Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-06-30
A Party That Needs Repairs.

There is nothing more cheering in pol
itical affairs than the lesson that is so
frequently taught aspiring candidates
for the presidency, that it is not prize
to be gained by wrestling for it. This is
the bright aspect of the dark horses
successes which are SO frequent, and
which we grumble at while we welcome
them. They are not an unmixed good,
because they are apt to introduce fellows
like Hayes, of contemplate parts, into
the presidency. But we can better afford
to take this risk than to put upon the
country a self-seeking statesman with
great body of interested retainers behind
him. who carry his flag for their profit
and strive to secure his nomination in
very indecent way. 1t is a fight for the
spoils in which fortunately there are
several contending parties who scratch
each others eyes out, until finally the
prize they contend for slips away to
someone who has not striven for it at all.
1t is a just retribution upon the selfish
politicians, and the merited fate of the
party they serve, to he strangled at their
hands as the Republican party was
strangled by Garlield's nomination at
Chicago.
It is time that it went to the "demni-
ton bow-wows." Its twenty years of
excesses have worn out all its virtue and
it needs to be retired for repairs. 1t has
been living a lingering existence for some
years entirely upon the memory of its wal
record. 1t has caused itself to be credit.
ed with the country's salvation by arms
and has covered with this reputation its
multitude of sins. With soldier like
Garfield as it's candidate now, who had
but a brief experience in the army and
resigned his commission for more CON-
Portable berth in Congress, the
Republican party will have great
difficulty in keeping the vantage
they claim from their rebellion record
against the Democratic party under the
lead of one of the greatest soldiers of the
war. They cannot do it with apOOr sol
dier against one of the best and an assail-
able record against one of the most unas-
sailable. The Republican prospect seems
a very hopeless one. And when we
add to this the evident lack of harmony
among the leaders and their distrust and
dislike of the nominee, we have abund-
ant reason for the confidence generally
felt that Hancock and English will be
elected.
PENNSYLVANIA may be relied on for
Hancock. She never deserts her own Sons
and always votes for the successful CAN
didate for president. There is everything
in Uancock's record to encourage and
stimulate the state pride which will tend
to give him so many votes from citizens
who are less partisanS than PennsylVa-
mans. Party ties are very weak just
now. There is no very exciting issue
between the parties, and consequently
the ranks are swelling of the independ'
ent voters who will vote according to
their impressions of the candidates as
men. There are very many Republicans
to be found who say that it will do thell
party good to be beaten. We have heard
this said by very prominent men in the
party in the state, who really think the
party needs to be put upon the stocks to
be freed from it's barnacles and to get
Strengthened out generally for fresh
voyage. This is good time to do it.
With a candidate that nobody cares
about and whose record is so desperately
bad as to discourage all hopes of his cleo
ton, the time has come for the leaders
to fold their arms and let their ship sal
under easy canvas up to its dry-dock.