Fair Play

Is Democracy Dead?

The Westliche Post seems determined to force upon its readers the impression that the Democratic party is dead, and in its issue of this morning insists in the swathing of the corpse in ancient memories and laying it away with the other relics of the past. The article we refer to is called "Attempts at Revival," and commences with the statement that it observed signs which indicate an agitation in favor of the return to the old Democratic regularity. "Our defeat," says the Post, "has shown that we had not gone far enough in abandoning old relations. The reorganization of the old Democracy would please none more than our present rulers. The opposition which has such good reasons for husbanding its strength can do no worse than consume that very strength in the vain efforts at reviving the old Democratic party. Every Democratic leader and organ ought to be convinced of its (the party's) miserable condition. The attempts to revive it would endanger the whole opposition. The Liberal movement has gained two points, a positive and a negative one. The positive consists in the acceptance of the result of the battle by the whole voting community. The negative is the destruction of the old party forms which served either for or against these results. The attempts to revive the old Democratic party would undoubtedly affect the Baltimore platform. Although such reaction might not be strong enough to enable the party to form into opposition against the present quantity of interest towards those aims which ought to be those of a practical opposition. The Democratic leaders must feel convinced that a popular opposition cannot afford the luxury of attempts at revival. It would be unpardonable foolishness, aye, a crime, to hesitate a moment before the choice between an old used-up organization and the new one to which the new spirit may give its own form. The more we stick to the old useless ballast, the less we shall be able to oppose the pernicious influences of the administration.

Are the interests which obstruct the clearing out of the old party traditions so very important?

"There are, first, the interests of office-seekers who do not bother about national defeat, if they do but succeed in local matters. Democratic regularity sees as yet fertile pastures in the fields of municipal administration, and for such purpose it is intended to abandon the great reform cause, and to increase thereby the power of Grantism. Above all other things, we must discourage, in the most determined manner all party claims upon municipal authority; aye, fight them, if necessary. Democratic regularity also must be thoroughly cancelled. Strict reformation of local politics all over the Union must be the precursor of a reformed national policy."

Now, this is all very well in its way; but does it not occur to our German neighbor that we ought to have some more tangible evidence of the existence of a Liberal party than was given at the polls on Tuesday, before we succumb to it. If the good old Democratic organization is to abdicate, let us be sure that the heir expectant is not still-born. - Dispatch.