Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-06-01
Independentism, North and South


The Washington Post remarking upon
an article in the New York Times speak
ing of the fight between the Cameron
and Anti.Cameron factions Of Pennsyl
vania, in the nature of "protest'
against q system of politics which de
rives its life blood from the spoils sys-
tenn of disposing of public offices, and
it must perforce take in the civil ser
vice reform movement" says; The gen.
eral truth of this statement will not be
disputed. The Independent movement
in Pennsylvania undoubtedly means a
change, and professedly change for
the better. 1t could hardly succeed in
developing anything worse than the
system now in vogue, though in time
it might deteriorate into the same coz
rupt methods. But our New York con.
temporary discovers "another significant
thing" Il is this-"that the current
of this movement which, is breaking
ing into new channels, is destined to
find the present National Administration
in its way wherever it appears In
other words, we are told by this staunch
expounder of Republican politics, that
every movement which the party may
make to throw off the yoke Of bossism'
to break up the nest of spoilsmen in
which the creatures of bossism are
Matched, and to introduce reforms into
the civil service whereby the distribu
ton of patronage may be lifted to
higher and cleaner level, will find the
Arthur Administration an obstacle and
block to it's Advancement.
This being the case, by what terms
shall we designate the action Of the Ad-
ministration in Virginia or the schemes
which it is coddling to smash the solid
fabric of the Southern Democracy?
III this has been done or is being
done in the name of progress, Of libsr.
ty, of an unhampered ballot, of purer
civil service, Of political emancipation
Yet while the Administration, on the
one hand, Is thus posing in the attitude
an of alder and abettor Of revolt, upon
the other it pronounces revolt to be
notwithstanding to be starved
into penance or crushed outright.
Wherefore is it not obvious that eth
er the Independent movements in the
South are not what they profess TO be in
the North-protests against bad systems
and efforts for regenerated civil ser.
vice-or else that the Administration is
playing double psrtf Or in any case,
not only double, but dangerous pait'
In its despair of stopping the ere
vases which have broken through the
party lines at the North, il may have
turned its eyes Southwark for possible
compensation in political revolutions
there; but so long as it opposes reform
in one section and boasts itself the spe-
cial champion Of reform in another, II
cannot retain that confidence in the
Republican masses, which alone conveys
the assurance Of harmony, support and
success.
The deeper truth, besides, is sinking
into the hearts of many OF the wiser and
more observant leaders Of the Republi
can party, that whereas rebellion against
the despotism Of the machine in the
North is based upon justice and pIAusi'
BILE with promise. the uprising which is
sought to be instituted against "Bour.
bonismv in the South mas neither the
element Of justice nor the savor Of q
hope.
SO far IS its success in Virginia Is airy
guide, the revolutionary movementwith
which the Administration mas allied
itself in The South i but another name
for spoliation and leads to the establish.
msnt Of the same arrogant and proserip
tive system--as represented by Malone
in Virginia and Cameron 10 Pennsylva-
nia--hehind which, though somewhat in
fer and trembling. Mr. Arthur nov
ends himself entrenehed.