Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-10-28
larlraster fntelligencer.
SATURDAY EVENING, OCT. %. 1882
Independence NJ q Virtue.

Gieht5 III SeW YORK - the tacC that
William r. Grace, the mayor of New
York, who was elected to his position as
the nominee OF the Democratic party
who is now member Of the Democratic
. ate committee, and who claims to be a
Democrat. is engaged in inaugurating
and suppoItinga a SO called Independent
Citizens movement which puts up a
candidate in opposition to the nominee
of all the Democratic organizations Of
the city. Mayor Grace's candidate, Allan
Campbell, is the present controller of
the city, also appointed as Demo-
crat. The body of the vote which
Mr.. Campbell can get is that of the Re
publican party, which puts up no candi
date. He will get no other votes except
from independent Democrats, like Mayor
Grace and Controller Campbell them.
selves, who do not respect the party nom
inations. This action OH the part of
these Democratic officials is remarkable
because it is in opposition to the general
line of the independent movements of
to day, which run against Republican
and not Democratic candidates. Gen
orally the Democratic party line is solid.
It is further remarkable because it is
made ut a time when the three
Democratic organizations of New York
city, which have been at variance,
have united in the support of one
ticket, their nominee for mayor being
taken from the ranks of the organization
with which Mayor Grace and Control
Ter Campbell have sympathized. These
men, therefore, stand out from their
comrades and refuse to cOuntenance
Democratic union. That there is no
reasonable cause for their refusal is
made most probable by the fact that they
are thus isolated in their positions and
that they, of all men, should he willing
to take their stand alone against party
which has given them their offices is
certainly very strange.
They can Justify it if they can show
good cause for their rebellion against
their party, for we are Of those who be-
lieve that party cannot claim the sup
port of its members to its ticket if it is
not a good one. Parties should he
taught. by the discrimination of the
party voters, that they cannot nominate
bad candidates and expect their cleo
tion. The duty of the citizen to his
country is above his allegiance to his
party. The Republican party having
been long in power, it's leaders have
come to think that the voters of their
party are under their absolute control !;
but they are being taught their mistake
this year all over the country by the
Independent movements of their formtr
followers. The Democratic party, hay
ing been long out Of power, is on lis good
behavior, and it 10 generally nomi atin@
men who are unobjec:ionabie. II has
done 80 in New York city, the unani-
nous testimony being that the Demo-
cratic candidate for mayor is e;nl-
nsnt!y ct for his place, aad Mayor
Grace does not base his opposition
to him Oh any personal objection.
We understand his claim to he that mu
nicipai officers should not he selected on
party lines. Even Il this position should
se sound, it is apparent that Mayer
Grsce takes ah i.l.t..a,.!"i"us moment -
declare it, wLeh lie purity lnn.iInes are
ard when ne and his
candidates are OccG:'y rs c,iices (" which
they were chosen IS PARTY Candidates.
BE cali har,!'v claim t:,at there IS any
thing in the present administration Of
the Offices of mayor Of New York and
controller of New YORK which shows
the irexpediency OF party nominations,
for he can hardiybe 50 eager to condemn
himself and the candidate for mayor
whom he presents to the voters of the
oity.
Evidently Mayor Grace and Con
troller Campbell are without proper jus
tification for their rebellion against the
nominations of their party and they
sannot claim the applause for their in
dependence which is now generally ready
for independent movements. Indepen-
dence in the supporting Of party is not
In itself virtue. It is the good cause
Which exists for Independence which
makes it commendable: if no such cause
exists independence is folly or worse.
There are some independent move
ments among Democrats throughout the
country to-day which we consider laud-
able, because they are justified by some
very sound reasons. In the Schuylkill
judicialdistrict in this state, for instance
the Democratic convention refused to
renominate Judge Pershing for judge,
although he is a good Democrat and
most excellent judge. That
was wrong. 1t was a crime
against the party and the state. Cool
judges ought to be reelected whatever
their politics /; and a good Democratic
judge can never be refused the vote Of
good patriotic Democrat when he is 4.
candidate for reelection. The refusal
of the Democratic convention of Schuyl-
kill to renominate Judge Pershing was
utterly disgraceful to it, and the failure
of the Democrats of Schuylkill county to
elect him a. An independent candidate
would, in our judgment, he very discred
liable to their good sense and patriot
ism.
In Tennessee there is independent
Democratic movement, caused by the