New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-06-11
GENTHT.NI1NM.V

II
Courier Journal, replying to the suggestion
that the President should be boycOtted by
Democrats. makes a few observations which go
to the root of the matter If there is Demo-
cratic partv. in the philosophical or strict sense,
it has principles and objects which can be stated
in its platforms as reasons for the public support
il asks 1t would be exceedingly embarrassing
to resolve: We want the offices. we need
public money to keep us alive, or to relieve us
from the necessity of work" Many men 90
want Office, and have no other polltlcal aim.
But they find it necessary to profess some other
object as their excuse for political efforts.
These professions, Tie COu,'ier-JOurndt insists,
should be observed. They are only the fraudu-
lent pretences of the spOis- grabbers 1t is true.
But they also embOdy the sincere convictions
of such members of the party as have con-
| gctions. and they set forth the reasons which
moved honest citizens to support the party.
mere union for spOils is not party in true
sense. Nothing can excuse the existence OF
party, or give weight to its appeal to the coun-
try. except its avOwal or pretence of certain
principles. With all the Offices The Courier
journal insists, the party could not succeed II
it does not observe its pledges. Without any
Offices, it thinks the party can succeed II 1t Will
do what it agreed to do:
Our representative in TO misunderstood
these pledges. They evidently imagine that the only
way dposag of the surplus is to increase pensions
river and hsrbor bills and subsidies OF all kinds II
the bills before Congress be not killed IN short Order
there will be a deficit instead OF surplus next year ana
an Increase OF reduction OF taxation. For TINS,
Congress. and not the President, will lie responsible
1.-THE House OF Representatives will oreny vote down
the Blair BILL If it will adhere to its position on the
steamship subsidies If il will veto the coming pension
bills; nit will then revise tariff in accordance with
the recommendations o. the Secretary OF the Treasury
the people will be thoroughly well pleased with these
favors that adherence to the Civil Service
Reform formulated by Nr Pendleton and Nh Willis Will
not be able to come their enthusiasm
1t will be noticed that one set of pledges made
by the party, as binding as any other, Ihe
Cou,ier-Joalnol would disregard and treats
with contempt. The party pledged itself to
support Civil Service Reform. Bat its members
of Congress are openly striving to break down
the Civil Service act, and The C0uricr-JourAdt
encourages them in that betrayal of public con-
fidence because the act is an impeachment to
Democratic enthusiasm, that is, to the ardor OF
office grabbers. Exactly in the same spirit other
Democrats dissent from pledges OF the party
regarding tariff reform, upon which me
Courier-J0urndi insists, ard they encourage the
party in disrcgarding that pledge because any
free-tlade enactment would overcome the en-
tbusiasmr of Democrats in manufacturing
States, and make the prospect decidedly blue for
place -seekeIs. In exactly the same sprit,also
others dissent from the pledge of economy, and
insist upon improvements with plenty of jobs;
upon pensions, with plenty of pckings for claim
agents ;uDon subsidies of all kinds with favors
for influential individuals who can help to re-
nominate useful members. To them, the
economy pledge is contemplate piece of clap
trap, meant to gull the people, and any fidelity
TO il will overcome the enthusiasm" OF great
many highly influential Democrats whose aid
in conventions and at the polls the members
anxiously desire.
Thus there is not single pledge which the
party as whole has any intention to observe.
sufficient number to defeat any change OF
tariff will see that Democratic "enthusiasm is
not overcome by legislation which the party
deliberately promised in order to get the votes
of free traders. sufficient number to pass
Improvement river and harbor, and pensions
bills, will see TO it that Democratic enthusiasm
is not overcome by their defeat. a sufficient
number to make the enforcement OF the Civil
Service act almost if not quite impossible will
take care that the spos- grabbers do not have
their enthusiasm overcome. But the voters,
who were led to trust Democracy because it
made pledges and pretended to have con-
victions-what of them? The Democratic
party looks upon them as simpletOns who de-
serve nothing better than to be deuded and
gulled.