, 1880-08-02

SiCAiiy oCHhSNs P"A'y iiuCS NlOiC ISS iDIy
traced, than at present. Ne intelligent
voter has any longer pretext for voting
the Republican ticket upon the ground
that it represents the Union sentiment of
the country, or that the Democratic par
ty represents notification or secession
Gen. Hancock IS the embodyment of
Democratic principles, citizen with un>
tarnished escutcheon. whose achievements
in war give him rank with the most dis
tinguished military commanders of the
age, and whose administration of plena-
ry powers almost unlimited with which
he was invested after the ar, exhibited
degree of torbearance, patriotism, de-
vOtion to liberty associated with intelli
gent craftsmanship OF which there are
few examples in history, proving himself
the superior of the immortal Washington
| in intellectual endOwments and his full
equal IN patriotism and personal purity.
1t Is happy omen, suggesting a new
and hopeful era in the history of our
country. that the old Democratic Union.
guaranteeing fraternity and perpetual
amity, will be restored under the lead of
grand son of the first signer OF the De-
claration of Independence, who has, in
every condition in life, reflected honor,
and honor only, upon the historic names
he wears, which are cherished as syno>
nyms of patriotism by every true Ameri-
Can citizen. peace hath its victories
no less renowned than war;"
All the foregoing has this connection
with the Democratic Conventions, uf
which ne set out to speak: Hancock will
be elected; of that fact there can he no
reasonable doubt; but the President is
not the Government, and change of
parties will avail little without a change
OF methods. Politicians may talk Them
selves dumb about civil service reform,
hut there will be no reform in the civil
Service until it is instituted and practised
by the voters in their primary orsaniza-
tions; until the people frown upon self
seeking, log-rolling, bribery and corrup>
ton AS much in nominating conventions
as in legislative bodies. Justice Story
said: " America, free, happy and enliyht-
ened as she is, must rest the preservation
OF her rights and liberties upon the vlr-
tue, independence, justice and sagacity
of the people. II either fail the Republic
is gone. Its shadow may remain, with
all the pomp and circumstance and trick
cry OF government, but its vital power
will have departed" This prophetic
warning has been already realized in u
great measure IN this country. Caucuses
and conventions are as often manipulated
by demagogues to defeat AS to express
the popular will Time WAS when IA cans
didate for a nomination would lust as
soon sit on jury in trying case in
which lie was pecuniary interested as he
would sit in a convention in which his
nomination was pending, and would us
soon be caught tampering with witnesses
or jurors in his own behalf AS with voters
or delegates when proxies were no more
admitted to seats in nominating conven>
tions than in legislative assemblies; when
professional strikers in politics were re-
garded as quite as disreputable as pro-
iessional witnesses or hired bullies. All
this has been changed, but what patriot
or honest man will undertake to Justify
the change on the ground of public poll
cy or public meralityl Is not corruption
in office the Legitimate fruits OF corrup-
ton IN politics? Who but The people
themselves are to blame for official cor
ruption which curses the land, when they
tolerate the corrupt methods by which
offices are sought for and obtained, max
ing party discipline subservient to use of
demagogues in constralning party men of
honest intent to vste for unworthy candl>
dates.
We would respectfully but most ear
nestty suggest to the Democrats of Wash>
lngton Territory, and especially to those
Of King county, to profit by the daily
example of their party opponents-not
by initiating, but by avoiding that un-
seemly scramble for the control of the
conventions, which ought to disgust every
patriotic citizen. We know Of no candi-
dates in the Democratic party personally
seeking nominations; of no rings, cliques
,r combinations seeking to control either