Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-04-12
pERsoNALIsM IN POLITICS

Gov. SEYMOUR pointed out, short
time since, the tendency to run political
parties in the sole interest OF some one
man, as the great political evil OF the
times. The truth of his observation is
becoming more and more apparent in
National politics every day. Fortunately
il is not so in our State politics. But in
the development of the campaign for
the Presidency, the chief obstacle IN the
way of harmony, especially so in the Re
publican party, and too much so in the
Democratic, is the clinging Of politicians
and factions to men who are not the
choice of the masses and making their
candidacy the ultimate end OF the cam
paign, irrespective of the more import
ant and vital interests involved.
The Albany Erening Journal has
struck the right chord in depreciating
this disposition in the following timely
words, which, while specially applica-
BILE to New York, is good logic for every
locality:
Peculiarism is the Dane of both the
great political parties OF the country.
The Republican party has felt its de
pressing influence in the past as 1t Will
in the future unless greater wisdom rs
manifested than has recently obtained
in its counsels. Ii has distracted the
party in PENNSYLVANIA. 1t is threaten
inc miscief in Illinois, and here in New
York il has obtruded itself so Extensively
that only the exercise OF the utmost pa
thence, fOrbearance and patriotism can
a.ert disintegration and defeat.
What is thus threatening disaster to
the Republican party is working equal
IL not greater mischief TO the Democ-
rscy. In that party everything is made
10 bend TO the will of one man. Tllden
and not the people is supreme. 1t Is
not strange, therefore, that the rank and
file are becoming FESTIVE, and that the
spirit of disafiectiOn is cropping out in
quarters whose loyalty has been hitherto
unquestiOned.
The dissatisfaction caused by there
manifestations OF offensive personalism
is rapidly spreading in both the
great political parties. II it is not yet
so marked in the Republican as IN the
Democratic pariy, II IL only because
the Republican party has a keener ap..
probation of the vital Importance OF
unity. But like causes in each will IN
time produce like effects. Unless there
shall be a speedy change of modes and
measures on the part of those who at
tempt TO lord il over the Republican
heritage, the distracted condition OF the
Democracy to-day NAV be considered
but type of the condition of the Re
publican party in the near future.
When in any party personal subservl.
ency and not political service is made
the test OF merit and the proof OF fidell-
ty, it cannot long hold, as it will not de-
serve the confidence of the people.
IL is not creditable TO the foresight
and sayacity of the managers OF the Re-
publican party that they have not prof
tied by the disasters which have fallen
upon the Democracy. They have seen
that party i'm this State wrecked upon
the rock of personalism and the imperial
manipulation of the party machine;
and, notwithstanding this fact, they
take up the same roll, to be followed, il
persisted in, by the same results. 1t
will be- well for the party and fortunate
for the country if they shall change
their tactics in time to avert revolt
which, in its extent and consequences,
may be even more widespread and dis
astrous than that which mas robbed the
Democracy of its prestige and stripped
n Of its mower.