Year: 1878

SOlOn Senses the Situation.


"TheRepublican party" says Solon Chase,
in letter written after a survey of the politi-
cal situation in the West and read at the
Greenback jubilee in this city Wednesday
night, sis the only enemy in the field" And
the sentiment was echoed by every speaker
on that platform. They all chanted dirges
over the defunct Democracy, and the burden
of their war songs was the necessity of over.
throwing the sole remaining defender of a
currency based on coin-that is, the only de-
fender of the national honor and credit-the
Republican party. One man alone, Mr..
Rust, formerly Republican, spoke of the
National Democratic party of the future.
That must be something far different from
the National Democracy of the present, as de-
fined by the men who gathered in Faneuil
Hall Wednesday.


He who says that the Democratic party is
dead is perhaps reckless of speech; for that
strange organization has wonderful vitality.
1t has thriven upon defeat. 1t has lost hun
dred battles, and has come out of each one
stronger than it went in. But there is a gen.
eral conviction, and well-based, that it is now
reeling under its death-blow. Never before
did the Democratic party surrender its name
and its organization as it has in the Maine
election. 1t has made many and unworthy
compromises; it has entered into many dis
reputable intrigues. But even in 1872 it de.
family held to its name, and Mr.. Greeley was
everywhere recognized as the Democratic
candidate. Until now, 1t has insisted that
the men it bribed or cajoled should march un-
der the old historic banners, and 20
into battle shouting the old war-cres,
meanless though they were. 1t surren-
dered principle, turned its back upon the
political dogmas which gave it birth, even
consented that its cardinal doctrines should
masquerade under strange names, that State
rights should, in Difference to the prejudices
of old foes and present allies, be called local
self government and free-trade, be called a
tariff for revenue only; but it never before
consented to abandon its name.


Now it has given up even the name. Tie
surrender is absolute and complete. A fac
tion may stand out, as in Massachusetts, and
make brave attempt to save the old organi-
cation. But it is clearly minority. The
bulk Of the party has grounded its arms,
gone over to the Greenback ranks. The
speaker who predicted, Wednesday night,
that the old Eastern Argus, long recognized
as the organ of the party in Maine, would
be playing Greeback tunes in less than year,
is we hope, false prophet; but, illuminated
as his speech was, by the light of recent
events, it would be bold man who would
say him nay. For it is fact that over half
the Democratic party in Maine voted the
Greenback ticket this Fall. To the east of
the Kennebec there is scarcely corporaps
guard left. To the West there is but for
lorn hope. Before long, If not at once, those
forced to admit that the men who have gone
into the Greenback party have gone to stay.
They are forever lost to the Democracy.
Their quarrel is with both the old parties.
No prospect of national supremacy once i'm
minent, now far away, will bring them back
to the Democratic ranks. For the most part
they believe that the machinery of the old
parties is under the control of engineers whom
they cannot displace, and they are anxious
to get their own hands on the lever. They
dream of new party that shall govern the
country, and as the founders of that party
they hope to win the honor and profit that
are the due of pioneers.


1t will doubtless be some time before the
old Democrats, the men who have braved
disaster and obloquy, can be brought O re-
alize this changed condition. to perceive that
a new generation is shaping affairs.
Their reluctance to accept the change
is natural and pardonable. For with many
of them the aspirations of their youth, the
achievements of their manhood, the calm
honors of their age, are bound up and iden-
titled with the old Democratic party. But
what can they do? Where can they go?
The hosts Of dishonor and repudiation afford
no refuge for them. The followers of Jeffer-
son and Jackson can find no abiding place in
the tents of the Greenbackers. The very
name to which they clung so fondly is aban-
doned. In their old age they will not fall to
worshipping strange gods and bowling before
alien altars. Their lot must be with that po-
litical organization, whatever its name, which
seeks to maintain the good faith and good
name of the nation. In their regret even Re.
publicans who have fought them so long and
continuously may share. We have abhorred
their principles and distrusted their aims
but in the face of this new and menacing
danger to the honor and credit of the nation
the memory of old conflicts becomes dim.
We may not be ready, like Sumner, to strike
the names of past victories from our battle.
flags, but we are ready to-day to clasp hands
over all chasms with all who will put on
armor and join in the good fight for the pre-
servation OF the national faith.