The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-20
The Spice of variety.
From The Tribune.

From The Tribune.
Mr.. Johnson's opinions are wanted in Massa
chusetts upon several novel topics. He has a
kind of party in that State with no great vitality
to spare, made up mostly of the politically lame,
hatEand blind, with sprinkling of galvanized
ghosts. Although its chances of success may
be fairly stated at nothing at all, and perhaps
even little lower, it is going through the mo-
tions of campaign with indomitable gravity,
cCnvening, nominating, and addressing as if the
whole thing had In it an element Of reality, Ind
were not the sheerest bit of Qdxotry in the
world 1t does not rise TO the cheerfuness of a
torlorn hope; 1t has only the convulsive activity
OF despair, and is thus wi dly putting into its
programme not, indeed the beauty OF q vegeta-
bic diet, or the verify OF the spirituall applngs,
or me non-cOntaglous character OF CHOLERA, but
still Items OF IKE incongruOus and surprising
character. 1t evidently shrinks, bold as it is
from going TO the people OF Massachusetts, upon
national issues, Tor that wodld be TO invoke
upon ITS own head sentence OF death without
i've minutes reprieve.
SO its state Convention, after nominating for
Governor a Lowell lawyer VINO is unkno Tn to
lame, and likely TO remain so, sole nnly indorsed
the eleht-houF movement and as solemnlg re-
pudiated the prohibltory liquor law! Now, we
can understand that 1t is yohnsoniaD to support
the yetoes, 10 abuse Congress, and to try despe-
rately to get office; but IN what respect it is
Johnsonlan to support an eight-hour movement
or to oppose q prohiDitory liquor la v, passes
our comprehension. Has anybody ever been
informed OF the Presidents views, if he has
ventlon either smiingly or tearfuly take action
upon these topics? AND, the man matter being
the election of members OF Consress, for or
against my policy" is 1t not mere clumsiness,
or may be demagogy, to lug in by the ears these
local issues to make up for wretchedly bad
national politics?
There may be men in Massachusetts who are
quite wiling to get to Congress to be sworn
n n nd
accomplishing instruments of the President,
the ready registers of the Executive edits. This
we Go not object to If they can find people
enough in their districts who are sufficiently
FOOLISH or idiotc, or base to vote for them. If
they can get elected, let them take their seats,
and pocket their pay, and obey orders, aud be
as happy as they can. But such place is bad
enough without the additional shame of getting
into 1t by false pretenses. We admit that party
may be marked by great poverty OF principles,
and that the temptation to pick up. such as may
be found lying about loosely may be too much
Tor begoarly candidate; but we insist that in
such case ne should carry two wallets, and Gas
affairs are now should not try to make one bag
do duty both for the State and the nation. 1t is
mixing up matters a little too promis cuously.
The business of a Johnson member of Con-
gress will be to vote as the President may order
him to votes and as that functionary is not
famous for adhering TO his notions, the Lord
Only knows what a johnson member of Con-
gTess may be called upon to vote Tor or to vote
against. IT is impossible, therefore, for John,
son candidate for Congress to favor delighted
world with his creed. He may, possibly, know
what it is to-day, but ho " is ne to know what 1t
will be tomorrow? Under such delicate circum-
stances. he keeps as mum as may be ABOUT
Washington matters, and takes all possible ad-
vantage OF anything local which mag turn up.
But we hope that the people, not only in Massa'
chusetts, but in New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania,
Iowa, Indiana, will remember TO vote nation
diiY for national candidates, and be content to
express their view OF local legislation by their
votes for local candidates. 1t would be shame
full in such an emergency to lose SINGLE mem
ber, especially through such tricks and subter-
fuges as we have been noticing