The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1886-11-25
The National Political Field.

which Neie cApeGted W pIONS S''
rect index of the drift Of political
sentiment, have abscured rather than
made clear the political future Of
the Two great national parties.
True, the Republican party has
shown q certain degree Of vitality
AMI recuperalive energy, but it is
more mechanical than real There
has been remarkable degree Of
lethargy shown 10y both parties, a
full vote in but few instances being
cast by either side. The reasons as
signed for this Ivy the politicians
are as diverse IA they are numerous,
but it is more than likely, because
there is too little difference between
The practices of the two parties
when they are in power, aud that the
people are beginning to find this
out. A strong effort is being made
Ivy the Democratic politicians and
Journals, who believe in the doe
trine 40 the victors belong The
spoils," TO fasten upon the Presi-
dents Civil Service policy the re-
sponsibility for the reduction of the
Democratic majority i'll The House
from 45 To "a, but thi. POSITION can
not be sustained otherwise than by
mere assertion. To accept it as
true, is to assume that Democrats
are Democrats not from principle,
but only for the sake of office, and
this We are unwilling to believe. In
fact, Mr. Cleveland, in his civil
service policy, has only conformed
to the civil service declarations Of
the Chicago platform and his own
post. election utLerances, and TO have
acted otherwise would have been to
faisify his own words and prove
recreant to his party's pledges. II
it he claimed that the party profess
ed one thing in its platform when 1t
meant to practice another and differ
ent thing, the President is deserving
of still greater honor for having re-
fused to became party TO the de
ception.
If the Democratic party has lost
any substantial ground, which We
are not prepared to admit, it is at
tributable TO It's tariff policy. There
is no practical difference between
the practices of the two parties on
this issue, though there is some in
their professions. For two Con
crosses now, a Democratic House of
Representative have been unable to
agree upon and pass bill reducing
the tariff rates, and the new Con
gress promises to be as far from |
agreement as ever. Indeed, it mav
be seriously questioned whether the
American people are willing to sub
nit 10 such q reduction of tariff du,
Ties as that advocated by the ma
iority of the Democratic party, and
his is evidenced by the recent de
feat of Messrs. Morrison and Uurd
and the narrow escape of Mr., Car
isle, the leading champions of radi
.al tariff reform.
In short, as stated above, there is
90 little difference in the practices
IF the two great parties on the lead
ng issues before tie country, albeit
here may be some in their probes
lions.
p The outlook now is, that Mr..
Blaine will lead the Republican
columns again in 1888, and that
President Cleveland will be again
he Democratic standard BEARER
hat is. provided he will accept the
second time, and pro
'idcd the Ito the-victors belong-the
p"ils wing Of the party, are not un-
wisely allowed to prevail and selec,
"me such man as Gov. Hill. of New
York.
In any event, however, the resul
Il the next National contest
to be decidedly rrohIemat-
cal. The Labor Party, headed b, ,
Henry George, who recently receiv-
d $4,000 votes for Mayor of New
York, threatens To make serious in
Dads upon the ranks Of the Demo
racy in some Of their favorite stong
odds; while the party Prohibition
SITS Of the North, promise to play l
ad havoc in some the Republican
trongholds. Without radical I
hange in the drift of things, each
ill hold the balance of power in
ONE of the most important North
IN States, if not in The South also.
he Labor Party profess to have
~ ,an eI.poo - o;1l,or IF ba ILL ,,ar