New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-03-15
TIE PIRIY ON TILL.


remember that they are on trial, tits often SAID
the Country would get much better govern
mcnt. Nearly four months OF the session have
passed, and these men have done nothing To
remove public distUst of their capacity; moth
inc to convince people that the party III power
has any principles or convictions; nothing, III
short. except to disgrace themselves. They act
as if the country had given them lease OF
power for twenty years, and they could afford
to spend the first ten years in riotOuS Scrambllng
for spoils, neglect of public business, and slow
requirement Of the rudimcn,ary knowledge
needful for the work of governing. If they
could only remember that the people Will pass
Judgment on them one way or the other, tins
very year!
In few months the people will be voting
for members of Congress- and for Legislatures
which will have Senators 10 elect. Hall
the people are opposed to the ideas of the
Democratic party, to begin with. If they
find much to approve in President Clevc-
lands course, it is only because in some
things he has acted as any Republican Prcsi-
dent would have acted. But of the Democratic
voters a large number see in Mr.. CleVclands
course a most scathing rebuke of Democratic
Senators and Representatives. They see that
the. Democrats in Congress have been savagely
fighting him. They see that the President and
his friends cast the blame for bad appointments
he has made upon the dishonest Democratic
members who have advised him. They see
that most Of the Democratic members are pur-
suing IN financial matters the precise course
winch their Republican opponents predicted.
and which Democratic President now tells
them must be fatal TO the public faith and the
public prosperity. Is it TO be supposed that
this state Of things will strengthen Democratic
candidates for CnngressY Broadly speaking,
if the party as a whole cannot show that 1t has
any principle or any capacity of governing
and cannot put itself on any side of any vital
question, is that reason for trusting more
power to Democrats?
or course these are pertinent suggestions
The critics who make them are not
blind to Democratic dangers But
what would be gained if the party
could be brought to a realizing sense that 1t is
on trial ? Would that make these men at
Washington really better or more capable
men, or would 1t only make them greater hypo-
critesl Is it for the good of the country that
any party should boodwink the voters by pre-
tending to be something that it is not
The Mugwump idea is that such government
by men who try to be different from the party
that elects them and who live In mortal terror
of defeat by voters who care for no party, is Of
all government the best But have not abun-
dant reasons been seen for distrustng that
theory? President without party Is not
only a melancholy spectacle; he is as useless
as the Kelley motor He can get nothing done;
has no friends whose anxiety for his success
perpetually guards him against error; is used
by the least worthy because they are the least
scrupulous makes more grave blunders in sheer
ignorance than the worst of capable party
leaders would ever dare to make and is
exactly the sort of ruler 10 be summed. Be
hind these there is larger and most important
reason for prefcrrng government by party. In
all great matters, the prosperity and honor of
this country depends upon consistent and
unhinching adherence to certain principles.
Only the petty and paltry details depend upon
the will of President without a party. The
history and well being the happiness and the
glory of the Nation depend upon the principles
which control its legislation tor long periods.
Thus it comes about that men who honor
Mr.. Cleveland most are forced to seek for a
party by which government may be steadily
controlled upon right principles. They are
rapidly learning that the Democratic is not
such party.