Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-07-10
lancaster frltelligenrer.
A Mountain that LabOred.

SATURDAY EVENING. JULY 10. 1880.
A Mountain that Labored.
That commission which was consti-
tuted by the state convention in the hope
that it wonld make an end of the differ
ences among the Philadelphia Democra-
cy as to their organization, has discharg-
ed its duty in a very superficial way, as it
is the habit of such committees to do.
Any committee could have done as much,
and the gentlemen Of high state repute
on this committee have reason to feel
good deal of modification at the CON-
mon-placenesso of their work. fit was the
best that could be done, it will be none
the less provoking to them that the sub
ject was SO incapable of being handled
to their credit and glory. The decision
they have reached is conclusive upon the
parties to it; and it was fully known
that it would be so. Thus safely guard
ed against rebellion and panoplied with
power, the committee could, and it was
expected that it would, have instituted
an entirely new organization of the party
in Philadelphia, putting in fresh leaders
whose characters would command the
party confidence, and whose work would
Ike unselfish and to the party's interest.
Instead of this, the committee seems to
have considered that it was commission
ed to find out what was the regular or
ganization of the party in Philadelphia ::
and, after it had discovered this, to mod
ify and alter that organization by adding
to it arbitrarily an outside lot of men,
hers.
All of which was folly; since the state
convention had already determined
that the city committee was the regular
committee and no one disputed it. This
therefore was no discovery of the COM
mittee and was NOT given it to determine.
The regularity of the organizations had
nothing to TO with their commission !;
which was to create an organization that
would be efficient and satisfactory. If
they were to be governed by regularity
they certainly had no business to add
members to the regular committee. That
was as great an exercise of authority as
to create new one.
We cannot help describing the decision
arrived ut by the commission as coward
ly, stupid and comparatively valueless.
With the opportunity to create an Or
ganization in Philadelphia that would
give vigor to the party and ensure it con-
tinued peace, it has left it where it found
it. with an authority that will, under its
endorsement, probably hold the party
together for this campaign, but which
has shown that it has not the inherent
qualities to command obedience and re-
Spect.
THE Republican papers need not dis
tresS themselves much over what they
fancy to be Democratic dissenSiOnS i'll
Philadelphia and factional troubles
throughout the state. There are no such
Nothing has occurred since the Harris
burg convention to indicate that
the peace there inaugurated was
not sincere and shall not he last
ing: and even il so-called leaders
were disposed to abrOgate the condition
of things which it effected the rank ant
file of the party would not follow them
There had been only superficial and per
sOnal reasons operating to keep the Penn
sylvania Democracy in more or less dis
cord for some years, and finally the de
mands of the party, no less than individ
ual political interest, abated these cause!
and effected restoration of complete
harmony. Thus far it has been kept il
good faith. Nothing occurred at Cincin
matt to mar it. On the other hand tin
delegation from the Democracy of thi
state to the national convention, com
posed largely of it's representative men
representing all shades of political feeling
carrying out the idea of the free con
vention at Harrisburg, divided in perfec
good spirit on the individual preference
of its members and, when it was most
essential, in equally good spirit effected
Vic SOlIultS NIllCu WdS ICOCootSAy W 90
cure the nomination of that one of Penn
sylvania' S sons who was the more ur
gently demanded by other states. TIN
Democracy of no state came out of tina
convention in better form nor enter upOl
the campaign with higher hope ant
fairer promises. In Philadelphia ant
Pittsburgh the party is solid, presentin!
a remarkable contrast with the Republi
can factions warning over the spoils o
patronage. In the rural districts o
every section of the state enthusiasm ant
determination to win prevail /; perfec
accord reigns subordinate issues al
sunk out of sight and every energy j
bent to the common aim. Under sucl
conditions it will be nip and tuck rae
for Pennsylvania, with every chance ii
favor of the Democracy carrying it.
WITH reference to the reports that thi
person or that wrote this or that of hi
orders respecting the supremacy of tn
civil over the military in times of peace
Gen. Hancock says: MY order on re
construction i'm the Louisiana district wa
written by me and nobody else. l an
opposed to getting into controversy a