Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-05-21
Harmony.


The statesmen at Harrisburg know
now how good and pleasant thing it
is for brethren TO dwell together in
unity. AT noon yesterday the Demon
of Discord, who had thrust himself in
among the patriots, threatening to pro-
duoe confusion and anger and divided
counsels, unfurled his pinions and flew
away, while White-Winged Peace came
in to exult because the reign of har-
mony had begun. II is q sweet and
touching story of unselfsh devotion and
of determination in behalf of a holy
cause. Mr.. Wallace came to Harris
burg with hatred in his heart and no
yearning at all for harmony. Mr. Ran
dali came with animosity in his soul
and positive aversion to determination.
Under such circumstances the pros
poets of peace seemed not exceedingly
hopeful. Mr.. Wallace had hired the
hall and he thought perhaps he might
arrange the Convention to suit himself.
But Mr.. Randall represented Tilden,
and he seems to have carried with him
those potent influences which the good
old man of Gramercy Park never fails
to exercise when he wishes to make q
point. A fresh barrel most likely had
been tapped. Mr.. Randalrs man went
around with the ready money and by
paying it down secured the keys of the
hall a afewmoments before Mr.. Wallace's
man called to get them. Then Mr..
Randall picketed the staircase with a
double-row of patriots armed with
blackjacks, revolvers and other imple-
ments of persuasion. These persons
had orders to admit nobody who had
not ticket issued by Mr. Randall, and
they obeyed orders. The result was
that Mr.. Wallace himself barely got in,
but without any considerable number
of his followers. Mr.. Randall and Mr..
Tilden's influences" appeared to have
carried the day.
When Mr.. Wallace perceived this a
desire for harmony was at once born in
his bosom. Mr.. Randall, of course,
| had no objection to harmony so long as
he was master of the Convention. All
that was needed was n peacemaker to
bring the two together and effect q
reconciliation. Mr.. Lewis Q. Cassidy,
bright, and pure, and shining exem-
plar of Christian principles, naturally
came forward at this iuncture to en-
treat the leaders to forgive each other,
to forget the hideOus past, and to try to
do better in the future. Mr.. Cassidy,
who only needs wings to enable him to
appear as an angel, led the two men
/ out; he seems to have reasoned with
them; to have read the Scriptures to
them; to have shown them how much
better it is to overlook an injury and to
bear no malice or hatred in their hearts.
His atfectiOnate pleGdings were success
tul. Mr.. Wallace, gnashing his teeth,
perhaps, agreed to be recOnciled. Mr..
Randall, with the proud consciousness
that the Convention was packed for
him and Tilden, and that the ardent
patriots upon the stairs would prompt
ly brain any Wallace man who tried to
get in without ticket, consented to
overlook the past and to embrace his
ancient ehemy.
The angelic face of Cassidy was
wreathed with smiles. The truly vir-
tuous are never so happy as when they
are doing good. He led the way into
the hall. Wallace shook hands with
Randall and the Convention cheered.
Then Randall shook hands with Wallace
and the Convention cheered again.
Randall made a little speech, where
upon Wallace waved his hat and looked
as if he felt about as glad as if he had
been at a funeral. Then Wallace made
a speech and Randall waved his hat. 1t
seemed as if the Convention might 90
right on now, in the happiest mood, and
carry out the programme arranged by
Mr.. Tilden; but it decided to adjourn.
The outside patriots had not yet real
lied an era of peace had begun; and so,
while Wallace and Randall were en-
bracing, that eminent Democratic states
man, Mr.. Haggerty, was shooting ahOle
through another eminent Democratic
statesman, PIG Ear Charley, and about
three dozen other eminent Democratic
statesmen were busy mutilating each
other. Under these circumstances the
hamonizing process obviously could
not 90 on, and so the Convention ad-
jOurned until to-day in the belief, ex-
pressed by one correspondent, that " by
the time the Convention meets in the
morning great deal of the undesirable
element will be drunk or in jail" 1t is
perhaps sad to perceive that complete
Democratic harmony is impossible until
a large number of Democrats get thor
oughly drunk or are placed in Jail, but
harmony is great thing, no matter by
what means it comes. To-day the Con-
vention will assemble to perform the
task of saving the country, and no
doubt Mr.. Randall, after having capt
ured the Convention by disreputable
trick, will take care that the platform
shall let the country know what des-
perately wicked old party the Republi-
can party is,-PhitadelpbiG Evening
Bulletin.