Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-10-07
The State Campaign.

What looked as if it would he a list
less campaign in Pennsylvania this fall
is beginning to assume an air of activity
and importance. It will be fiercely
fought during the coming month and it's
results will be awaited as events of sig
niicance in or state politics for years
to come most likely, and, in connection
with the outcome of the struggle in New
York, may be sign-board in national
movements. Mr.. Wolfe's candidacy has
of course largely contributed to this state
of things. The vote which he gets may
not be fair test of the strength of the
Republican opposition to the Cameron
Quay domination but it will
pretty accurately gauge its cour-
age and determination. If it should
mount up to 10000 in Philadelphia and
to 10000 or 10000 more in the state out
lying the city it will of course beat
Baily and the Ring, but it will do far
more. 1t will prove 1OO, 600 votes ready
to join in the revolt when successful re-
volt is assured, and it will materially
modify if not entirely change Repub'i-
can leadership in Pennsylvania.
But it is unfair to assume that Mr..
Wolfe's candidacy is the only figure of
prominence in this campaign. The DEM
ocratic convention, though larger than
WOlfe's and less harmonious in its pro-
ceedinys, was not whit less free, hon
est, independent and Outspoken. Men
of all parties who sympathize with Mr..
WOlfe's views will find them reflected
in the deliverances of the Williamsport
convention. 1t put itself squarely on
record upon the questions which he so
emphatically declares, and all good men
know, concern the States honor and
its material interests. The Democratic
platform arraigns the Republican party
for faithlessness to public trust and for
fraudulent administration of the state
government. The proof sustans the
allegation that the Republican party
has encouraged, practiced and shielded
spoliation of the state treasury and mis-
use of the public funds, bribery of lcgis
latOrs, undue favor TO corporations and
monopolies, All unnecessarily high rate of
interest on the state loans, a shameless
prostitution of the pardoning power, Il
system of wholesale waste and pecula-
lation in the ordinary expenditures of
the government, and a harassing
and plunderins exercise of municipal
franchise and abuse of local trusts "
Every charge herein contained can be
verified by Republican authority. The
Democratic pledge is for better things.
The Republican assertion is that the
things of the past are good enough and
the men responsible for them have the
unqualified endorsement OF the conven-
tion that nominated Baily they made
Baily they are Baily.
The Democratic candidate, like Wolfe,
has done some service to the state, and
in the same arena. His record has had
no flaw picked in it. On all questions of
public policy his votes were in accord
with the platform on which he stands,
his public and private pledges hold him
to it, his private interests rs well as his
views of public questions commit him
to opposition to monopolies and to honest
men in office. These are the essential
considerations for a state tire; surer at
this time to keep i'm view. Mr.. Noble
has strict regard for them, we believe,
as shown 10y his professions we are
further assured by those who know him
best that his intelligence AMI discrimi.
nation are equal to his honesty and his
vigor.