The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1878-05-21
Gerrylnandering.

these means nave come TO be regarded
as quite as legitimate among politicians
as among soldiers. '"All is fair in poll.
tics" appears to he about as well estab-
lished a maxim as "All is fair in war"
Not that it's morality will bear q mo.
ment's examination, but in practice it is
quite generally acquiesced in. The los
ing party. it is true, when despoiIed by
artifce usually vents its indignation loud,
Iiy, but promptly transfers the indigna-
ton to che other party at the earliest
opportunity.
Among all the political devices EN-.
ployed, from cheating an illiterare voter
to the usarpation Of the Presidency, no
other has been so regularly practised as
gerrymandertng Since the time when
ELBRIDaE GERRY, from whom it took its
name, was Governor Of Massachusetts,
lii would be fdlfaeslt 70 find an instance
in which party mapping State into
official districts has not used Its power
to increase its power. sa V 1ss EieglzI5,
Ohio has furnished examples of the
most outrageous injustice in districting
In 1882. Il we are not mistaken, the dis.
tricts we're constructed with the design
of giving the Democrats but three or
-four Congressman out Of twenty. one
In 1872 six were conceded to, them out
Of twenty. True the Democrats elected
more than these numbers under the sys-
tenn, BID, It was solely because of unfores
seen political changes. ,..a..,'.i 800. 90, e
The redistricting law which was enact
ed last week is not above reproach. No
one nov.a.days is simple enough to sup.
pose that any law for such a purpose
will be entirely just. iSelf-denial is not
a distinguishing virtue efFpolitical par
ties. hig ii 5n2 ,Eagg b2vo1qa sng ge,
The plain, unvarnlshed fact is, that
the State is again gerrymandered. True,
it is not so flagrantly unjust as was either
Of the gerrymanders made by Republi-
can Legislatures; and it is also trne that
this law was enacted under strong prov.
ocation. ga3 .Tcst,9 o,irfa f,.s.,,,- -.
First, there was the gross injustice OF
the act of 1879. which wrouged the DEM
ocrats out OF three or four members of
Congress TO which they were fairly enti'
tied. But had this been all, the evil
would probably have been endured by
this Legislature as it was endured by the
former Democratic Legislature But it
came to be known that q caucus Of Re
publican congressman had planned q
campaign for capturing congressional
districts which the Democratic political
managers promptly determined to coun-
teraot. This plan assumed the possibil.
itytof the next Presidency being decided
by the House Of Representatives., and to
secure q majority OF the members from
a majority of the States was regarded as
of the frst importance. The plan con.
Itemplated the. oaptnre OF North Carolina
as one point to make. The Democrats
proposed to counter this movement BY
gaining Ohio. At once strong press
ure from Washington was brought tc
bear upon members of our Legislature
and within ten days OF the time wher
the distributing bill had not ghost aof /
chance it was rushed through with . hur
rah. iis9eai I'd / gysU ,eieies.s A. ~
That the Democrats did not seize every
| district within their grasp may be as
cribed to their generous forbearance, ol
| it may be ascribsds to appreheusions o
possible disasterto the State ticket; bu
Whatever may have been the motive th,
present districting is more nearly fai
than any ever made BY q Republican
Legislature of the Stale. II we hay
/ figured correctly 1t gives the Republican
Ia to 1871 to IL would ohave approxima
tied strict justice. The Democrats hav'
therefore taken two more than they wer
entitled to. neiitga Bs 10 Cd a;4e
We opposed the redistricting becaus'
we anticipated . gerrymander. Now
that it is done, we are glad it is no worse
4 Perhaps there will never'he . politica
lpafty which will not seek more than il
own. Perhaps politicians will alwsy
laugh at those who have scruples agains
1.-THE employment of questionable mean
to gain power. But there is. an instinc
lof .fair.play in the average citizen whic
makes him more comfortable when b
feels that bis party Is wholly in therigh,
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