The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-02-27
rAuxrrNG THE DEMOCRACY.

Congressman Bedford, of Colorado
better known as the Red-headed Roostel
of the Rockies, explained not long ag(
that he had stood by the Hayes frauC
because the Democrats had not The
courage TO maintain their rights. Tht
other day Congressman Reagan, O
Texas, himself prominent Democrat
said he was tired OF seeing Democrat:
apologize for doing what is right. Ut
teranees like these should set the Demo
Gratis to thinking, and induce them to
ask themselves the question if they have
not blundeEed ever since the war, and
If they have not been held down
through their own mistakes or down
right cOwardice. When the Confede.
racy was whipped back into the Union,
as all fully realized that it would be, the
Democracy did not exactly lose cour-
age, but it forgot much OF its manhood
and independence. 1t was cowed, and
without cause, and up to the present
moment has shown q timidity and
fear that should never have been felt; it
has apolagized for errors never CON-
united, and been alarmed when no
danger was in sight; it has submitted to
gross wrengs and outrages, lest proper
resentment might involve trouble; and
humiliating as it has been, Democrats
have supported measures at direct vari-
ance with the principles of Democracy
and winlaed at heresies in the party
all for the sake of peace. In 1876, with a
large majority of the people at its back,
the partyEsubmitted to the consumma-
ton of the grossest outrage and fraud
ever perpetrated on the Republic, which
submission gave the Republicans eight
years more of theft and plundering.
AS soon as it was seen that agreat wrong
had been done, the Democrats were sick
and soTrowful, but they had only them
selves to blame, for they had yielded
after a weak and modest protest that was
intended not to give offense. In 1880 the
Democracy went completely back on
itself, making promises and supporting
policies that made every honest mem
Der of the party blush when he thought
of the grand old organization that had
been cheated, duped, bamboozled and
cowed into the disgraceful attitude OF
4 frightened supplicant. When one
looks back at the political record of
twenty years, with its Greeleys and
Hancocks, its hunlialiting submissions,
its protestations of innocence when no
guilt was shown, its contortions and
unsteady movements while trying to
convey the impression that it
was standing on Republican plat
forms yet not losing balance
on its own, its acceptance of "local
issue" tariff suggestions, and its promul-
cation of doctrines intended to be ac-
cepted as free trade by free-traders and
as protection by protectionists, and its
distress, dupticity and blunders, be can
not wounder that Belford should taunt
the party with cowardice and Reagan
grow sick at the want of manhood and
self-assertion.
More Democrats will grow tired as
they think of what has been done, and
in their sane, wise deliberations with
themselves they will conclude that
through their yielding. tinid policy they
have lost what they tried to gain. They
have encouraged the Republicans to
taunt them and melted the opposition
to persist in the thwarting, brow-beat-
ing, eoer 1--WE policy which has kept the
Democrats in the back ground, and
made them lose sight of the fact that
they had the power if they only had the
wisdom to direct it.
In spite of their laundering and mis-
takes, their timidity and apologize
course, the Democrats have come into
power again, and they can hold control
if they will but be brave, manly and
consistent. There is absolutely nothing
to begained by trucking, while every
thing can be lost by it. A thorough
going, energetic Democratic admins
tration, as to both men and measures.
viii succeed, and an administration that
tries to pacity Republicans, to soften
sectional animosities through depar-
ture from principle, to hide the ragged
and harmless bloody shirt by a waving
of the white feather of cowardice will
consign the Democracy to the tomb.
The American people are democratic in
sentiment and action, because
they know that the principles of
Democracy contemplate the largest
liberty and the best good to mankind;
at the same time the American people
are brave and despise towards.
We believe that Mr.. Cleveland will
l@Ve the country clean, thorough