The Democratic Party And The Presidential Contest
While wo approvo the zoal, we cannot quito indorso the judgmciit, of somo impulsivo Deinocruts who are not satisfied with tho reticent, expectant attitude wliich has thus lar been iuaintained by the groat body of tho party, including tho National Democratie Committee and its cool, sagacious Chainnan. Nothing could be more deplorable, at present, than a spasmodic, aggrcssive activity.' At a timo wheo events and the whole drilt ot political tendencies are opnrating in our favor, the party would make a capital blunder if it should take any stop, or attempt any movoment, which might interfere with the spontanoous developmont of public sentiment. It is all -important, in tho present stage of aff.iirs, that impulsiva party zoal b kept under tho restraint of sober judgmont and foresight. It is never wiso to buy in a falling or sell in a rising inarket. It would uot be enterprists, but folly, foi a merchant to buy a cargo of tea when the prieo of toa was steadily doclining ; nor, on the other hand, to make heavy sales whon the price was steadily rising. Everything both insido and outside oí the Democratie party is just now opurating in our favor ; and it is for the interest of the party to let these favoring tendencies have froe courso and operato without obstruction. The Democratie party is equally sure of its own three millionsof voters whotlier its Xational Convontion beheld early, or hold late. Thoro is nothing in the charactor or public oareai ot' Genera] Grant, sinoe he ha boen President] to entice Democrats into the EtcpublicaS lanks. On the oontrary, Grant is estraiirinii many of tho oldest and most trustcd leaders of his own party ; and an administra tion which repcls the ablest of its furmer supporters is not likely to make pr:sely tes trom the opposition. Wc do not thereforo need to bo early in tho neld to vont desertioiis trom our own ranks. Demócrata aro in no danger of joining the Repnblican party at a time when General Grant's administración is so bad that multitudes of h jiiest Kepublicans are constrainod to denounce it. We are secure of the full, undiminishcd vote of our own party whethor oor National Con vention bs hold in May or in July. Kotbins can thereforo be lost by tho " wiso and inasterly inactivity" of the Domoeratic National Committee. On the other hand, cvery month's dniay on our side helps to weaken and disintegrate the Repubiican party. So long as its Grant and anti-Grant factions havo no cali to unite against a coinmon enemy, they will keep up theiv quarrol with each other, and the longer this inliOülHJ war continuos the more irreconcihible the partios to it become. If tho Demooi atic party stands aloof until after the Cincinnati Gonvention, tho breach will by that timo be so wide that the Republicana can never be reunited. When our enemios are daily becoming wcakor by intostine división, and thcre is no danger of Damocratic desertions to a crumbling and di-ieredited opposition, it is safe and wi ie fca await the surely rising tide which promises to lift the Democratie ship trom tho bank on which it is stranded an 1 float it ín deep water without any tugs to draw it off. If the tido were ebbing instead of rising, we wouid advi.-jo a different policy. The Doicoeratic party is growing stronger evory day by mero inaction Another equally strong re isori for avoiding any precipítate moveiuent, is tound in the daily gmvth of a new sentiment in the Democratie party itself. The party is moro and moro inclinad to drop dead issues, emancípate itself froin an effete past, and co-oporato wHh all honest patnots in a strenuous eftort to reform the goveriimont. This fouling is gaining strength day by day ; and it is not oxpedient to hold tho National Convention until it shall havo reaehed its full m Uur ity. It muy be expediont (nobody can yet teil) to put an eminent Liberal liepubüean at the head of tho Domoeratic ticket ; !nd things prouiise to be ripor for such a movement four months henee than they aro now. Such a policy i fcteadily growing in Democratie favor, and the lator tho National Convention is hold the more hearty and unanimous it vü be in supporting this line of aotion if it should be j udged vise. Meanwhile, the party can loso nothing; for while Republieans are deserting from the sinking adiniaistration of Grant, there is not tho slightest danger that Democrats, who have oppc-icd itfioiu the begiiining, will deaertfo it. Even if we should at last organizo a etrict Democratie campaign with straightout Democratie oandldates, there is not the slightest danger that the party can be woaki-r.ed by de!ay. Do we then favor the so-callod passive policy? Not at all; we oppost' it now, as we havo opposed it olways. When tho proper time comes, the Domoeratic organization will take a very active and vory aggrossive part ín the ensuing Presidential oloction. It will hold its National Convention, as usual. It will nomínate its ticket in the regular ferm. By means of tho National Convention it will hold the party together as a united orginization, and OOtne into the eontest an unbroken, disciplined host The Democratie army will be kept equally woll in hand whetlur it gives battlo early or late. As the prospect no.vlojks, we may go into tho eontest with strong reinforeemonts and powerful allios ; and nothing could be more unwiso tlian to impair these chances by over-hasty action. We have full faith in the firmness, wisdom, and forethought of tho Democratie National Coinmittec, and ccnnsel Democrats to forlmai' all signs of impatience, when the drift of events and tho current of public sentiment are operating so strongly in our favor. Whilo we have no wish to inrlueneo, much loss to dictate to. the National Committee, wo aro prepared to support thom in postponing thoir cali for a National Convention for some time yet. Wo believo tho party may safoly trust the whole matter to their eulightened
Article
Subjects
Old News
Michigan Argus