The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-05-25
TUESDAY, MAY 95, 1869.
rgE DELEGATE ELECTIONS.

THE DELEGATE ELECTIONS.
1,,,p period for electing delegates to nominate
Republican candidates for the various local
Offices is rapidly approaching and the necessity
of forming good tickets cannot be too strongly
IMPRESSED upon the body of the Republican
voters as well as the wire-pullers. We trust that
the interest in these preliminary proceedings
will be greater than usual; that public-spirited
citizens will make Jealous efforts in every ward
TO secure the election of honest and intelligent
delegates and that an earnest determination will
be evinced to choose nominees that will worthily
represent great and noble political organiza-
tjon. We are not unmindful of the Obsta-
cles to a genuine and full expression of the
better sentiment of the party at these
preliminary gatherings; we know how apt
they are to fall under the control OF
the worst men it contains, either through fraud
corruption, or neglect, and we fear that they
will never properly perform their functions until
they are regulated by laws similar to those which
govern general electiOns but we still hope that
all will be done that is practicable under the
present system to exclude weak and wicked men
from the posts of honor, and to present To the
public a ticket that will not awaken the blush of
shame upon the cheeks of honest men. If, how
ever, this hope proves falacious, and if the con-
VenIlODb,
use their transient power to foist upon the COM
munity nominees who are notorious only for
intellectual imbecility conjoined with corrupt
rapacity, they may as well know in advance
that their action will be Indignantly
spurned at the polls, and that their labors will
result only in the overwhelming defeat OF the
organization they profess to worship, but which
they in reality do more to injure than all its
open adversaries in Philadelphia. We are not
wanting in devotion to the principles of the Re-
publican party. We rejoice in its triumphs and
mourn over its defeats. We love to contribute
TO the success of its standard-bearers in great
national contests and to record its local victo-
ries ia all cases where il deserves success. But
if the contest is to be narrowed down to a mere
question whether corrupt partisan haridans, pro-
Tossing Democracy on the one hand or profess
ing Republicanism on the other, are to be sent
to Harrisburg to grow rich on ill-gotten gains
and to trfe with the great interests of the State
it will be rs well for the present, and far better
for the future, to leave the Democracy
bear the whole burden of this shame
and to keep the Republican party
clear of the disgrace of putting knaves and
fools into high Offices The lesson has been
taught over and over again that there is a limit
to the endurance of large body of the Repub-
lican voters, and that on some occasions they
will not be driven or cajoled into the support of
weak or infamous candidates, though their mise
rable pretensions be bolstered up by fifty nomi-
nations; but this feeling is now stronger than
ever, and any clique or combination that at
tempts to defy it will commit not merely a
crime, but what in partisan morality is even
worse, blunder. We know no section of the
Union in which the Republican party has
Ind
in Philadelphia. Year after year its strength
has been weakened and its success imperiled
by weak or Objectionable candidates; and if
something is not done speedily to arrest this
downward tendency, it may soon become as
hopelessly Democratic as New York. Thou
sands of men who prefer the Republican party,
and would willingly contribute to its local rs
well as its national success, are at the same time
too conscientious and patriotic to knowingly
vote for worthless, weak, or corrupt candidates
simply because they are labelled Regular nomi-
nees." Rendered indignant by repeated outrages
upon their good nature, they are in no mood for
tame submission to new indignities The Re-
publicans of this city cannot possibly achieve
general triumph without their assistance, and
that assistance will inevitably be withheld from
every candidate who cannot be truthfully en-
dorsed as honest, capable, and reliable. In view
of the results of the last city election, and the
scandalous conduct of many of the Republican
members of the Legislature it is more important
now than ever that the true friends of the Re-
publican party should endeavor to redeem its
sinking fortunes. The path to victory can be
opened only by good nominations If the organi-
zation falls under the control of men who are
wicked and foolish enough to select bad candi-
dates these schemers will only disgrace them
selves and injure the party, without bene-
fitting their favorites. However anxious
good citizens may be for the safety
of ship that goes to sea- while she is under the
command of an honest captain and an honest
crew, and while she is rendering good service,
if the vessel falls into the hands of pirates who
use her only to prey upon peaceful commerce, a
universal prayergoes esup for her capture destruc
ton. 1t is with feeling akin to this that thou
sands of intelligent voters are now regarding the
preliminary movements in the Republican party
If tickets are framed which deserve support, al
immense body of voters will sustain them if tn,
energies of the organization are perverted TO tn
use of plunderers it viii suffer the penalty Of de
feat.
arm ATOnEPN pHA PJSEES