The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-06-03
A BefOgged Inquirer.

With the Republicans it Is revolu-
ton against bossism-an effort to
restore the dominant influences Of
the party to the hands that controlled
them before the bullet of Guiteau
wrought its Unreasonable evil-and
a determination if possible to save
the party from being sacrificed in the
close states, in Congress, and perhaps
losing the next Presidential election.
The contest is being made with q
force and earnestness that testify TO
the amount of vigor and honesty of
purpose still left in the Republican
body of voters, in spite of the corrupt
ing influences of the machine and the
tragic circumstances that reversed the
decision of the Chicago convention
and the majority of the people in
1880, Now, of course, these Repub-
lican dissensions-to employ a col
lective description-are exceedingly
pleasing TO our Democratic friends.
In their exultation they are persuad.
ed that they perceive an irreconcilable
split in the Republican party that
ensures them a straight and smooth,
road to future victory. They are too
sanguine. Republican weakness is
entirely contingent upon the failure
of the anti-boss movement. IF the
bosses are brought into subsection and
the rule of the majority is made a
principle of the Republican organiza-
ton, itmust become at least as strong
as it ever has been. And. even as
things stand, the Democracy have
plenty of business to attend to in
reconciling the quarrels within their
own lines. A party that is for free
trade in one section and for protec-
ton in another, hard money men
here and soft money men there, and
whose leaders have been engaged for
years in cutting one another's politi-
cal Threats, is not in any condition to
rely for success upon the blunderings
and chickering's of the opposition.
In some respects Maryland. for in
stance, is sample Democratic state.
The lot of Maryland Democrat is
not happy one. He is a most seri.
Gus and particular sufferer from the
complications and COMMISSIONS of boss
ism. He has so many masters and
teachers that divination even will not
indicate to him which one he ought
to follow-that is to say, conceding
that he is good citizen, and not an
officeseeker or if he is "worker,"
and anxious to tie himself to the
winning faction. he is in still worse
muddle. 1t is such close fight, and
power has changed hands so often.
that he might as well go in blindfold
and trust to luck to guide him. Each
faction is quick enough to admit that
the party has been guilty of dreadful
corruption in the past, but the head
of each wants to lay the blame on
"the other fellows" and proclaim
himself as the Moses who is to lead
the children out of the wilderness In.
to the promised land ofreform. And
the guileless children may be par
doned for being just little bewild r.
ed. If all the party chiefs say of each
other We're true, not one of them is fit
to occupy any public position. They
have painted each other in much
darker colors than the Republicans
ever painted them. At this moment
the state faction and the city faction
are in the midst of hot and bitter
dispute over the manner of holding
the primary elections in Baltimore.
The State Central Committee has
issued an edict that the City Conven-
ton has contemptuously disregarded,
and the former set up the cry, "Ah,
you see how that wicked city ring Is
trying to keep itselfin power through
fraud. This is the shop where the
simon-pure. honest Democratic milk
is always on tap" TIE city Democ.
racy chuckles to itself in the knowI-
edge that the other crowd can't do
anything more than issue paper man.
ifestoes, and goes on with its fragrant
misdemeanors. Just as in the legis.
latlve contentious of the last session
and in the continuing war between
Governor Hamilton and his antagon-
lists, here are examples of that Demo-
cratic harmony which is so persist
emily commended to Republican inn
itation.
We hardly think that the ingenu.
Gus Democrat who Is seeking for
knowledge on this momentous subject
of reform within the party obtains
much information from the addresses
and public papers of the able rivals
for leadership. They run SO even a
race in professions and promises that
he hardly understands where to fix
his choice. To him the pulling