, on the other hand, Lamar, Hampton, and
Vance are embarrassed and confused when
Gen. Jackson's memory is complimentod fol-
G his intentions respecting their political god
: father, John c. Calhoun. The good democrat
0 of to-day never points to the record Of Van
Buren, with pride, and no apothcgm of the
twelve years of democratic rule, which
d ended with him, is kindly remembered, ex
" cept tho remark of Marcy, THAT to tn,
@ victors belong the spoils."
&c When the small boy ran his bare legs int
l. patch of nettles his pious grandmother, no
relshing the energetic character of his re
marks tried to console him by reverend.
u saying, my son, God has made nothing il
os vain" The spirit of this philosophy enable
lie us to account for the existence Of democracy
" 1t is menace which prompts lazy people I
IL exertion just as cloud puts the indoler
haymaker on his mettle. 1t is o contra'
that enables dull people to become thankfI
IN for good government, and in some cases it
l. a refuge for disappointed hacks that woul
lp have no political employment If it did NJ
o' exist, and that might become dangerous will
" out some kind of a habitat.
NJ Some moderately good men of republica
'o antecedents get into the democratic part
inconsiderately, such as Curtin, Trumbul
and Charles Francis Adams, without thinl
IN ing of Mrs. Poyser's shrewd observation th
IA "its ill living in hen roost to them
y doesn't like heas." They have hard ]
VI and spend most Of their time in annointiI
- themselves with insect poison, and in wo
b" dering at their folly in leaving their natiN
homes The few who arc caught in this wa
W serve as gudeposts to many who are unwar
and answer the purposes of old skoleto
which in former times swung at count
" crossroads to point moral and adorn a tai
" The only modern Wow of democracy, n
tionally considered, is as a party out of pow
and in that aspect its responsiveness is n
fully realized. As n spirited, wide-awal
"' prancing, whooping and cavorting animal
is amusing at times, aud may be worth all
~ costs Life without contrasts is apt to becor
monotonous and bore. We must not
- reasonably condemn. Fruit dealers shou
~ not denounco tho serpent for discovering t
A.. flavor of apples, Keep democracy under a
o.. the world will wag very well-but DO 81
o,, and keep it under.
tor
, Bureau OF Labor.