New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-10-20
DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN PARTIES.


the foundation of the Union respecting the
necessity ana expediency of legislation. This
is tho supreme test by which they have always
been distinguished each from the other. There
have been various parties, Federalist, Whig
and Republican. which have not been satisfied
with existing conditions of progress and have
demanded legislation in accordance with their
views. On the other hand, there has been
under various names the Democratic party
committed to inaction and opposed to legsla-
ton. The strengthening of National authority
at the expense of State rights, the development
of home industries and the establishment OF
manufactures, the restriction and final aboli-
ton of slavery, the construction OF public
works and the building of continental rail-
ways, the Homestead law, the creation of bank
ing and currency systems, and the passage OF
the Fourteenth and Fifteenth amendments as
necessary oorollaries to the Declaration OF In
dependence, were results accomplished by Or
ganized political action in favor of additional
legislation. The Democratic party has opposed
all these great measures because it is recruited
mainly from those classes who want less legls-
ation rather than more legislation. Its lead
ers have either been strict constructionists OF
the Constitution and challenged the legality
of the proposed legislation, or else they have
accepted with cynical complacency the false
assumption that the world is governed too
much and the rank and file have been out OF
sympathy with the progressive tendencies of
American civilization.
This distinction between parties has never
been more sharply defined than at present +;
and it is most important that our younger
classes of citizens who are accustomed to the
responsibilities of political duty should con-
slider it before casting their ballots this au-
tumn. The Republican party is committed to
the policy of legslating in various directions
for the welfare OF the Nation and the Demo-
cratic party is satisfied to let things 60 without
legislation. In the States the Republicans are
on the sido of high license as a remedy for the
evils of free liquor and intemperance, and OF
ballot reform as q useful and necessary agency
for the publication of elections; and the DEM
ocrats have done everything they could to OBJ
struct and defeat both reforms. In the Nation
the Republicans stand for a Federal Elections
law, which will enable every citizen black or
white, to vote as he pleases and to have that
vote honestly counted and the Democrats are
in favor of maintaining the system of intimida-
ton, assassination, outrage and fraud practised
in many sections Of the South. A Republican
Congress has enacted measure for protecting
American industries and creating new manu-
features, and for discriminating against for
eisn and in favor of National interests. The
Democratic party wants less legislation of this
kinda lower tariff and a larger free list.
RepublicanSm fayoS the restoration OF the
American commercial marine and the enlarge
mcnt of foreign markets by Reciprocity. De-
mocracy is opposed to these policies. A Re-
publican Congress is acting docisively upon n
series of great National questions, and the
Democratic minority is Systematically obstruct-
ing one measure after another.
1t is history repeating itself for the benefit
of new generation of citizens. The organ
iation which, in the course of nearly hum
dred years, has antagonized National suprem-
acy, emancipation, the War for the Union, re-.
construction, civil rights, the development OF
home industries on land and sea, works of in
ternal improvement, the settlement of the West
under the Homestead law, and the promotion
of American rather than European interests.
wants less legislation or none at all, whenever
any practical reform or useful policy is pro-
posed. All the landmarks of American prog
ress have been raised by those who were UNI
willing to remain idle and unconcerned when
beneicent results could be accomplished by
| legislation Their faith in legislation is in
spircd by an intense ardor for action. The De-
mocracy to-day. as it has always been, is the
party of inaction. Republcanism marches,
Democracy stands still.