Year: 1874

The Democratic leaders will make wOeful
mistake if they construe their OTcrwhelm-
ing successes in the Fall elections as due to
the record, the practice, or the profess
sions of their party. A wOeful mistake from
partisan point of view, as, If we may trust
history, it would lead them into such reckless
ness and excesses as would destroy public con-
fidence and prove fatal to their hopes for the
future; wOeful for the country inasmuch as it
would 90 far to prove the futility of all move
ments for political reform. 1t has happened
heretofore 80 invariably as to become almost
proverb, that the Democratic party has
been ruined by partial successes. 1t has
shown no capacity for self-resraint or mod
Grafton. EngrOssed in the pettlness OF
dividing the spOils or yielding to the
passion for revenge over the griets and
hatreds which the years of its fierce. vain
struccles have engendered, it has not under
taken in any broad sense to administer
government, to grasp or even to look out
upon the future in manly fashion and with
clear, honest vision.


There are indications that it has learned
something from the experience OF disasters
which in past years have followed so close
upon the heels of temporary successes. The
character of the candidates presented is OF
much higher average than heretofore, and
there is an apparently increased sense of respon-
sbility on the part of those who are considered
leaders. This fact has encouraged many to
vote with them who are not by any means
Democrats, and who may never vote the Demo-
cratic ticket again. Thousands of Repub-
licans in the States which have held elec-
tions this Autumn have voted for Demo-
Gratis as the only fit expression OF their dis
gust for the sins and fOllies of the Grant Ad-
ministratiOn. Democratic leaders will be very
unwise to count these or any OF them as new
recruits. They have signed no enlistment pa
pers, have neither abandoned the old party
nor given up the old name. They are still
Republicans, and 80 count themselves however
much the CustOmhOuse patriots may call
them traitors and denOunce them as rene
gades. These are the men who have given to
the Democratic party in the recent elections
whatever of hope it has of continued sue
cesses The judgment that leaves out Of the
consideration this very important factor. or
treats it as of slight moment, will be fatally
blind and stupid.


The Democratic party has been, not restored
to public confidence, but used, by voters who
would not dare trust Il utterly, as an instru-
ment for discipline IL is on trial, and will be
for the next two years. And its opportunity
is TO show that it has learned something; that
il has forgotten the things which may wisely
he forgotten, and that it is entitled to some
larger use in politics than merely that Of q
check and restraint upon the recklessness of
the party in power. Dangers beset it on every
hand. Its managing men are very hungry,
and many of them not over scrupulOus. The
disposition to 60 into q general debauch over
the encouraging prospects OF the party will be
quite general and it is an open question
whether there is wisdom enough or sober
sense enough to resist it. On the other hand,
it will be well enough to remember that
the same causes which have hereto
fore produced Generalization among the
Democrats have often taught their oppo-
nents wisdom and discretion, and that
under the discipline of reverses they have cor
rected their errors and regained the confidence
of tho people. What has happened be-
fore may happen again. The Democratic
marty has been admitted little way into
public confidence. 1t is not strange that those
interested in its success should be jubilant
over the results of the recent elections. But
it must temper somewhat the joy of the
thoughtful citizen to think that the whole
meaning of it is comprised in the statement
that it was choice of evils. We are not Cf
those who have full confidence in the
ultimate success OF the Democracy. The
strength of the party has been in its
name and its traditions. and in the
| unquestiOning allegiance and hide-bouDd par
tisanship of its rank and file. The day for
all that has passed, at least so far as present
organizations are concerned. The period
of realiirmng and pointing with pride is
pretty mu.L over. Tha voter Of TODAY Looks