The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1886-03-10
Parties Stronger Than Presi-
dents.

No one has right to say that Mr..
Cleyeland's administration is already
a failure. 1t is barely 4 year old. 1t
has the foundation Of honesty and
good intentions. 1t commenced
work destitute of national experience.
It would have been phenomenal If it
had escaped mistakes. 1t has ample
time in three years to correct the
errors Of one year.
But even if it should be failure,
as the Republicans insist it is and
will be, it is not true that it would
mean inevitable disaster TO the Dem
ocratic party.
First, because what is on trial is the
new departure from, not the old De-
mocracy.
Next, because experience and his
tory teach that parties are stronger
than administrations.
Grants administration was fail
ure. It had Belknap, Robson and
Williams in the cabinet. 1t had
Babcock in tue White House and in
the whiskey ring. It's features were
impeachmcnts, indictments, jobs and
-favoritism. Judged only by the work
of the administration the Republican
party would have been swept away.
Yet Hayes received bis party support,
and although the Democratic majority
really elected NJ -Tildea5 Hayes re
ceived q sufficiently large vote to
prompt the successful attempt to
count him in.
The administration Of Hayes was
4 failure. 1t was despicable in its
petty dishonesty, meanness and hy-
pocrisy. 1t was ridiculed, condemn
ed and detested by the Republicans
themselves. At its close it consign-
ed the fraudulent President to pitiful
obscurity. Yet it did not bring dis
aster on the party, which was strong
enough over to elect such man as
Garfield even man as pure and unas-
sailable as Hancock.
On the other hand, measured by
the standard Of Republican Presi.
dents since Lincoln, the Arthur ad-
1ninistration was a success in its way.
It was by no means brilliant in its
accomplishments. But it was safe,
conservative and clean, and was an
agreeable surprise to the Republicans
themselves and to the whole country.
It was thought that Dorseys asso-
ciate, the eulogist of soap in cleo
tions, the head Of the New York
machine ring, would have made &
strongly partisan administration con-
trolled by the worst political e}e-
rnents. This opinion was pleasantly
disappointed. The Arthur admins
tration satisfied the business men
and conservative Democrats, espe.
cially Of this city.
In fact there never was President
who entered the office under such q
cloud Of distrust and party unpopu-
laritv as Gen. Arthur, and who went
out with an Endorsement more cheer
fully given by all parties.
Yet what followed? The Republi-
can party, under its boldcst and most
brilliant leader, was defeated by a
; candidate inexperienced in national
affairs and unknown except to local
politicians.
No. An administration may add
strength or impart weakness to its
party beyond doubt. But when it
comes to the crucial test party de-
pends upon itself-upon the ideas
and sentiments it stands for, and
stands against at the last day of the
election.
This is especially true now, be-
cause Mr.. Cleveland has hardly given
the real old-fashioned Democracy
full. fair trial. lie was nominated TO
secure Republican votes that no
. other Democrat seemed able to get.
ssHe did receive that Republican sup
s port, and is, naturally, to-day looking
Z h it and leaning upon it. This
asst, present and prospective Repub-
an support has undoubtedly infu-
ced Mr.. Cleveland in his course