Year: 1877

party when cOuld not be drawn from its
standard, dead or alive. Indeed, we may
question if "a was 50 much of defeat as
was ~. Then the bulk ofthe Democrat.
ic party were in arms, Sighting against
the government. Later they were re-
stored to the rights Of citizenship and sail
ing under the false co!ors of Liberal Re
puhlicanism, a sentiment as foreign 10
their souls as the brightness Of noon day
is from the gloom of midnight. Democ-
racy had surrendered its principles when
it took its New Departure it had absn-
doned its organization when it ranged it.
sefunder the leadership of Greeley and
Gratz Brown. 1t was only reasonable
for Republicans TO suppose that the Dem
ocratic party, as party was dead, a- it
was already damned by its record. But
the cohesive power of ignorance, joined
with the hope Of public plunder, saved
Democracy for another struggle, and un-
der the howl Of reform" it showed it.
selfs pretty lively corpse. And now the
tune is changed upon Us and the papers
Of the great untcrrfed TEEN with the as
surances that it is tie Republican, and
not the Democratic party which has ach-
icved its last national victory.


Without seeking the motives for this
prophecy Of our erudite friends, we may
be pardoned if we say that such is not all


likely 10 be the case. The Republicans
had many things to weaken them as
party, chief among which was the long
lease Of power it had held. Without the
unexpected aid Democracy has received
from Mr. Haye-' policy, it is more than
probable that the "solid South" which
the Democrats claimed and sought to
carry by the most mOnstrOus means, will
be reality in the next election. The
character Of the Republican vote in the
South is such that it is now almost Who'll
ly at The mercy Of the higher classes Of
society. The Republicans are in the
main The negroes, who are attached to
the party which gave them freedom, but
now that the protection Of State law is
taken from them, they will not dare to
exercise their rights freely. Social as
tracism have done their work white
Republican in the South is, in many
places, rdIa dUjS We may rersons-
bly, took for this course of action to work
its natural results ; for a united delega-
ton 20 come up from the South, led by
the relics Of the old cbiyalry period
Such result will keep alive the the sec
tiOnal feeling which was for so many
years the curse of the country, but il may
be that it would lead to the permanent
downfall Of the Democratic party more
surely than would follow another success .
sion of reverscs on their part. The party
is now on its good behavior. and where it
does obtain lease of power, there are
usually enough cool heads in its counsels,
who know that the only hope it can have
of a national triumph is to keep the clov.
en- foot out Of sight, to direct its counsels
with some degree of wisdom. We should,
perhaps, except California from this cal
culation, for the Democracy of this State
are of the kind that learn nothing, and
after a victory act AS if the people were
not behind them.


The evidences Of the election in this
State shows that party ties set lightly up
on the masses OF both parties, Republ
can and Democratic. There is scarcely a
county in the State in which either party
has succeeded in electing its entire ticket


Colusa, with IFS 700 majority last year is
one exception, but in the generality ofthe
county elections the evidence is indispu-
table that the people prefer good govern
ment to party rule. So far as the disin-
tegration of parties is concerned, it affects
one rs much as the other. We do not
observe it so much in Eastern elections,
for in the New England States, men are
more "reliable" in party sense than
here. Politics Is more OF heritage than
with us. The father west we 90, the
| more do we experience liberaity OF
feeling which bodies no good to partisan
success. We may divide voters into
three classes the straight Republican,
| the straight Democrat and the larger
class than either, which aims only at the
! good Of the country, ard cares little by
what set of men its business is conducted


if conducted honestly and fairly. Here
| tOfore the votes of this class has mainly


been given to the support OF Ropubi


can nominees and principles, and il will
| continne to support them un!il it has bet.
1 ter faith IN Democratic professions than
| 1t has had for the last sixteen years. One
term in the Presidency Of Democratic
incumbent, backed by Senate and Con.
gress of his own party would be enough


to disgust all conservative men with The
rule of that party. AS before the rebel.
| lion the most piabe tools of the slave


breeders were the dough- faces of the
North, so IN the present we should find
the same State Of affairs. Let this come
around again, and 1t will not be submit.
tee to as patiently as ofold. Men are not
so bound by party obligations now as tc
wink at the sacrifice Of sectional honor tc
promote partisan ends.


There is more to be hoped from the
conservative tendencies Of Southern than
OF Northern Democrats. This is observ.
able IN the manner in which Mr.. Hayes
policy is received in the different sections


with Northern Democrats, it looks Il,
though the only thing acceptable about
it is, that it is in some degree to be looked
+ upon as as an endorsemnt of the Demo


cratic position. They are sorry If any


thing for it., and would rather have the