Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1880-03-17
RULE OR RUIN.

wanna elcclcu Onlbcu pthNVH pShotVis
The struggle between tho several ci.n.
didates for the Senatorship before the
Democratic Legislative caucus resulted
In the nomination of Hon. William a,
Wallace by IN overwhelming ma alority.
His election followed though not with.
out an effort on the part Of some OF his
unsuccessful competitors TO compass
his defeat by q combination with the
Republicans. From that day to the
presext certain envious aud evil dis
posed persons who imagined that they
sustained personal grievance in his
election have striyen with might and
maine, now secretly now openly, to-
rob him Of the confidence and esteem
of his party. These have been aided
in their work Of defamation by Others
who seek to raise themselves to leader
ship and power in the party on the
ruins Of the proud reputation they hope
to destroy. 1t is nothing TO them that
the object of their detraction has given
his best years to the building of the
Democratic party, nothing that in the
dark days Of the war and reconstruc.
ton he bore tho standard OF the party
with a gallantry that challenged the
admiration and won the affection Of
every true Democrat in the State,
nothing that in the State Legislature
and in the United States Senate he has
always been found in the fore front OF
the battle for Democratic principlcs.
Nor does 1t concern them that their
conduct is productive of serious harm
10 the party, that they have created
schism and faction and that their as
saults upon 80 prominent and infiuon-
tial Democrat give constant aid and
comfort TO the enemy, Their policy
is simply TO rule OF TO ruin.
Certain newspapers have invariably
been made the avenues of assault upon
Senator Wallace Just before the meet
ing of Democratic State Conventions.
Among these the New York Sun is
prc.eminent. Through its columns
the malignant personal enemies of the
devoted Senator shoot heirenvenomed
shafts. The Pittsburgh Post picks up
the poisoned darts Of the Danites of
the Sun after they are spent and uses
them at secondhand The Lancaster
Intelligencer gathers them up, puts
in its little culver and shoots them
from very long bow, but with nerv.
Gus and unsteady aim. Mark, now,
that this newspaper war on Senator
Wallace is always made Just before the
meeting Of a Democratic State ConUen-
ton. Alter the Convention has been
held it ceases and is not renewed until
the delegates are 10 be chosen TO the nert
Contention. This is rather peculiar,
but not by any means as difficult Of
solution as the ''fifteen puzzle"
How have Senator Wallace and his
friends met the assaults2 Have they
repaid them in kind Have they de
manded on eye for an eye and tooth
Tor a tooth Not at all. They have
borne them without resentment for the
sake of harmony in the party. They
have given cordial support to the
ticket when it was named by their op-
ponents and when the canvass was
managed by men who train with their
enemies. They have refrained entirely
from making counter attacks in the
newspapers upon the principal men in
the opposing faction. They have en-
deavored so to act that no door might
be closed through which reconciliation
and harmony might re-enter But
their patience and forbearanee have
evidently been misunderstood. When
contumely and reproach are silently
endured for the sake Of the common
good fools mistake the act of fortitude
for cowardice But the time generally
comes when they are undeceived.
Senator Wallace and his friends still
desire above all things politically, the
unity and harmony of the party in
order that success may be assured in
the coming contest at the polls. Any
ono with modicum of sense ought 10
know that the Senator has deep per
sonal interest in the success of the
party in this State at the next election.
His term of office will expire on the
fourth of March next. If the party
cannot carry the State and secure a
majority of the Legislature on joint
ballot at the comming election his pub
lie career will end within twelve.
month. He can have no political fu.
ture except through the success of the
Democracy in this State in November
next 1t is then reasonable to suppose
that he would lend himself to any
scheme calculated to injure his party ?
If he has secured appointments for
Democrats by concedlng other appoint
ments TO his colleague, is it not clear
that he must have acted on the belief
that ho was serving his party2 VIM.
A. Wallace is too able and iarslghted
a politician to deliberately commit an
act which will injuro his party, especi.
ally when he knows that bis political
future depends solely and absolutely
on the success Of that party. What he
has done in tho matter OF Federal APP
pointments will rebound TO tho advan-
tage of the Democracy, as ,oR appear
after the count Of the uote in Philadelphia
and other centres Of population neat
November. Meanwhile il is for those
who have assailed him and are still en-
gagged in traducing him because Of
these appointments to decide whether
or not there shall be an end of feud
and faction and whether or not they
will permit the Democracy to make
united battle for the recovery of the
Cta.a Uo~r,sl.r, D3yriof