Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 April 1885 — The Democratic Party’s Future. [ARTICLE]

The Democratic Party’s Future.

The Democratic party, coming into power ( after an involuntary retirement of nearly a quarter of a century, finds the moat auspicious conditions lor a successful administration of the Government The country is at peace, i The Treasury is full The public credit stands higher than evqg before. There is an abundance of currency which IS recognized as money all over the world. The United States holds a high place as a nation among the powers of the earth. The capacity of the American people for selfgovernment has been demonstrated, not only by the failure of the most formidable rebellion ever organized, but also by a peaceful revolution which has brought back to power the party which was chiefly responsible for the civil war. All the postbellum legislation has been formed ana construed with reference tb a National destiny. The resources of the country, the enterprise of the people, and the public confidence in the endurance of our institutions are all favorable to the prosperity of the ♦ party which to-day assumes the responsibility of government. On the other hand, the Democratic party is unquestionably embarrassed by traditional hetqpies and present dissensions. Its center of gravity lies in the South, which has always dominated its purposes and actions. The Southern Bourbon manifests a disposition to take his place in Washington with whip in hand, as he did in the days of slavery. He is still able to marshal a majority in th!e Democratic caucus. He has the same domineering and intolerant spirit which ruled the Democrats of the North up to the day of the Charleston convention, and destroyed them when they would no longer submit to Southern dictation. But the Democrats of the North are not so meek now as they were before the war. They will not be so content to play the part of “doughfaces.” They have become very largely imbued with the spirit of nationalism. They will resent the lash. That it will be applied is sufficiently evident from Judge Regan's outbreak against President Cleveland because the latter dared to express views on the silver question which do not accord with the prevailing sentiment in the Democratic church South. But the Northern Democrats, or at least a large proportion of them, have been educated in a sounder school of finance, taxation, and business,and they will not submit the affairs of their constituents to the impracticable methods in vogue or held in theory at thx South. Here is a seed of discord which will grow and spread rankness unless the leopard of the South has changed his spots. There are other elements of dissension in the Democratic party which will plague those who are trusted with the management of its affairs. The party is hopelessly divided on the tariff question. The free-trade wing is in the majority, bnt the protection faction has already proved its ability to defeat any movement in the direction of revenue reform. The agitation of the project for the repeal of the whisky and tobacco taxes will also array faction against faction. On the money question the Democratic party has for many years been the refuge for all the cranks and extremists, until it now includes in large numbers the goldites, the silver-mbnometallists. and the greenbackers. The greed for office will entail wide-spread dissatisfaction and bitter resentments. And the disappointment of those sanguine people who expected sudden access of good fortune from the “change" which was promised them from the stump will be a stumbling-block in the progress of theparty. • The success or failure of Cleveland’s administration will depend more upon his party than upon himself. If he were a man of large experience and distinguished ability he might exert an important influencs over the party’s course; as it is, there will be little for him to do but drift along with the current which the ruling element in ths party shall set in motion. The prospect is that the rocks will be numerous aud thssqualls ugly, and that before the four years' cruise is ended the American people will bt eager to return to their old ship—the Republican party—renewed in strength by rest and repairs.— Chicago Tribune.