The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-09-03
THE TWO POLITIoAL PARTIES.

Politicians in the different states are
actively at work and the fall campaign
promises to be unusually lively and in
teresting. Our Republican fellow citi-
zens are not in pleasant frame of mind
and their leaders are uncertain which
curse to pursue, to enable them to get
through the contest in anything like de-
cent shape. Hope of success is well
nigh dead in the most sanguine and
nothing but the most energetic whistling
to keep their courage up, prevents them
from throwing up the sponge at the out
set of the struggle. Mr.. Blaine who has
set himself up as the leader of the Repub-
Ican party, has made q sorry mess of it,
wherever he has tried to get in bis fine
work and the result is a quiet, but never
theless wholesale desertion from the
ranks. We're the President in perfect
health or were the circumstances of his
case less lamentable, we should hear an
expression of opinion on the merits of
the Administration as reflected in the
Secretary of State and his actions, that
would show conclusively the bankrupt
condition of the Republican party. For
tnnately for peace and the security of
property, our people are conservative in
their methods, but, nevertheless, when
they go about righting a wrong or elimi-
mating an evil, they are no less deter
mined because they do it, in peaceful,
law abiding way. At one time the anti
Administration men were determined to
show their political strength, by using it
to defeat their party this fall but now,
when they find that their party is likely
to be beaten anyway, they are equally
anxious to avert the calamity which they
begin to realize can only result dsas-
trously to themselves, in common with the
men on whom they so earnestly desire to
wreak their vengence but a few brief
weeks ago. The Republican leaders have
made grievous blunders. They see them
now when too late to avoid the serious
consequence of their acts. In the mad
delerium of factional strife, they over
looked that very important factor in the
political problem-the people. Luckily
no man, nor clique, is Omnipotent in
this country, and though voters may
sometimes be supinely Indifferent to the
actions of their representatives, there are
periods when they throw off the letharpv
and become newly alive to their own in.
terests and to the importantancs of
healthy and determined action in their
defence. We are to-day in the midst of
just such o period, and its beneficent in
huence will be felt in the future. Men
may be blindly led, but they cannot be
driven like cattle, to suit the capricious
whims of ambitious politicians. Self re-
speeting, intelligent Republicans, have
become filled with disgust by the machi-
nations of their highest representatives
and they resent the outrages put upon
them' by withdrawing from an organi-
zation which has unquestionably outlived
Its usefulness. In striking and pleasing
contrast to all this, is the attitude Of the
Democratic party, 1t stands to-day firm,
strong and pure, animated by an unani-
nous and patriotic purpose, to put none
but the best men on gAard. Itis noble
and Oommendable impulse, which will!
insure unqualified success at the polls.
1t is men. not mere politicians and wire
pullers, that Democrats desire to see in
Office, and to that end, they are nomi-
mating for every Office to be filled only
the most capable and trustworthycitizens.
The success of the party this year will
strengthen it for greater victory in 1882
and thus secure for it the Presidency in
1884.