Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-02-05
Aa,lrastcr Esltci!;senrer.
SATURDAY EVENING. FEB. S. 1881.
Teaching the Leaders.


The name Of John Hunter has finally
been put on the Democratic ticket in
Philadelphia by the party authorities,
but only after the Democratic sentiment
had been SO fully developed as to compel
it. Mr.. Vaux and Mr.. McGrath inter-
change letters in which they yield to the
necessity of the case, while growing
over what they choose to think the
demoralized state OF the Democracy
which leads it to surrender its principles
for the sake Of success. In talking thus
these gentlemen talk nonsense. They
would not be guilty of it but for the OBJ
viOus and notifying realization that
they haye made a great mistake in polit'
ical judgment. Their charge against
the party in Philadelphia is not true.
The Democratic party there has done it.
self great honor by declaring SO strongly
for Hunter, and it has made no sacrifice
of party organization, nor given any in.
dicatiOn of Il disposition to yield any
thing of value for the sake Of success.
We regard the sentiment which
forced upon blind leaders of the party
the necessity Of putting Hunters name
on the ticket as rejecting the highest
credit upon the masses of the party in
Philadelphia. They were il thorough
sympathy with the opinions he repre-
sented for the occasion he was a Demo.
crat, as fully as any Democratic candi-
date could have been. In the munich
pal issues which alone were involved, lie
was the fitteSt candidate for the Demo
cratic party; filter, even, than Mr.. Nc
Grath, who had not identified himself
with the cause of municipal reform,
which was the issue of the hour and
which has been shown to I've close to the
Democratic heart 10y the spontaneous
call which il has made for Hunter S
nomination.
Mr.. EauX, Mr.. MuGrath, Mr.. ThOmn-
son and other good Democrats who I'm.
dertOok to set upa Democratic candidate
against Mr.. Hunter, were simply too dull
to catch the current of sound popular
sentiment Which demanded Hunter, and
only Hunter, just because he was the EN-
bodinent Of the peoples idea of reform.
Hunterism is the issue and on that
issue the great majority of the Demo-
cratic voters are sound. Their leaders
have been swept away with them and
some that fingered behind have been
wel:-niSh drowned.
There is sill an element that has not
moved with the party. 1t deserts it and
will support the Republican ticket, with
whose ringle:,derS it has been in CON-
Portable alliance. Often before it has
betrayed tine party while appearing to
serve it. One OF the very best results OF
this struggle will he the open appear
ance of these camp followers on the other
Side. If they can be kept from ever re-
turning it will be Il benefaction to the
Democracy of the whole state, which
has been thoroughly disguised with the
character of some of its Philadelphia al
lies. Mr.. McMullin, who claims to con-
troll the Fourth ward, swears that Mr..
Hunters na,Ee will not go on the Demo
cratic ticket there. Such Il declaration
from such a source ought to secure Mr.
Hunters s election: for rnothing can well be
more grateful to the ear of Il reputable
Democratic voter of the state than to
hear that in voting the Democratic ticket
he is no longer in alliance with McMul-
lin. We sincerely trust that Samuel
Josephs has gone the same way. The
modification Of association with these
men has been severely felt by the state
Democracy, who will raise a heartfelt
prayer of praise to hear that they have
gone, which would rise intoa halIelujah
ii the assurance could be had that tiipy
would never come back.