New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-08-14
4 QUESTION FOB NEW VOrERS.

Any young man, before ne enrOlis nlHlSeil
under the Democratic banner, should consider
seriously this question Z" If join the Demo
cratic party, how long can / stay with it o.
We will assume that, like many young men
fresh from their studies, he is inclined to free
trade ideas. We will suppose that he votes
the Democratic tickle. in November, and con-
siders himself member of that party. few
weeks later the Legislature of his State-for
this may be true in any Statements, and a
High License bill or some other strict tenn
pelance measure is introduced. He sees his
new-found party rally solidly to oppose it under
the dictation of the liquor-dealers He is veXcd
and ashamed He is intelligent, well-educaled
and sincere. His conscience cOmpels him to
oppose the party he has just joined, and to
denounce its action.
Later on, bill for the publication and bet
ter protection of the ballot is introduced. Here
again he sees his party solidly contending
against measure which probably every con-
scientious voter in both parties wants to see
passed. Again he is vexed and ashamed. 1t
seems to him that the party leaders are actual
ed by the lowest motives, pander to the worst
classes of society, and are besides blind to
the signs of the times. Again he opposes the
party in which he has just enlisted.
Now, does a man show good common sense
when he joins party which he expects TO
spend most of his time opposing? On most Of
the great questions of the day-temperance be-
ing one of the chief of them-the Democratic
party is as hopelessly wrong as it was on the
slavery question. and it can no more change
tbo-, Ia IN eli
Even many who do not agree with Republicans
in believing that the free-trade tendency of
the party is its most dangerous characteristic,
are compelled to admit that upon moral issues
it is utterly wrong-headed Then why have
anything to do with it To jump on a train
for the sake of jumping off again is very slow
way Of reaching ones destination.
Many persons Of this class seem to think that
some mysterious virtue resides in Mr.. Cleve-
land which secures the country against the
penls of complete Democratic ascendancy The
record of his Administration shows that this
confidence is one Of those decisions which are
not uncommon in politics. Many voters who
supported him four years ago have found it
out. But in any even5 the new voter should
remember that the power behind the President
is that Of the Democratic party with its old
character still unchanged. Mr.. Cleveland can
not possibly remain in power more than four
years longer; and when he is gone the party
must fall back again upon the old set Of leaders
whom the American people distrust.
The notion that this hoary-hcaded old sin
ner, the Democratic party, has at last been
converted and will now do works fit for re-
pentance, is no new thing. when the Demo
Gratis of the South agreed to support Mr.. Gree
ley, On platform of universal amnesty and
reconciliation. many of us were GLAD to be-
lieve them sincere, and joyfully hailed the
dawn Of a better day. Yet the shocking
atrocities by which the negro vote in the South
has, been suppressed were committed many
years afterward, while the most shameless
frauds known in the history of repub lican in
stitutions continue to this day, and are relied
upon to reeect Mr. Cleveland. When Mr.
Tildcn was nominated there was a class. es-
pecialy among the young voters, who be-
lieved that the Democratic party was about to
become great instrument of administrative
reform. 1t was only few months before they
were overwhelmed with confusion and shame
by the disclosure of the cipher dispatches
the vilest political conspiracy in our history.
Those who indulge in similar dreams about
The Democratic party Of to-day have like
rude awakening before them. 1t draws to
Itself, by a natural attraction, the worst ele- |
nents, and can no more change its character
han the leopard can change its spots.