The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-19

THE AGE AND THE LEGLSLA TURE.
The AGE is endeavoring to make partisan capital
out of the public indignation which prevails
against the Legislature. 1t gravely declares that
'stbis universally denounced body earned its ill
fame by the acts of its overwhelming radical
majority" The organ of the Democracy may
find it convenient to elaborate the theory that
all the Democratic Legislators were saints and
all the Republicans sinners but it shows little
respect for the intelligence of its readers, and
no regard whatever for its own consistency,
when it undertakes to exonerate the Democratic
members from fair share of odium. On the 9Th
inst, in denounciug the Cattle BILL it sad:-
"And yet such bills as the one we commenting
upon are supported by the Democrats, and passed
by the aid Of their influence and cotes. Such action
cannot be defended from Democratic point OF view,
and the masses ofthe party in this city are justly e1ced
and indignant at theconduct Of some Of their representa-
Hpes."
On the 10Th inst in commenting upon the
action of the Democratic Senators, McCandless
and Nagle, in supporting the Broad Street Track
bill, the Age said their excuse put them ''in bad
position" and that they should have informed
themselves before voting upon it." At other
times during the session it plainly indicated that
it was by no means blind to the fact, which is
palpabe to everybody else, that somel of the
favorites of the Democracy were quite as deep
in legislative mre as any of their Republican
associates.
The public interests would not be promoted
in the slightest degree by the substitution of
setyof ignorant or corrupt Democrats for ignorant
or corrupt Republican members and Senators.
What is needed is better and purer men from all
the districts, without reference to their partisan
complexion; and the Age is very far behind the
age if it is not perfectly conscious of the fact
that quite rs much necessity for reform and i'm
proyement exists in the localities controlled by
its own party as in any which are under the
control of the Republicans. By its own confess
sion it is as desirable to find worthy successors
for McCandless and Nagle, the Democratic Sena-
tors of Philadelphia as for Henszey and Connen
It would not require microscope OF very eX-
traOrdnary powers to detect spots upon the
record of the Democratic members from Pha-
delphia rs disgraceful as those which tarnlsh
the reputation of the Republican members of
this city. 1t is quite as probable that the Demo-
Gratis of Bucks could find better Democratic
representative than McKinstry, as that the Re-
publicans of Tioga and Potter could select man
superior to Strang; and it is as likely that the
Gibraltar of Democracy, Berks county, could
improve its delegation, as that a similar i'm
proyement could be effected in Lancaster county,
the stronghold of Republicanism.
No good, and possibly some HARM may be
done by systematic adherence to the policy the
Aqe seems now anxious to initiate. Indscri-
inmate denuncation of Republican members,
simply because they are Republicans, may lead
to an indiscriminate support of bad men, despite
their shortcomings and wrong -doings. Of thou
sands of bills presented in the Legislature there
are but a very small number that have any imme
diate bearing on partisan questions and one of
the greatest evils of the times is that corrupt
men of both parties combine to support iniqui-
tous measures prejudicial to the welfare of all
honest men, and yet manage to secure renomi-
nations and reflections by hypocritical profess
sions of devotion to one the other of the lead
ing political organizations of the country. They
are careful not to tread on the corns of their
partisan associates and they ostentatiously put
forward this one virtue of partisan fidelity as an
ample atonement for thousand crimes against
the State.
1t is questionable whether the Age can help its
own party by encouraging repetition of
worn-out devices. The people understand
thoroughly that relief must DO sought in the
nomination of better men on all sides, rather
than in the substitution of corrupt Democrats for
corrupt Republicans. The mischief inflicted, or
good done, by action few prominent
national topics, is but as drop in the sea of
iniquitous private bills which arc
supported by bad Democrats as well
as by bad Republicans. If the Democratic
members Of the last Legislature had all been
ygilant md spotless it would have been
scarcely possible to pass single law injurious
10 any portion of the State.