Year: 1875

| plain prevaricatiOn, show the ire OF the
old feeling still burning-a fire which Is
not likely to ripen concord and tranquil
-lity, should it by success extend and Oh
| tain the mastery. Where in all the ora
tions and resolutions and leading arti-
! cles of the Democratic party for the last
| ten years is found any word of hearty
| American satisfaction that the rebellion
of slavery was defeated, and that every
man within the national domain is free
Again, and as another significant sign
of the times, there is the conduct of the
| Democratic party in Illinois and Nilsson
ri in regard to the public schools. In
the State of New York the Roman Cath
Ollie hostility to the public school system
has always depended upon the party. 1t
has been always the Democratic policy to
win the Irish vote, and to do it by grants
and favors to the Roman Church. The
Democratic gifts of the public money and
property in this State to that sect have
been enormous The party does not dare
to oppose the Roman priesthood to the
point OF incurring their hostility, and its
organs revile the exposure of priestly
politics an attack upon religious liber-
ty. But should the common school sys-
tenn ever be overthrown, it will be by the
Democratic party, as the price of the
Catholic vote. the first measure in the
sPctafian division of the school fund, and
the Democratic movem, mt to this end
especially in Illinois, is already powerful
and threatening.


These and such as these are the signs
of the times. Do they suggest the WIS
dom of a Democratic restoration? That
IL party strongest in the slums of great
cities and weakest in the most indus
trious and prosperous parts OF the coun-
try is not more truly representative of
American character and intelligence than
its opponents is obvious That the Dem
ocrat!c party OF the Union is in any de-
gree whatever more faithful to law, more
respectful OF the Constitution. more .jeal
Gus OF liberty, or more resolved upon
justice than the Republican is simply
absurd. Could the policy of Andrew
johnson have been carried out, and the
Democratic plan OF restoration, as shown
in the black codes and vagrant laws, have
been adopted, the situation OF the coun-
try, unhappy as it is in many ways, would
have been intolerable. The maintain
ance of the Republican organization OF
1876 can be contested, is therefore indis-
pensable


No man who has been supporter Of
the party during and since the war; how
ever deeply he may regret what he thinks





ency, can contemplate the possible sue
cess OF the Democrats without profound
uneasiness, and in the actual alternative
that is offered he will not readily re-
nouunce the only political organization
around which those who can defeat the
Democracy may be rallied. On the other
hand, the condition of that rally is plain
to the dullest mind. The elections have
shown that Republicans will not go it
blind, nor stick through thick and thin
to whatever may be done in the name OF
the party. Nothing is more evident than
THAT dangerous minority of Republi-
cans-very many more than those who
hold the balance OF power-would even
think Democratic preferable evil to a
Republican policy of desperation or OF
doubtful constitutionality inspired by
political sharpers and toadies. The con-
ciliation of firm adherence to declared
principles, trust in the American doc
trine of lawful local government, the
statecraft which. like the sailors skill,
makes even headwind serve, strict re-
gard for the indispensable conditions of
free government, patience, tact, forbear-
ance, are essential to policy that shall
reunite the Republican party. The times
are critical. Republicans are independ-
ent. Let the leaders be wise, and they
will find themselves supported by all the
old conviction and enthusiasm.