Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-04-12
1ancaster fntelligelrer.
MONDAY EVENING. APRIL 12, 1880.
FOOliShly Angry.

Mr.. James McManes, of Philadelphia,
resents being classed with such "bosses"
of city politics as Shepherd, Of Washing
ton, and Tweed of New York. Some
body so styled him in pam phlet on the
third term, reprinted from the Penn
Monthly, and Mr.. McManes assaulted
Mr.. E. d. Lockwood on Saturday for
circulating it within the sacred walls of
the Union League, of which both are
members. 1t grieves us sorely to hear
that members of a club so delightfully."-
named should still fail to dwell together
in amity. 1t is all Mr.. McManes's fault
this time. We are sure that he had no
occasion to get angry at being styled in
that pamphlet as ''boss'' in Philadelphia
politics, " strong in the arts of the dem
agogue and skilled in the devices through
which our intricate party machinery can
be handled" Mr.. McManes should have
felt nattered by the ascription to him OF
such power and skill. Certainly it is
true that he exerts this power, and he
knows that he is entirely unscrupulous in
its exercise. 1t is the aim of his life to do
and to be just what this pamphlet charges
him with doing and being, and it is the
very height of absurdity for him to COM
plain of his fellow club man for advertis-
ing his aspirations and describing his
work. But all these big rascals are apt
to he annoyed when they are called raS-
Gals. 1t is odd but it is SO. If they don't
like the name, why do they assume the
character? If you approach them in
the language of flattery and with
the sympathy of friend and COM
pliment them upon the astute-
ness with which they swindled
somebody, or the success with which they
accomplished some great breach of their
public trust, they will smile all over and
feel very good at the tribute to their
power and genius. But it all depends
upon the tone and the manner in which
this is done If you let them know you
think it reproach to them to be SO
wicked they are very apt to want to
double up their fist under your nose in
the McManes style, especially if they are
excited with their potatiors or if
they are in calm and sar-
donic mood they may ask you what
you are going to do about it,. They
can't help knowing that they are
the rascals they are charged with
being; but they seem to have some way
of whitewashing themselves to them
selves which makes them think that they
are as good us anybody. Possibly they
think that all men are as bad as they are,
and would show it under the same cir
cumstances if they had the brains to
command them. They have al idea
that virtue is relative and every man has
his price. They feel good because their
price is high and their rascality very
profitable.
Certainly they have some effective way
of Guieting their consciences and secur-
ing their self-approbatiOn. We know
this from the boldness with which they
carry themselves in public, and the all
of injured innocence they take. 1t can
not all he assumed. Our man McManes
would never have the courage to resist
being called a rascal if he real.
lied how thoroughly despicable
he was and how offensive in the
sight of his fellow citizens. If he
knew it he would cut his throat or reform
his life. Then there is Kembls, who alb.
SOlutely feels that he is much abused
man becausethe law wants to lay hold OF
him and put him in Jail for crime he
has confessed to. lie does not think he
has done anything worthy of punish
ment. He is persuaded that he has lived
as upright a life as most of his fellOw-cit
liens, and yet he absolutely stinks in the
nostrils Of the people for his rOttenness
and dishonesty.