Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-01-29

When the Time Comes.
The Philadelphia Tines asks the Demo
cratic minority in the Pennsylvania
Legislature to initiate the example Of
the Republicans of Tennessee "who
honored themselves and their state by
the choice of a Democratic senator be-
tween disputing factions "and declared
. policy by the election of Jackson" It
declares that the Pennsylvania Demo-
Gratis "have only to decide upon public
policy that needs no excuse before the
world and choose Republican who will
honor the state as senator. Both sides
are ready for their aid; let them stop
fooling and perform their duty.''
The ''policy'' of the Tennessee Re-
publicans which elected Jackson is not
worthy to he dignifed by that name {;
what they did, the Pennsylvania Demo-
Gratis will be likely to do under the same
circumstances. On the final ballot in
Tennessee Judge Rose had been elected
by Democratic votes, when the Repub-
licans, perceiving the fact before the re-
suit was declared, changed their votes
to jackson, a State-Credit Democrat,
who Was more acceptable to most of the
Democrats than Rose, and they therefore
changed to him and finally secured his
election. Here the Republican ''policy"
simply expressed choice between two
Democrats when the election of one of
them was Immediately certain.
1t is needless for US to say that this is
not now the situation in Pennsylvania,
nor does it seem likely to be very soon.
It is nonsense to charge the Democrats of
our Legislature with " foOling." The
fact is that neither of the parties to the
triangular contest can be accused of
fooling," whatever elsd may be laid to
their charge. There is a very excellent
method in their apparent madness. The
policy of the Democrats is that the sena
torial seat shall not be filled by a Repub-
lican. Tho policy Of Senator Cameron is
that it shall not be filled by anyone; as
it is for obvious reasons perfectly agree
able to him to he the sole Republican
senator from his state. The policy of the
Grow men leads them to persevere in
their independent stand against their
party ring, because their necks will be
wrung if they yield, and as they have
the sympathy of the people in their re-
bellion they have an excellent hope of
increasing their strength when they ap-
peal to them on the issue made.
An invocation to tine members of the
Legislature to do their duty as represen-
tatives and not as partisans, has more
meaning. But we believe it to be
equally silly to declare to the Democrats
that it is their duty to elect stalwart
Republican as it is to charge them with
"fooling' because as partisans they are
content with the existing situation.
Evidently it is not their duty to extend
their aid to either side. heranse both are
ready for it, as the Itmc 'eclares. No
doubt Oliver and Grow =. sth ready to
receive the Democrat :..:a: just as
Wallace is prepared to ac,, .,i lhe Repub-
lican. Probably they are even more ready
than this, and either would accept
the Democratic vote for anyone of their
staunch adherents; just rs the Demo-
Gratis would take Republican votes for
any competent Democrat. But how
can it he fairly said to be the duty of the
Democrats, to the state, to step in te-
tween the Republican factions and fill
the senatorial seat from among their
number? Such an invocation may lie
addressed to the Republicans to elect u
Republican, that the state may be duly
represented; but if we were legislator
We would not feel that we were its just
subject. If we were called upon to drop
our partisanship, to vote for non
partisan, we would feel differently. We
could vote for Republican for senator
with tue understanding that he would
not be d partisan. We would require no
pledge from him but he would have to
be a man of our own choice, and there
fore would be one in whose honesty, in
dependence and judgment We would
have full confidence. If we should be
deceived in him it would be our own fault
for not better discerning his character; /;
for the man we would choose would be
one whom we would feel confident would
not be recreant to the understanding
under which he received our support.
That understanding would he in every
respect honorable, and would be one
under which it would he most agreeable
to the highest order of men to be elected
to a represen tative place. 1t would
leave him absolutely untrammeled in
the exercise Of his judgment.
A senator elected by a party considers
himself party representative, and what
ever his disposition to an independent
exercise of his judgment, he is necessarily
largely controlled in it by the voice of
his party. He considers himself bound
to put into Office his party friends, if not
really unfit, although they are not
the fittest; and to vote for party
measures, if not really bad,
although he does not consider them
the best. That would be considered
generally to be his party duty, and he
would feel honorably bound to yield so
much Difference to the party which had
entrusted him with its interests. DEM
ocratic legislators cannot be justly
asked, in discharge Of their duty to the
state, to elect senator who would he
thus unjust to them and to the country,