The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1891-12-24
pruoonArrc aAnprnoop.

We have often tnouGnt stnat sne
spectacle presented BY the Demo-
cratic party In posing - . party Of
principle and right was one Of the
most outrageous and impertinent
pieces Of presumption ever heard OF
since the world began. It's gall on
nerve, as the slang phrases have 1t,
IL something sublime. 1t is the
party whose very history from the
earliest times Of the government has
been identified with the chronic
kickers, the obstructionists the va
cillators and with those who sought
to rend the nation asunder. At this
time, when this party IL putting
forth extra effort to do something
for itself, for Its only aim 10 self in
terest, 1t might not be amiss to re-
view some Of its history.
Its relation with secession, and its
"principle" that . state has right
to secede is now ancient history, and
we must not mention that because
1t would be "waving the bloody
shirt" and that has very much the
same effect upon q Democrat, as
waving q red flag at q bull. Then
there IL the Democratic party's re-
cord when 1t consorted with the
"divine institution" of human
slavery; but that lie also forbidden
because 1t indicates that we are very
contemplate to even hint at such a
thing, although its truth cannot be
denied. Beside, we must 'let by
cones be by-gones."
1t IL not necessary to refer to the
past to show up the Democratic
party In its utter lack of anything
akin to principle, but the law that
like produces like IL something that
cannot be gone over without notice.
All that the Democatic party Is now
IL has honestly inherited, and 1t is
the legitimate successor ofthe Demo
cratic party Of q generation ago.
Take for example its actions in Ohio,
Indiana and Michigan where the
Democratic legislatures have so dis
tricted those states that 1t almost in
sures Democratic success in legisla-
tive or congressional elections. Had
such an act been committed by Re-
publican legislatures their party
would have repudisted them or else
the mass Of people who vote the Re-
publicanticket would have repudist-
ed the party.
Tammany in New York and the
Louisiana lottery in New Orleans
are two potent factors in the Demo.
cratic party that never had theil
equals, or their like In the history OF
the worlds politics. Both sre &C
corrupt, SO plainly and boastfully
strong and unblushing in their mis-.
deeds as to be q menace to the future
prosperity and even the life Of the
republic. And this is the De-
mocrstic party that claims all the
honesty and patriotism, and asks the
support Of the people.
There is one thing that always
marks the Democratic party,
and that is, cowardice. What fur.
Their evidence is needed than the
election Of Crisp for speaker. Ever
since Grover Cleveland issued his
famous tariff reform message" tc
congress four years ago the party has
been committed to q reduction Of
tariff duties. In support Of this doc
trine the man who represented 1t &C
cording to the Cleveland idea be-
came q candidate for speaker Of the
house, o house they claim was cleo
ted by the people as an endorsement
Of tariff reduction, and yet they dare
not elect Mills speaker, because be
represented the idea honestly and
squarely. Instead they temporized
with the opposite element by choos'
ing q man who wants the tariff taken
off Of hens eggs, string. beeswax and
whisky, and leaving the remainder
as IL stands.
So then, IL there is anything good
in party that has among its sins
the attempt to steal the New York
Legislature, the attempt to straddle
OH the financial question. bulldozine
Of colored men i'm the south, gerry.
msndlring and juggling Of legisla'
tive and congressional districts in
the north, and many other things we
have not mentioned, 1t may come
out in time, and for the present we
will be forgiven for treating that
party with suspicion.