The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1885-01-25
Our Friends, the Independents.

We have frequently had occasion since the
election to comment upon the singular but
firmly rooted delusion which possesses tho
Independents and persuades them that their
little bow and arrow laid out Brother BLAINE.
The deluslon is perfectly harmless to them,
and may not hurt anybody else. Besides, 1t
is amusing. Tho moral stature OF the INDIE
pendents has gone up several cubits since
CLEVELAND was elected, and they say to all
tho world with conscious pride: I'VE did 1t,
and don't you forget it."
1t is pleasant to see people happy, whether
they are the victims OF delusion or not.
Who would grudRe to merry monomaniac
his firm belief that no is JULIUS CESAR or
NAPOLEON BoNAPARTE2 Let him be as pow
erful In concoit as he WILL provided he enjoys
himself and uses his hobby 80 that 1t doesn't
impingo upon the interests or feelings OF his
inoffensivo neighbors.
We like tho Independents, and they give
us great Joy. We could almost bring our
selves to cry murrain upon facts and fig
ures, provided the boards OF these interesting
monomaniacs can be kept wagging jovially.
Why should anybody who has made even
the most superficial diagnosis OF tho case OF
these gentlemen DO surprised at their delu-
sion Why should anybody object because
they take no pains to disguise their convic-
ton that they are n good deal better than
the Democratic party, with which they have
made what seems very much like misal-
liance2 Let them play King COPHETuA to
tho top OF their bent. Tho philosophic alien
list will watch their antics with n kindly eye,
and derive personal entertainment and scien-
tiflc information therefrom.
Time alone CON effect their cure. In time,
perhaps, they may learn that it is they who
have changed their politics. and that tho
Democracy haven't changed. They may como
to sec, Us everybody else does. that o great
party, with famous and deeply cherished
traditions, and with notions and beliefs
which, right or wrong, have taken abiding
root, cannot change in day or q year.
They may live to recognize that a few men,
however eager and enthusiastic, cannot
mako much impression upon the almost
solid resistance which great party is pretty
sure to bring to attempts made to lead 1t
whore 1t has no mind to go. They may. and
wo cordially hope that they will, yet be SO
purged OF delusion ms to admit that the fly
on the wheel doesn't pull the chariot.
Whatever they may do, they will never fall
to make circus. They are having lots Of
fun with the Democrats, and 1t Is no more
than fair that tho Democrats should get
amusement from them. Nobody knows how
much longer the Democrats will DO allowed
to remain In the Democratic party The In
dependents have given them fair warning to
behave themselves. AS the Boston Herald
says, "the real question Is Us to whether tho
od-line Democrats will be able to hitch with
the Administration. If they do, they will
have to move Oh faster than they did before
II they do not, they will be left at tho rear"
Well, we can only walt for time to shed its
light on these dark problems; and as for the
Independents, we can only hope that they
will be Us merciful as they conceive them
selves to be mighty. Give the Democrats
chance.