Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-11-08
1dnraster t.,teilsgencer.
MONDAY EVENING, NOV. 8. 1880.
C0nSnicn0uS Folly.


The folly of parties and men has sell
dom been SO fairly exposed as in the cleo
tiOn in Tennessee. The Democratic con-
yention adopted a resolution in favor of
the payment Of the state debt ON the best
terms that could be obtained from the
bondholders, which, it was thought,
would be about fifty per cent. A mum.
Der of delegates who did not want to let
the bondhOlders have anything to say as
to the amount which should be paid
them by the state, if anything, and who
moreover wanted any act passed by the
Legislature in regard to the matter to be
first ratified by the people at an election
to be held before it should 60 into effect,
seeded from the convention and nOm-
mated separate candidate for governor.
The Republicans, who have been for sew
eral years watching the playing Of the
Democratic mice with this question and
adroitly aggravating them to a fight
whenever they found opportunity, placed
themselves on 4 strong debt paying plat
form and declared for the payment of
the full principal and interest.
The Democrats have been going ut
each other, hammer and tOngs, for the
last three months the one side declar-
ing that the other were repudiatiOnists
and the latter retorting that the regular
Democracy were bound in the chains of
the railroads which really owed the debt
and ought to pay it. The Republican
common enemy was mostly lost sight of
in this Kilkenny fight and that of itself
would have made the battle ridiculous
to the mnprejudiced observer. But
the peculiar absurdity of it is found in
the fact that the reputation Democrats,
who were going for the scalp Of the reg
uiar Democratic candidate because he
wanted to pay too big percentage of
the debt and was not willing to submit
the matter again to the people, have de-
liberatcly permitted the Republican
governor to be elected, who is pledg-
ed TO the payment of the whole
debt ANA who is not only opposed to ask
ing the people anything about it but is
ready TO give the bondholders any guar
antee they want that the state will pay
them their interest. This has been done
deliberately, because it has been clear
that either the Republican or the regular
Democratic candidate would be elected.
The choice manifcStly laid between
Al
Gratis had their anger up and their war
paint Oh and Were determined on fight
over !: bone that they distinctly saw the
third dog carrying off from under their
noses. There certainly never was 4
more conspicuous instance Of political
folly. While the Tennessee Democrats
of all kinds are wiping their bloody chops
the Republicans are laughing and with
them laugl, the bondloiders, who find
themselves 50 much the gamers by the
present situation.
Not unlike this Tennessee picture is
tiiat presented in Virginia, where that
ass, Maho!r, thinking he was Il lion, has
been Iiaqu"raIing for year or SO in the
skin lie started Il reputation party
with which, 10 get possession of the flesh
pots Of the state. His first move was to
get himself elected to the United States
Senate by Il coalition with the Republi-
cans. This WAS not much of Il feat but
it locked like one and led mankind gem
eraIly. and Malone in particular, to
think that he WAS very great man. He
accordingly undertook to run tie Dem
Ocr:itic electors of his Gwu nomination
in Virginia, notwithstanding the Demo-
cratic party had i set already no!ni-
mattel. He declared that he was the state
and that his electors would be chosen
against both the Democratic and Repub-
lican set. The world, which is apt to
take q man ut his own rating if lie
makes Il great noise, was really inclined
to think that Malone could do the won
derful tricks on his. programme. The
Democratic national committee was not
so stupid, however, and put an eX-
tirguisilcr on him 10y rccogniZ-
ing the other electors. Malone
comes out of the contest with hardly Il
grease spot to show where he was. The
credi;ors of The state are joyful, and the
regular Democracy laugh with them.
The Republicans We're not so strong as
in Tennessee nor WAS the reputation ell
emeni as vigorous. The party lost little
therefore by the detection and has little
now TO remind it OF Malone except the
discr.iit of having .him in the Senate
where he will be fit and ready in
strument for the Republican effort to
capture the - solid SOUTH lie is ready
for III: alliance that will promise him
power.
Who did Ii.
The New York Sun saws John Kelly