Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1885-01-01
NOT TO BE TRUSTED.
The Reasons which Compel the Conclusion
that the Democratic Party Is UntrUst


that the Democratic Party Is Untrust-
worthy.
n L. not lSas.lsA-1 +l.st -nass,acrafin
voters earnestly desire public prosperity.
They have interests in common with the
whole country. Comparatively few OF
them expect or desire any Office. But
there are three fatal difficulties: Many
of them desire something else more
than they desire public prosperity;
many of them believe that public pros
perity is to be promoted by measures
and policies which are really ruinous;
and they trust incompetent or unworthy
leaders.
The latter difficulty arises in part
from twenty-four years of incxperiencc
in the responsibility and labor of gov
eminent. But it springs far more from
causes which are sure in operation and
lasting in influence. The crowded
wards of great cities do not elect states
men. The pot-house demagogues and
the sharp and knavish tricksters have
the advantage there, in most cases. New
York. Brooklyn. Jersey City. Boston.
Cincinnati, Chicago-hOw many men OF
first-rate ability and standing have these
cities sent to Congress within the past
twenty years? Here and there one
such man has been chosen by each
party, but has either city ever selected
the wisest and worthiest men of either
party? This is not an accident. 1t is
an almost inevitable result of the con-
ditions of city life, which render the
man of superior merit almost unknown
to the great majority of voters, while
the saloons and the rings can always
concentrate large vote for the nominal
ton or election of favorite. Now the
maioritfes of the Democratic party at
the North come almost wholly from q
few large cities, and these cities, there
fore, have to elect its leaders in Conf
gress, if it is to have any leaders there
from the North. On the other hand,
the Southern States are controlled by
men who have little knowledge of the
diversified industry, the commerce, and
the progressive thought of the North,
edge The men chosen by that section,
are Incompetent, in the very nature Of
things, to direct legislation for the COM
plicatcd interests and the progressive
civilization of the Northern States. Yet
they are, of necessity, the controlling
men of the party. Many are pure, and
they are generally fanatical reaction
lists. Many are mere office seekers,
who care nothing for the means, or the
consequences to the country, so long as
the end to them is Office and power.
1t is the curse of the Democratic
party that it rs, and of necessity must
be, dependent upon such leadership in
Congress. From this fact, in the main,
springs the intolerable incapacity 90
that party in legislation, its senseless
wrangles, and lis reckless and cease
less meddling with business interests.
But bad leadership would not last IL
the body of voters were governed BY
sound ideas. OF this we have an illus
tIation in Philadelphia, where indus.
tlial experience has convinced the great
body of Democratic voters that the
policy of protection is wise and neccs-
sary. There, accordingly o man OF
real knowledge and some regard for
Northern interests comes forward-and
Mr.. Randall finds that, by the utmost
effort, he can lead about one-fifth of
his party. The great body Of Demo-
cratic voters cling TO the old Demo.
cratic heresies of free trade. simply be-
cause they were Democratic In the days
when that party had power So OF
State rights notions, SO of prejpdices
against National banks and internal
improvements; these are all mere blind
and obsolete prejudices inherited from
a state of things long past. Yet they
control the great body of Democratic
voters.
A more dangerous evil still is the
passionate and vindictive spirit which
has come. down. to US from uprooted
slavery and defeated rebellion. and
which sways great many voters and
leaders. This spirit desires something
else more than the public prosperity.
IL would with fierce Joy vote down Re-
publicanism, even If it absolutely knew
that the consequences would be public
calamity and incalculable private dis
tress. That is the spirit which sacri-
feed everything in struggle for the
disruption of the Union. IL lives to-
day, and rules the. Democratic party,
and IL fights savagely and blindly for
the overthrow of institutions and meas
ures established by the loyal people of
the North, simply because they were 50
established. " Tribune
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"A canary recently died in Connecti-
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