Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-10-20
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The Annual spasm in Massachusetts,

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The Annual Spasm i'm Massachusetts,.
Every year in Massachusetts, new politi-
cal party is organized and it is remarkable
that this is always done about the time when
the fall OF the leaf is so touchingly suggestive
Oh the death and decay Of human projects.
The conceptive and parturient process, if we
may trust our own observation, is as follows ::
Several hundred gentlemen issue call Sew
eral hundred gentlemen nominate in conven-
ton, state ticket. Upon election day sew
eral hundred gentlemen vote for that ticket.
And that is the last you hear of the matter.
The several hundred gentlemen fall back up
on their Otiose dignity, and involve them
selves in their virtue.
1t must be admitted, however, that this
year the mountain is uncommonly laborious,
and a mouse rather larger than usual may be
expected. The call for peoples conven-
ton" on Tuesday next contains curious ar
ray of names; and it is a queer fact that we
find our late friend, Henry j. Gardner, the
great original know nothing, cheek-by-jow
with Patrick DOnahoe, the Roman Catholic
bookseller We do not care much for Gov.
Gardeners feelings at this Unprecedented con-
junction, but we are really sorry for Mr. Don
ahoe, who is a respectable man. We can
imagine no more beautiful instance of Chris
tan forgiveness than this presents. Mr. Pat
rick Donahoe must remember the compliment
tary things which Gov. Gardner once said or
sustained others in saying, of the Roman
church, of the pope, and of Irishmen-he
must remember the Legislative visitation of the
catholic ladies' school in Roxbury-he must
remember Mr.. Joseph Hiss and his noble
company-he must remember the effort made
to render Irishmen aliens in Massachusetts
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lovely talent for forgetting.
One numerical fact in regard to this call for
''people's convention, is remarkable, which
is that the people do not appear to call for it
at all. There is a long list'of names, looking
shockingly like an advertisement of letters re-
naming in the post office; but one sees at
glance that these are of the people,
mo more than church steeple
Is Boston or New York.
Boston is remarkably well represented;
so is its vicinage, including Roxbury, Cam
bridge, Charlestown, SOmerville and Chelsea,
but only about fifty towns besides these figure
upon the roll, leaving about two hundred and
fifty towns, the citizens of which were either
not asked to sign the call, or declined to do
so. Reckoning with ordinary care, we find
1913 names attached to the call, and of these
more than half, viz ST. are Boston names.
markedly strong bottom for the new party.
Our investigation discloses the fact that a
good many people in Boston and in its vicinity
dislike John A. Andrew, but there was little
need Of the resurrection of all these dead folks
to tell us that. We knew it sufficiently well
before.
Now let us see what these gueasy gentle
men who in this time of the nations danger,
desire to involve Massachusetts in local
squabble, have to say for themselves. They
have issued an address which begins by in
forming us that ''the country is in danger"-a
solemn fact, which we cannot gainsay. But
the councils of the country are directed by
men of large power and larger wickedness,"
which means that Charles Sumner and Henry
Wilson are wicked fellows-and so they are
for getting themselves elected to the senate,
when Mr.. Winthrop failed to accomplish that
desirable object. But here is the cream of
the cream-it is too rich to dilute =
''For the first time the loyal states are in
vaded by a victorious army, and our cities are
taken and occupied by the enemy; they are
laundering at the very gates of the capital;
and our brethren of the great and prosperous
middle states are threatened with the instant
horrors of war at their very hearths."
Wherefore, it will be necessary to elect a
new governor in Massachusetts. Q. E. D.
only we don't see how! Then, too, this would
have been first rate, week before lastl but it
is the fate of these gentlemen always to be
mouldy, and though they may rise and walk
quite friskily, they can never get the smell of
the grave altogether out of their garments.
AS our cities are not occupied by the enemy,
and as he is not performing his tonitrous
tattoo upon the gates of the capitol; and as
the middle states seem to be quite able to
4,1-1 IL, IL. Il
feet Of the above otherwise beautiful bit of
writing will be quite spoiled by its tardy UNI
timeliness.
Now for the knot of the address, for our
space is too mited to permit an examination
of all its flatulencies. sit is no time" we are
told, ''for party names. Party must be given
up. Names must be abandoned. And so
forth!' The convention, them which these
people propose to hold on the 9TH prox., will
solemnly resolve that it is Nothing to No
body, that it will nominate ticket, which
everybody must support-because if one man
votes against it-lo we have party and are
as badly off as ever. The trouble being in
Fparty names" there will be no resource for,
this party which isn't party, but to take the
name OF the anonymous party. There are
probably a few electors in Massachusetts,
who, even after this pathetic appeal intend,
Will all ODtuSSuGSS NIICH ID very ulSCIGulld-
bic, to vote for Gov. Andrew and the rest of
the Worcester ticket. What then will this
amiable convention with all its exquisite in
tentions, with all its boundless patriotism and
with all its remarkable self-denial, do but in
tensify existing hostilities, and render mis-
chievous discussions and differences which
are now at least harmlessI What can they do
but make canvass? They say that now is the
time for fighting, not theorizing. Well, cannot
they fight withouta convention in Faneuil hall /?
Ii Henry j. Gardner does really hunger and
thirst for battle, who holds him? If Joel Par
ker wishes to be a major general, let him say
so, for nobody will think of appointing him
until he asks for a commission. One would
suppose from the tone of this address that the
convention intended to meet merely to volun-
teer in body. But the delegates will hardly
do it. We intend to question neither their
patriotism or their valor-but they will hardly
do it. They will pass resolutions, like other
delegates. They will emit speeches, more or
less eloquent like other delegates. They
will nominate state ticket, like other dele
gates. And they will go home to support it,
like other delegates. They are hardly supe-
Tior to the instincts of human nature. They
may he all Catos and not ono of them q Ser