The Democratic advocate., 1881-02-19
Reform in Political Affairs.
Tnbaeco Times.

AeSASNAA 49,
From Port Tobacco Times.
The st. Mary's Beacon, one Of the most
high-toned and consistent country Journals IN
the State. prefaces an extract from the Baltl-
more Sun on the above subject, which It pub
lished by request in its last issue, with the
following editorial remarks which we adopt
as fully expressing our sentiments on TINS
questions =,
ssWe are for the subordination OF demo
cratic bosses, managers and rings TO the RUE
of the democratic masses, and have ever peen'
We confess. however, that we would like to
he assured before we venture on any change,
first. that bossism has not become an lndls-
nensable feature to the successful working OF
modern politics; secondly, that no disloyalty
is meant to democratic supremacy IN tins
State by the war on the present bosses; ana
lastly. that the ringsters who now rule the
narty are not to be replaced by ringsters who
have ruled it before. We are neither tor the
domination of Tammany nor Irving HAL IN
our party eounsels, unless this IS touna essen
tial to success, any domination beng prefer
able to that of the republican IN southern
State. and we strongly favor the retirement
of the bosses of all factions IN our party anu
the substitution of "new blood IN our future
leaderships. "a plague on both your Houses!
The idea of ':rcform" presupposes the
existence of abuses; or at least, that pub
lie affairs are not conducted with that strict
regard for the public veal that they might
be. and that there is need of amendment.
When a demand for reform springs from
disinterested motives, it is altogether com
mendable, and may be taken as an evil
denee of that watchful care and vigilance
of public affairs which should ever be ez-
ercised by selfgoverniug people But
it must not be forgotten that the cry oil
s.roGorm" is too often but the utteranee OF
the demagogue, and the ready expedient
of the cunning political trickster to sub
serve the ends of party or self instead oi
the public welfare. Party organization Is
inseparable from our republican system Of
Government, 4 as long as parties remain
pure they serve as checks and guards upon
each other. There would be political
starnation and corruption without them
There is no sense in the hue and cry
against party 1t is only when party
shirt is carried to excess that 1t Is to be
renrehended The man who stands alooi
from party is culpably negligent OF the
duty he owes the body polite as a co.mPo-
nent part of the government. Ours Is a
government of the people, and it behooves
the people to look well to the affairs OF
Government. 4 man might as well sh'rk
his duty in any other respect as th's.
just as well might the farmer neglect his
farm as for man to neglect bis duty to-
wards society in a political sense, or in re
snee, to the affairs of his county and State.
The interests of society are 50 blended To
ge,ber that if the body polite suffers IN
politieal sense, it must also suffer IN bus
iness sense. 1t behooves every one, there
fore, to give due attention to public a''AlF''
and as this can best be done by assoela'ioa'
il is through association that parties are
formed. Party organization requires party
leaders Some one must lead, direct, or
eontrol. \ party without leaders wonld
be ike an army without officers, utterly
inefficient for the purposes OF its organiza'
,iou. Bat the difficulty is that too many
want to lead. whether they have the ca
Daeity for it OF not. Hence arise bickcr-
mos iealousies, heartburnings, amongst
the would be leaders, who raise the cry Of
ring. clique, eabal. managers, bosses aud
other epithets, applied BY the envious aud
Jealous to these whom they would supPlant
or supereede. Set it down as a general
rnle that those who cry ring the loudest
are the very men most anzions TO form a
r;nc themselves. If there be rings or
eliqaes which exercise party control tor
their own selfish aggrandizement without
regard to the public good, they are fit sub
jects Of opposition, aud should be brought
into subordiuation to the masses Of the
marty in so far at least as 10 be required
to shape their policy for the general
welfare instead Of personal ends