Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-09-21
ALEXANDRIA, VA.
MONDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 21.

democratic party, or wilfully misrepreseh'-
;no If no one who mingles with the
masses of that party doubts but that ninety
per cent of it is in thorough accord with
the following editorial from the New York
World. The President and his Cabinet are
democrats because they believe the prosper
ity of the country can be best promoted oy
that party. They do not cease to be demo-
Gratis because they hold power; on the con-
trary those who put them in look to them Tor
Guidance. advice and assistance. Such ad'
vice given, not in the selection OF candl-
dates, but in framing policy, and then Inc
support of the administration in the election
of the candidate is that which the democ-
rocv exnects and demands. The WOrtd
says:
"Tbe assumption that if political leader &C.
c,ufs public position under an Administration
he ha, been instrumental in clecting, he should
therefore cease to tako any further part or inter
est in the management success OF his party, IS
simply nonsense Mr.. Manning and Mr.. Whitney,
the members of tho Cabinet are both recognized
democratic leaders. They have t"o distinct du-
ties to perform one to the country, growing out
of the public positius 10 which they have been
called the other to their party, which has accept
ed their leadership and looks to them to lead.
They cannot with honor neglect either OF these
duties which indeed, although dualistic, are in a
measure unite For public officer who believes
that the ascendancy of democratic principles in
the government of this Republic is calculated to
promote the peoples interests and the honor and
c4I>.> 6 l1y
best efforts to secure such result. It's nonsense to
argue that it would be wrong for President Cleve-
land, Secretary Manning and Secretary Whitney
to exert tho moral and honorable influence at
Z their command to insure democratic victory IN
their own State next November, when nothing
can remove from them the responsibility Tor de-
feat, They arc all invested with the duties and
responsibilities Of leadership: Mr.. Cleveland by
virtue of the high positions to which the party
has advanced him, and the two Secretaries from
their past active and efficient services in the or
psnization. In 1892 the New York democracy
elected Mr. Cleveland Governor OF the State His
majority over Judge Folger was then l92,So4.
In 1888 the democrats saved four OF their State
candidates, bat tho republicans elected the head
OF tho State ticket by Is, 5S3 majority In 1854
Mr. Cleveland, running for President, secured the
electoral voto of the State only by the meagre
plurality OF OF votes. If in 1885, the fourth
year, end the first Of thu pre- cut Administration,
the dwindling democratic plurality should be
wholly wped out would not Mr.. Cleveland
leadership 10 regarded by democrats as unor-
tunste? Would not the two New York members
of tho CabineA, recognized aud efficient party
leadors in the past DO held especially responsible?
On VIVA. III DRY Of justice of common sense,
then, can it lie maintained that the President and
the Secretaries would commit an oFensc if they
SHOULD exert thcir counsel aad Influence to pre-
vent the dcfeaJ of tn Dir party i'll this years cleo
ton? For whoever may DO the candidate of the
party, or wiatc yer may DO the explanations or ex
cuses oftrel aftor election in the event of disas.
ter, it IS certain that tho result of next Novcm-
ber's contest will b. re garded by the country as
verdict Of New York on the democratic Ad-
nnistration-a vote of confidence or vote
of censure Victory with any nominee will
powerfully strengthen tho hands of tho Ad-
miuistration Defeat with any nominee will DO
disapproval OF the policy pursued at Washing
ton AMI an evidence that the party in this State
has not been strengthened by according it two
most important Cabinet Offices Is it common sense,
then to say that the persons most deeply Interested
in success or failure must, to please mugwump
within, sit idly by aad take no active part i'll hon
orably influencing tho result? Is it human
ture that they should consent to do so -
Never uuderrate the strength OF your ad-
versarS is good maxim, but to carefully
study his tactics and CLEAN his secret of sue
cess is rs valuable a rule The republican
party held control of ths government for
twenty odd years by pursuing policy in
augurated by the democrats prior to the
war, and by which that party was enabled to
keep possession of the administration of ma
tional affairs for so long period-and that
policy was to reward their friends and keep
their enemies under. They put in power and
place those who not only had labored for
the success of the party, but whose infu.
ence would, therefore, be exerted in its be.
half But the present democratic party
seems not to learn from past experience and
the reverse ofall former practices appears to
be the rule. Nolonger "to the victors belong
the spoils," but nov the bitterest partisans of
the opposition are retained in Office or an.
pointed to positions where they may exert
their baneful influence and undermine
the party in power, while those demo
Gratis who have borne the heat and burden
of the day are ignored or repulsed, because,
forsooth, they are partizans and have dill
gently labored for the election of demo-
cratic President. This may be policy, but
its ultimate success is more than problem
attic.
The COOL efrontery of Northern republi-
can newspapers is not only unapproached