Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-12-22
WHAT is sTALwARrIsm !
From The Philadelphia TImes.

i
Three brief month ago, none affected
TO misunderstood the meaning Of EtaI-
wartism in our political system. II
bad reached the fulness of its power
under Grant bad perpetrated the ap.
palling electoral fraud Of 1876; bad
made Hayes President in defiance OF
the popular will and of an honest elec.
toral vote; had compelled him 10 re.
ward Stalwart criminals by scores
with important public trusts bad de-
nounced HAYES because he refused
ahject obedience TO the Stalwart mas
ters had made unsuccessful battle for
Grant at Chicago had sulked in the
Stalwart tents until il believed il had
terms of surrender from Garfield; bad
made open war upon Garfield because
he dared to recognize others than
Stalwarts in his administration bad
attempted revolution by the resigna.
ton of Conkling and Platt, aud an
open declaration of war upon the in.
dependence OF the Executive, and
finally it heard the terrible echo of its
teachings as Guiteau's pistol was fired
in the name OF Stalwartism.
Three months ago the people of all
parties shuddered at the name of Stal.
wart aud those who worshiped at its
execrated altar were awed to silence
by the resistless tide OF public senti
ment that overwhelmed the spoilsmen
and their hated trade. Party organs,
almost with one accord, denounced
Stalwartism as pregnant with demor-
alization, proaigacy and death, and
the people so bravely girded up their
loins to battle with the spoils system
that party leaders and dependents
united to accept its overthrow. The
Senate confirmed Judge Robertson
without contest; Conkling and Plat
we're overthrown as those who bad
fallen without hope, and the people
rejoiced at the promised Inauguration
of an era of official integrity and re-
spect for the popular will.
just when the country was settled
in the grateful trust that the spills
men were overthrown and the spOils
system eliminated from the admins.
tration of the government, the Stal.
wart murderer came, fired the fatal
shot that plunged the nation into be
reavemeni, and shrieked the horrible
words-"I am n Slalwart and Arthur
is now President How the country
mourneI aud hoped even against hope,
is known TO all aud bow the bowed
Stalwart leaders revived their confer.
ences aud grew in courage as the life
of the stricken President ebbed away,
need not be told to intelligent readers.
They we're not by the bedside of s0r.
row and death but when the sacrifice
was complete and the hopes of the
people persisted with the death of their
trusted Chief, the Stalwarts came with
unseemly speed to feast ON the funeral
train. The new Stalwart President
hastened to assume the honors gained
by the nations woe, after the midnight
hour bad passed, and when all Others,
outside of Stalwart expectauts, were
crushed by consuming grief; and be-
fore dust TO dust had been pronounced
over the grave of the murdered ruler
the Stalwart revel began and the Stall
wart heroes Of crime boldly defed the
law as they boldly welcomed the com.
ing guest.
Stalwartism Is now entrenched In
every important department of the
government. President, Senate and
House are in accord the fat of Stall
wartism flies over all. and the Cabinet
will soon have no voice in its councils
that jars the Stalwart programme Of
power and spoils. And with Stalwart
supremacy in the national authority
comes Slalwart supremacy in the lead
ing States. Conkling will again rule
New York; Boutwell, will be master
Of Massachusetts, Cameron will reign
in Pennsylvania; keifer will wave
the Stalwart banner over the grave Of
Garfield in Ohio Logan will be omni.
potent in Illinois; Jones will command
in Nevada. and Malone will dignity
aud reward Repudiators In Virginia
as the Stalwart leader.
If the people of the nation would
learn anew What Stalwartism is, let
them turn to the swift lessons of the
last three months and they will under
stand what 1t means to public fidelity,
to honest government and TO the popu.
lar will. IL rules BY might, not by
right: its ambition i power and the
spoils of power, aud only by political
revolution can is despotic and profit.
gate hand be stayed.