New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-01
THE DEMOCRATIC CONSCIENCE


II what "The Ncw-York Times says j.
true. there is now on eXhlbition-placc not
named, but presumably at the anti-nidwintcr
headquarters in this city-somcthing funnIcr
than a barrel Of monkeys. II j. the aroused
conscience of the Democratic party. Details
are not given, but it is probably shovn under
a microscope with a magnifying power of
several thousand diamctcrs. II has sometimes
been asserted by students OF history who have
taken pains to examine the record Of the party
so far as it relates to questions Of morality
such. for instance, a selling men and women,
rcpudiating honest debts, encouraging all forms
of vice in order 10 exact tribute from them and
so on, that no trace of anything resembling
conscience could be found Others have main
tanned that originally it had a conscience not
healthy and well developed, perhaps but some
thing in the ncighborhood Of the digestive APP
paratus that was neither liver nor lights, and
consequently must be conscience. II was
usually torpid. but was liable 10 become active
during any stomach arrangement resulting
either from hunger or safety. There have
been times of internal disturbance when the
liver and lights have failed to work in unison,
and something has been elected after conSd
cradle rctchng that was thought to be the
conscience Of the party. rs only apparent
function is TO get itself thrown off when II
becomes active. IL never has affected the ap-
petite or disturbed the digestion. The fact
that this so-cacd conscience never remains in
the system when active, but is invariably eject
ed. lead, to the belief that il is not really an
organ, but something eXtrancouS probably the
work Of microbes Indeed some Of the abloSt
leaders in the party attribute tho present dis
turbanceS at Washington and at Albany en-
trely TO microbes, and are recommending heroic
treatment for them.
However that may be, "Thc Tines" is con
| idcnt that there is an actual conscience in the
party that it has been reused by recent events
into a state Of uncommon activity, and that it
is now on exhibition n II were. Wriggling.
From "Tho Illness" account Of what started
it up we infer that it is a kind Of baromctrcal
conscience, something that is especially Son,i-
tive to atmospheric conditions, "A sort Of FobnI-
ary conscience, that hibcrnatcs most of the
year but is liable TO wr;gglc into activity in
February 1t lay torpid under circumstances
that would have made an ordinary conscience
rise up and go through the chambers of the
soul sammng doors and breaking furniture.
| All the time Mr. Hill was working mp the con
spiracy to steal the Senate the Democratic con
science, if there be such a thing, was rs quiet
as the grave. He successfully carried out his
plans. cheated the people, stole the Senate,
rewarded his instruments and accompccs, put
the Legislature in the hands Of the Demo
cratic party, and with it the power, as he
boasted to pcrpctuatc itself in control. and the
a.. III mad
Nothing was ever dcadcr. No sign Of anything
like life or movement in it. The theory that
the party has no conscience seemed to be fully
| demonstrated.
But Hill called convention in February.
| Suddenly something stirred between the liver
and the lights, in The place from which the
party usually elects what has sometimes been
called it's conscience. There has been more
or less wrgging in that ncighboIhood ever
since "The Times" says it is the conscience
Of the party reused into activity by the snap
convention, and that it Is one OF the most en-
couraging things it has witnessed for long
time And our neighbor expresses the conylc-
ton that this unusual movement Of the con
science of the party will result in arouSing II
from the lcthargy which had come upon IL
"whilc Hill was binding it like a sleeping sam
SOM " 1t has broken his cords ana gree"
Withcs," says "The Times" and a>scrlcu IT.
self at last" What the sleeping samson -
going to do next, now that its conscience Is
aroused, does not appear. Possibly II Will p''
It's arms round the temple Of Dagon III TO"
feminist and bring down the whole S'r"o'u'o
on its own head and the heads OF thoSc "'o
have been having fun with it. Let us hUpo Do
But what funny little baropetlieai 'oN