Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-11-10
The American Register.

We have received the third and
fourth numbers Of the american Reg.
ister, a weekly Democratic journal
which has recently been established in
Washington city, under the auspices
of Hon. Jeremiah S. Black and other
eminent Democratic statesmen and
writers. The publication we believe
is under the immediate supervision Of
Mr.. William Aydelotte, of Philadel-
pbia aud Col. A. II. McCardIe, dis.
tinguished Southern journalist. 1t isa
valuable journal, conducted with mark
ed ability and rare judgement, and
should be extensively circulated. As q
specimen of its editorial ability we
take the following article upon the
degeneracy in public affairs that
have come upon the country under
the rule Of the Republican party. The
Register says
"lt requires no very high order Of
intellect 20 direct the affairs OF nation
governed 10y either force or the strRte
~ and machinery Of party. But under
popular government Of . people Of in.
tellectual development and culture. the
highest order OF craftsmanship and the
most enlarged views of public policy are
essential. The nature of man as free.
man, his condition and state Of intelli.
geucs and civilization, the great aues.
tions OF foreign and internal policy
bearing upon the business interests Of
the country, and the strict observance
Of The public faith and honor, are mat
tsrrequiring profound consideration and
comprehensive statesmanship. But to
govern q nation by force or the machi.
merry Of party requires simply adroit
ness, skill. and chicanery in party FAC.
tics. Thus the ruling principle. which
is the voice OF the majority, can be and
is often circumvenied and defeated by
stratagem. Among the various devices
OF party chicanery, that OF caucus legis.
lation Is tho most effective and fatal.
BY this political stratagem the consci.
entious judgment OF majority OF leg.
islstive body, acting under the solem.
mites Of an Official oath, IL overcome,
and laws are enacted By = minority, or
In other words, laws are passed which
are against the conscientious judgment
Of majority OF the whole legislative
body, II left free to act. The unscrupu.
lous partisan always acts upon the de.
basing idea that the end will justify the
means. The line OF distinction between
the mere politician or partisan and tho
statesman is wide and deeply marked.
The statesman l. devoted to hts coun.
try and its intcrests--the partisan 10
his party and lie success. The states.
men devotes bic life 70 advance the
welfare OF his country--the partisan
would sacrifice his country and revolu.
tioniEe its government to save his party.
els IL q melancholy rejection that
the degenefacy and downward tenden.
cy in our own public affairs, and especi
ally IN the elections since this Republi.
can party came into power, have be
come very manifest OF late years, and
yet The people are either unconscious
OF Il or indifferent 10 IL. The high
tone, elevated sentimen, and digniied
bearing, formerly characteristic Of our
public men, havs given way before the
selhshness md violence Of party
spirit. Men get olElcs and pIsce
now By artiHce ard personal aoli
citation. The elections OF prom
insnt officials aFe secured by promises
Of place and office 20 voters, which is no
better In principle than buying votes
With money, and yet this is deemed ~
be I'll right. And In he GusdFsnnIe