Year: 1872

success of the Republican party in til.
coming fall elections-though as to New
York the contest was considered doubt
full in the view of the bitter quarrel ex
isting between different factions of thai
party. However, at that time the infa.
nous frauds of the Tammany Ring
composed as it was of both Democrats
and Republicans, had not been made
public, and we could not foresee the ex.
igency that would bring together such
men as Horatio Seymour and Horace
Greely in support of a common ticket.


The result, however, of all the elec-
tions, (save in the case of Texas, where
the Democrats were successful for the
same reason that the combined honesty
of parties was in New York, viz: because
of the rascality and the thievery of the
party in power) was conclusively in fa-
vor of the Republicans, and must logi-
cally be considered an endorsement of
General Grants Administration.


Following these elections, no one can
fail to see the unmistakable signs of the
absolute disintegration of the Democrat
ic party. Logically that party had to die.
It had abandoned every thing of appar-
rent individuality, in adopting what was
termed the New Departure, and like the
old Wing party. when it adopted the
Democratic platform in 1852, it gave up
all claim to vitality by conceding its op-
ponent to be right.


In after years, when the passions en-
gendered by the war of the Rebellion
shall have absolutely died out, the i'm
partial historian will write the history
of this grand old party, and every line
will bear witness to its faithful attach
ment to the Constitution and laws un-
der all circumstances. 1t will be found
to have been the party of progress, the
party of strict construction of delegated
powers, the party that never sought to
justify an act upon the pretext of expe-
diency, or faltered in its devotion to the
Republic as established by the Fathers.


Recognizing the rights of the South
ern people under the well-known and
conceded Compromises of the Constitu-
ton, it breasted the fanatical attacks of
the Northern Abolitionists, and was un-
justly styled the Pro-Slavery party.


Resisting the attempt of the seeding
States to set up a Government basedupon
slavery upon American soil, the Demo
cratic party supplied by far the larger
share of men to the Union army. But
for this fact, well known to all intelii-
gent observers, the war of the Rebellion
would have been closed in ninety days,
as predicted by Mr.. Seward-but would
have been closed by the success of the
Rebellion and the establishment of the
Confederate Government. 1t gave like
wise to that army Grant and Sherman,
Sheridan and Rosecrans, Thomas and
Halleck, Anderson and Crook, from the
regular army, and thousands of Douglas
Democrats to lead Democratic bayonets
in the battles for the Union.


1t claimed no reward for doing only
its duty, and made no blatant boast OF
Its loyalty to Republican institutions.
Still it never got credit from its oppo-
nents for either sincerity of motive OF
practical achievement in the line of du-
ty. At the best, therefore, during these
latter years, it has been useful only as a
check upon the extravaganza and cor
ruption of the dominant party, having
be EN- wholly unable to inaugurate OF
carry out any practical measure of re-
form. f .t,l


Yet it must not be supposed the Re-
publican party will have no antagonist.
To concede such fact, wonld be to
write its own dissolution. for it could
rot exist for a single. year if the pres
sure of antagonism was removed.


All signs now indicate that what is
termed the "Passive Policy" will be
adopted, which is practically this: The
Democratic party will make no nomi-
nation, but passively await the action
of the Republican National Convention
and of the Conservative Reform Con-
vention; this latter to be composed OF
those like Carl Shurz and Horace Gree
ly, who have despaired of the capacity
of the Republican party, as at present
organized to deal with existing abuses,
and then quietly recommend the nomi,
nees of the latter Conv 'ntion to the
rank and file of the Democracy for thei1
support.


This hypothesis, however, is based
upon the nomination of General Grant,
an event which seems foregone con-
cIuslon-one of those few coming
events which cast their shadows before.
But it can hardly be expected by the
most bitter opponent of the Administra-
ton, that any combination of elements
in antagonism to General Grant, can be
successful in 1879, unless, indeed, the
present Congress shall fail to inaugu-
rate practical measures of reform in the
civil service, and give some earnest of a
SINCERE design Of carrying on the Gov