The morning call., 1890-07-08
PARTY PARALLELS.

4 bright writer in Belfords Magazine
discourses upon the intellectual inferiorty
of Democratic politicians to their Repubi-
can rivals and treats the fact as though
it were curious phenomenon, arising
from Democratic peryersity. A thoughtful
study of the subject would lead him to dis
cover that it is the fruit of circumstances.
Political ability is developed by expert
ence and ripened by the possession of pow
er. The art OF governing cannot be ac-
quired in the privacy of a library 1t is en-
gendered by friction in the rough-and-tum-
BILE of political strife, and it is matured by
the responsibility which office involves. a
politician who is always in opposition never
masters practical politics. He is not meas
ured in his language, nor careful in bis pol
icy because he realizes that he may blum
der without having to pay the penalty Of
his blunders, whereas members of the
dominant party always have before them
a sense of responsibility for their acts and
their words, well knowing that blunders
will recoil on the party of which they are
members, and will quickly. eliminate them
from the list Of leaders.
Before the war the government Of this
country was generally administered by
Democrats. There were periods of inter
regnum when the Wings held sway. But
power was so constantly in Democratic
hands that Democrats were educated in the
faith that on them deyolved the duty of
conducting public affairs, and, slavery ques-
tons apart, they were, consequently, as a
rule, careful, wise and prudent. OF the
Wing leaders of the period from 1880 to 1860
hardly any left an impress on their times.
There were bright men among them-Clay,
Webster, Everett, Seward and others, men
whose natural abilities were perhaps larger
than those of most of their opponents
but their opportunities of administra-
ton were so rare that their political educa-
ton always remained incomplete.
The war Of the rebellion ensued, 1t was
conducted by the Republican party, the
Democrats in Congress cOnining them
selves to making aSsullen opposition to
necessary measures; and when the war
was over the work Of reconstruction re-
manned, as was proper, in Republican
hands. For over twenty years Republi-
cans conducted public affairs and learned
their business thoroughly. During all
these Y ears the Democrats had no opportu-
nifty of educating themselves in the science
of government. Their role was subOr-
dinate. and they were held responsible for
slavery. Is it any wonder that they have
not to-day leaders of equal caliber to the
chiefs Of the party in power?
When it deyolved upon Mr.. Cleveland to
constitute a Cabinet he took into it two ex-
rebels and one ex-cOpperhead. He was
warned that the selection would not be
palatable at the North. There were not at
that time many Northern Democrats who
were fit to be intrusted with the control OF
a department Three Northerners whom
he did choose were unknown men, ut
terly inexperienced in Federal politics.
The race of able Northern Democrats who
had been available before the war had be-
come Republicans or had died out. AS
with the President, so with Congress and
with the people. Mr.. Carlisle could not
find in the House Northern Democrats Of
ability sufficient to be trusted as Chairmen
of leading committees. Whenever the vicis-
STUDIES of political opinion enabled the
Democrats to carry a Northern State the
representatives whom it sent to Washington
were children by the side Of their Republi-
! can colleagues. We know how il is in this
State. Even the most enthusiastic Demo-
crat Will not claim that Mr. Hearst and
Mr.. Clunie are the peers Intellectually OF
the Republicans with whom they have to
grapple