The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1872-05-03
THE LIBERAL MOVEMENT,

ticle on the Liberal" movement is taken
from the Baltimore Sun of the gath April
1t expresses in amost happy manner the SEN
timents of those who, while they are fully
aware of the fact that it is impossible to pre-
vent political Bohemians from attaching
themselves to any movement that promises
success, still, for the cause and the benefits
arising from its triumph, while the connec-
ton is tolerated, it must be with the under
standing that tricksters and time servers
must not aspire to be leaders. The SIN says:
1t is notat all surprising that the liberal"
movement, as it gains strength throughout
the country, and increases in importance and
significance should begin 10 attract the ut.
tention and to enlist the rather questionable
support OF some Of the mere camp followers
OF party, who are always ready to serve any
cause which holds out Il promise Of booty and
pay. Although il is precisely this corrupt
ing and degrading feature of our poitics-the
distribution OF offices among those who have
no claim to them except on the score of party
servces-tlat the liberal " programme pro-
fesses to discountenancc and discourage, it is
none the less true that if the liberal leaders
should be successful in preventing the hun
cry crew of place hunters and spoilsmen
from attaching themselves to the skirts of
the Cincinnati convention, they will have ac-
complishcd something nearly akin to n mira
Gle
Just in proportion as the liberal move
ment promises to be success will be the
eagerness of the mere trading politicians-of
those who make living by politics--to
make friends with the new party. We speak,
of course, of those who are not already ire
,lu al To la Of 40
present administration, and who, having
made their bed, must needs lie in it. The
floating element of politics-that which owns
no certain allegiance to men or principles
but drifts from side to side according to the
direction of wind and tide, will undoubtedly
cleave to that which is, or seems TO be, the
strongest These men are the barnacles and
parasites of our political system, and their
adhesion to either party may be accepted as
strong :" sign Of the times AN indication,
at all events, as to what they expect the re-
suit will be.
OF course, the spectacle of these kites and
vutures--the carbon birds of party-gather-
ing together to support OF champion cause
which processes to be the cause of public pu
rity and reform, is not particularly edify-
ing one. 1t is not agreeable to men who are
acluated only by honest and patriotic mo-
tives to be called on to co operate with such
people, much less to follow where politicians
of this class aspire to lead.
But so far as we can Judge, the evil is to
some extent inevitable. When the rogues
toss up their hats and cry hurrah for reform
the only consolation the genuine retormers
can take is that the cause of reform bids fair
at all events TO be popular one. The eau
ton which such a state of things inspires is
II prudent care lest the cause itself Shall be
shipwrecked and ruined by these unWclcome
| but unavoidable adherents. Such an appre
| hension the true reformers throughout the
country must necessarily feel, wherever they
| find the reform movement oStentatiously ia
ken under the wing and patronage Of those
whom they have no reason to trust, and per
haps every reason to distrust. And in this
respect as we have said, the liberia" move
ment promises to be no exception to the gen
eral rule and experience in all similar cases.
| When the Cincinnati convention meets we
shall not be surprised TO see there some Of
the real dyed. in the-wool sort of old political
"hunkers" and professional politicians, who
are known to bear no allegiance save to their
bread and butter. The disappointed men in
politcs-the men who have tried often and
have failed, and who hail with joy the pros
pect of any division or movement i'll the po-
litical field which may give them the chance
| OF another cut ana zeal OI OIIlCcS VIII Dc lncfc
in force. For all this, the true friends of re-
form need not despair. For all this, if they
have any experience of human nature, and
particularly of political human nature, they
will be prepared, and know how to govern
themselves accordingly, The adhesion Of
such people they cannot prevent, nor, as cleo
lions go by votes, and are determined by ma
iorities does it necessarily follow that it
would be desirable to do so. Their leader
ship, however, and their assumption to direct
and govern, they can only submit to at the
imminent risk and peril of having their cause
COMPOUNDED with the men who represent it,
and ruined by the bad auspices under which
it is presented. This is very serious dan
ger, and one we should imagine, which can
not escape the attention of the better class of
Liberal republicans" 1t is impossible to
separate in the minds of many persons the
merits of Il cause from those of the individu-
ais who are its champions and advocates.
Certainly when professions of honesty and
purity are made, and promises are held out
of signal reformation to be wrought in the
politics of the country, men may be excused
for estimating the value and sincerity of such
professions and promises, in some measure,
at least, by the character of those who utter
them. We have spoken heretofore of the
principles involved in the o-caled "liberal y
movement. We call attention now to the
agencies by which the success of the move
ment, if at ALL is TO be secured, and the inn
perative necessity there is that those agencies
shall be worthy of the principles which they
are designed to promote.
Q