Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-09-14
Aancaster fntellqenrer.

Aancaster fntelligenrer.
WEDNESDAY EVENING. SEPT. IA, 1881.
Ar. Wolfe's Candidacy.
Mr.. Wolfe seems to talk as though he
considers his election quite a possible
thing. He demonstrates it in a very
satisfactory way if mis- premises are ad-
mitted. There is not anything that
anybody cannot demonstrate under the
same conditions. Mr.. Wolfe argues thus:
Z" will surely get enough votes to defeat
Baily; but if all Baily's supporters
vote for me 1 will be elected; therefore,
every Republican who wants Repub!i-
can state treasurer elected should vote
for me-" This logic is good if it is
admitted that Wolfe will get enough
Republican votes to put the regular can
didate behind his Democratic competi-
tor. This will quite possibly be the
case and therefore there is great
deal of force in Wolfe's argument. The
Republicans can only make sure Of
Republican treasurer by voting for
Wolfe.
But it is a very amusingly impudent
statement of the case to come from him.
1t Is very enjoyable to see how calmly
unconscious he appears to he of the force
of the duty upon himself which he urges
upon his fellow Republicans. Certainly
if the one thing Republican is to strug-
gle for is the election of a Republican
state treasurer, Mr.. Wolfe, being a Re-
publican, is called upon to vote for
Baily; quite as loudly at any rate as
Baily's friends are summoned to vote
for him. Mr.. WOlfe's logic works both
ways and Baily, rs the man to cOncen-
trate the Republican vote, has the slight
advantage over Wolfe of being the party
nominee.
Still there is 10 disputing that Wolfe
commands the situation, if he is de-
termined not to be ruled by the logic he
offers to less obstinate Republicans, and
if there are enough Republicans who do
not count the party's success of para
mount importance to its cleanliness and
integrity. Mr.. Wolfe talks foOlishly
when he urges Republicans to vote for
him because otherwise Democrat will
be elected. He cannot defend his cause
by maintaining the Importance and need
of Republican success in the election.
If that is his aim there is no excuse for
his candidacy. His declaration is that a
Republican defeat will not be harmful
in this off political year and may be
beneficial. He maintains that the party
will cheaply buy its immunity from the
ring control that afflicts it now by the
loss of the state treasurer. 1t is
his place then to boldly invite
it to suffer that loss, and not
to pretend that the proper way
to avoid it is to vote for him.
He has no right to expect any vote but
from such Republicans as prefer to Sc
their party defeated in this election rather
than to have it succeed with the result
such success will bring in the way Of
more strongly entrenching in power the
leaders who have become obnoxious to
the better sentiment of the party. Mr..
Wolfe may properly and strongly ask for
all such votes, and may naturally expect
to get them, but he cannot reasonably
expect the vote Of any sensible Republi-
can who desires above all things the
election of his party's candidate.
What Mr.. Wolfe may think of his
charms cannot be certainly told; for
though it seems impossible that he should
consider that he has any, yet he has such
marvellous self-esteem and hopefulness
that no one can say TO what extent he may
not deceive himself. 1t is not character
istic of such bold apostles that they are
able to see everything in the situation :;
else they might not plunge ahead SO
violently. Few men are altogether wise !;
and fools, we know, rush in, etc. Not
that Mr.. Wolfe is by any means fool,
but only that he has tumultuousness
which may or may not he a FOOLS rash
ness and you can't always tell which
il is until you see the outcome.
The public have seen and heard
a good deal of Mr.. Wolfe and
have learned to know him pretty
we'll and to esteem him highly for his
honesty, independence and courage, but
not for his unfailing wisdom. Still he
is generally right, because his intentions
are good. He has the good intention
now of relieving his party from the DOM
ination of men who are unfit to worthily
control it. Probably a large majority
of the Republican voters would be glad
to he rid of these men but it is just as
probable that comparatively few of them
will be willing to sustain Mr.. Wolfe in
his movement to overthrow them. Al
ready nearly all his fellow-politicians
have deserted him. His reliance must
be on the rank and file of the party, men
who love it for its own sake and not for
its Offices and patronage, and who are
eager to overthrow the men whose devo-
tion to it is only selfish. There are
plenty of such voters and Wolfe will
marshal a goodly number in November.
The Reading Road.
Reading railroad stock is active under
the supposed demand from the conflict
ing interests seeking the control of the