New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-08-30
VHY THERE IS DISCORD.

IL is urged by representative organs OF the
Democratic party that the conduct OF that
party in respect TO vital public questions is In
the last degree foolish. 1t is quarreling all the
time about Civil Service Reform, about the
tariff and about the silver question. by
nuarrelling thus, it both weakens and disgraces
itself, fails to carry out its pledges to the
people, and renders the success of the Repub-
lican party hereafter altogether probable. If the
Democratic leaders would develop some real
policies, and if the party would stop quarrel
ling and concentrate its efforts upon such poll
cies, the organs think it would be much more
likely to succeed.
This Is true, but what better could be ex-
pected The party is what it is. 1t quarrels
about the most vital questions of public policy,
because it does not agree. 1t appears to be
two, because it is not one. A great many OF its
members are sincerely and zealously in favor OF
"a clean sweep" because they imagine every
Republican is a rascal they want the public
service thoroughly reformed, and in their igno-
rance believe that it cannot be done except by
the agency of Democrats occupying all the
offices. AT the same time, some other Demo
Gratis believe in Civil Service Reform, and know
that the service has been more pure and efficient
under the later Republican Administrations
than ever before. Being honest, these elements
do not agree. Again, some believe that every
duty that protects is a robbery" of American
industry. In their ignorance they conceive that
the tariff is the great cause OF industrial ana
commercial depression. Being sincere and
earnest, these press their conviction in season
and out of season, and hold that no man is or
can be good Democrat or true patriot who
hesitates to uproot any and every form OF
degree of monopoly" by which, it is said, the
few are helped at the expense of the many.
Other Democrats, having broader knowledge
or broader heads, know better. These as sim
cerely believe that it would be ruinous to the
country, and especially harmful to its indus
tries, TO tear down the protective system. How
is it possible for these people to agree' If they
are both honest, they must be irreconcilably
hostile to each other. And it is so, moreover,
about the silver question. A great proportion
of the Democrats sincerely believe that the
country needs more money and cheaper money,
and that disuse of silver robs the debtor
Glass; which embraces the many for the benefit
of the creditor Glass;" which embraces the
few. Others know better, but how can these
two agree
These quarrels within the Democratic party
are the only creditable thing about it. They
prove that, though the party as a whole cannot
be said 10 have any honest aims or fixed con-
victions, many of its members have. 1t is in
1nitely more creditable to them to disagree,
and to combat each other openly, than to
attempt any deceptive or fraudulent pretcnce of
unity or zeal for reform. Would 1t be more
decent, do the organs really think, for the Dem
ocrats falsely TO pretend to believe what they
do not believer Would it be more creditable
for the party to initiate some OF its journals, in
having no principles except desire for success
and the spoils? Would the country be as likely
to trust party which was thus consciously and
Intentionally living lie