St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-03-17
wHAr THE ECLIPSE sYmBo11zED


The annular eclipse of the sun on yester-
day suggests political parallel. The Ma
tioual Democratic party is the sun Of our Re-
public. 1t rose with the birth of the govern
ment and for three-quarters of century the
genial rays aud cheering light Of Democratic
health, vigor and unprecedented prosperity.
Under the vivifying influences of the Demo
cratic sun the seed of liberty grew so rank as
To choke out the growth of aristocratic tend
encies; ideas of extreme Capitalization and
distrust of the people gave place to Demo
cratic forms and constitutional rule; the
equality and fraternity established by the
union of the states were maintained intact:
the proper balance of powers between the
Federal Union aud the individual states was
preserved; economy in the administration of
government was practiced, and the constitu-
ton was guarded from violation and evasion.
At length there was an eclipse. The disc
of the Republican moon passed over the face
of the Democratic sun. The eclipse produced
darkness, aud all over the land the shadow
of iuternecine strife spread It's app
palling blackuess. 1t was the shadow
of death and disuuion. And when the car
mage had ceased aud the earth at last drank
up the blood of a million brothers who had
fallen, there followed long night of polti-
cal corruption, official peeulaton, of consti-
tutional violations, Of sectional animosities
and demoralized social conditions. But
through all these long aud dark years there
was the CLEAN of hope. The eclipse was an
uular. There was not an entire observation
OF the Democratic sun. Around the outer
rim of the Republican disc the inspiring light
of Democracy continued to shine. Ap-
parently it was a very small tinge of light
bat Il gave token that the sun was still there,
aud the friends Of constitutional govern
meut had faith in its temperance, and with
patient hope and an inspired faith they
waited ana watched for the dawuing OF the
returning light which they knew was bound
to come. And it did cone. The patient
watching aud waiting, the inspiring hope
and iuvineible faith of Democratic devotees
had its iual reward, ana an everlasting one
il will be. The Republican moon, with its
little stock Of light which it borrowed from
the reflection OF Democratic principles, at
length began to Tecede and finally disap-
peared. while the Democratic sun arose anew
with healing on its wings. The restored
Democratic sun brings in its train food of
new light With its restoration comes the
proof last patriotism is more than section
alism with the people Of the United States.
To-day the chieftsius aud statesmen of each
Of the two sections that were hostile under
the Republican eclipse, divide the powers of
4 common government with the consent, by
the votes aud with the warm approval of
united people. The Rebel brigadier and the
gallant Union colonel sit together al the same
cabinet table- For the first time in nearly a
quarter Of 4 century the people are realizing
lie benefits OF real honest and economic
government; TIE cry Of halt has been given
10 the insoieu: march Of corporate power over
the ueoSs OF the people; the rights Of Ansri-
can citizens abroad are being protected. and
they are being relieved from needless, oopres-
Sive and unequal taxation At home. Like
Tue SUI in heaven which was eclipsed on
YeSterisy, but rises aud shines today With
decreased majesty aud bFilhAucy, the priuei-
ples of Democracy are iumusable They Eil
survive IN all their pristine vigUr after the
patty which dis,rus,s aud fears the people
shall have becons rsniaisesnce-