Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-03-09
A Policy wanted.


Repnin cans. Whatever the Repu oli-
cans ,tii the Democras though, IL vas
their dhty to oppose it. They were ag-
gressivs in nothing except in opposition
to Rep nlican measures. They opposed
the war for the Union and even when
rebellion was about subdued they de-
clarei the war failure. While loyal
men were serding soldiers to the field
the Democrats denounced those same
soldiers Lincjln's cut throats and hire
ings. The NAN who did considerable
OF this kind of work in Delaware is
now the premier of the first Demo-
cratic 2dmi nistraticn that has succeed
ed TO p 'wer since the fourth of March,
1851. The Democratic party opposed
the liberation Of the slaves, and called
the Republican party thieves and rob-
bers because they liberated them. They
opposed putting the ballot into the
hands of the freedmen, not that they
believed IL wrong, but because the Re-
publicans did it.
They opposed >Greenb backs At a time
when the nations was hard pushed and
had to have them, and when the Re-
puoisoah found they could return to
spScie the Democrats wanted Green
backs and great many of them. They
opposed the tariff more because the Re-
publicans favored it than from any other
cause, though it must be said of them
that in this they are more consistent
than in any other measure of opposi-
ton, having always, even before the
war, been In favor of free trade. In
every thing that conduced to build up
and strengthen the nation, in the Demo.
Gratis the Republicans found a strong
opponent. Even when the Republic
cans wanted to extirpate polygamy, all
the defenders OF that foul blot upon
decency and morals were Democrats
BY persevering in their reckless oppo-
sition, the Democrats Fave succeeded
at last in alternating sufficient number
OF Republicans from their party to
place the Democratic party in POWER.
No matter how it was done, whether
by downright lying and misrepresen-
tations in the North, or by shot guns,
Remington rifles or tissue ba lots in the
South they have accomplished their
purpose.
The Democracy has assembled TO
power for the first time in twenty-four
years. Their President has just been
inaugurated, his chiefs have taken their
places and now they are ready for bust.
ness. l must be remarked, however
that they have only succeeded to power
by departure not from their old prin-
ciples if they ever had any, but from
their mode OF presenting themselves 10
the public.
Instead of declaring the war to have
been failure, they acquiesce in the re-
suits of the war, and even went so far
as to say that there were more Demo.
Gratis in the Union army than Republi-
cans. They even went 80 far as to saw
that the freedmen should be protected
in all the rights conferred upon them
by the results of the war. In order to
get chance TO get the offices for
hungry and thirsty crowd of Demo
Gratis, they agreed TO say that they were
in favor of civil service reform. They
modified their position upon finances so
far as TO favor q sill yer currency. They
found it would not do to go up before
the country as opponents of protection,
and devised platform upon that ques-
ton, that was constructed in favor of
free trade, where free trade was poou-
lar and in favor of protection where
protection was profitable. The working
people of the nation were promised
steadier work and no diminution of
wages and they foolishly took the
Democrats at their word.
Thus aided by false approximations.
aided by those the Repu olicans had
thrust out Of Office for dishonesty, aided
by those the Republicans refused to
give Office, aided by those Republicans
who were in favor of free trade, aided
by the liquor interest that looked upon
the Republican party as its enemy,
aided by the Temperance party that
looked upon the R'publican party as
being unfaithful to its interests, aided
by Enelis. sympathy and English
gold, AGED by fraud and shot guns in
the South, ana aided by the spiteful
jealousy Of some Republican leaders
against the Republican candidate who
was their superior in every thing that
constituted manhood the Democrats
are in power at las.
They have gained the victory. but
they are without policy. The time
has come when the administration must
have a policy of its own. The Repub-
lican party is out Of the way, and the
Democrats with the exception ola small
opposing maj ority in the Senate are in
full control. They are compelled to
take the initiative and to be agrees
sive. They cannot retain power by
simply opposing old Republican ideas,
bat they must formulate policy of
their own. 1t must be one thing or the
other. II must be for free trade or op-
posed TO it, II must be for civil service
reform or opposed TO it.. 1t must be
either for honest money or opposed to
it. That policy must be in favor of
ote;ting the freedmen in all their
rights OF opposed to IL, The hand of
the Democracy must soon be shown.
It will be found that it was one thing
TO follow and oojact to everything and
quite different thing to take the lead
and formulate new policy that will
hold the Earring elements of Democracy
together, and that !will withstand the
attacks of United Republican party
for grand victory in 1883
Pleuro.Pns nmOBIa.