Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-05-02
lancaster flltelliQencer.
EVENING. NAY 2, 1882.
Beautiful Harmony.

unanimous, as we supposed they would
be. Mr.. Quay and Mr.. Wolfe seemed to
have precisely the same ideas as to the
way in which the party should be ad-
ministered, and the gentlemen who have
been at daggers' points in political mat
ters appear suddenly to have found that
they have no differences at all worth men-
tioning. Wolfe ran as an independent
candidate against the machine year
ago but now common impulse moves
him and it. 1t is very amusing and
would be very strange il we did not un-
derstand it. Mr.. Wolfe's party is one
of declarations. 1t fOrmulates excellent
declarations of the proper way to do
things. Its ideas are so clearly sound
that they impress the Cameron commit
tee with their truth and they eagerly
accept them. There is nothing in the
shape of a virtuOus declaration that they
won't accept; but in the light Of exper-
ience it would not be Eafc to say that
their acts are likely in strict accord with
their words.
The most remarkable thing they con-
sent to say is contained in declaration
number one, wherein they g unequivo-
cally condemn the use OF patronage to
promote personal political ends, and re-
auire that all Offices bestowed within
the party shall be upon the sole basis Of
fitness - but yet they can all probably
say that from Don Cameron down to Tom
Cochran, and with a clear conscience,
considering the nature OF that kind
of conscience, which is of 4 peculiar
kind that makes itself agreeable to its
owner. 1t is certainly stout declara-
ton from men who are publicly known
to make politics a profitable trade, and
to regard the essence of it to lie in the
appropriation of the spoils of office to
their personal advantage. Perhaps Cam
eron, Quay and their company look upon
the assumption Of the offices by them
selves as high duty to their party and
the country, and in this view of it are
prepared to unequivocally" deny that
they seize upon them "tO promote per
soma! political ends.' But Senator
Mitchell and his friends, who find them
selves out in the cold without Offices and
without power to get any, while their
friends are daily falling out of the few
they have held, can hardly hold similar
view rs to the benefit arising to the Re-
publican party from the possession Of its
Offices by Senator Cameron's adhcrcnts.
And in fact they say they don't see this.
This difference Of opinion is what has
made all the trouble. 1t is Offices that
constitute the milk in the cocoanut.
Senator Cameron $ have them. Every
body knows that they arc going to keep
them if they can and pretty nearly
everybody is quite sure that they can,
because President Arthur has shown
that he will have it SO. Senator Cam
eron can afford to beam upon Senator
Mitchell and his independent Republicans
and assent to all they say and agree to
all they do; because it doesn't make Il
particle OF difference in his enjoyment of
the fruit of the political tree, which he
is too busy consuming to he inclined to
dispute about theories and principles.
He wants to lie harmonious, to enjoy Il
quiet meal, for the obvious benefit of his
political digestion and so he has told
the boys to say anything that will give
them quiet life and an easy one for u
year or two.
So they have further declared that
competent and faithful officers should
not he removed except for cause, Il very
harmless declaration, in that it omits
the description of tho cause " that
should suffice Senator Cameron, being
free to find a cause, will not be cmbar-
raised in discovering what is TO him 4
sufficient one, whenever he sees !. head
he wants in the basket.
And SO it is ever SO easy to declare
obedience to the popular will, when the
public servant is left free to interpret it
for himself. In the condemnation of
compulsory assessments this harmonious
committee but initiated a favoTite decla-
ration Of Republican conventions and
administrations, and embraced with zeal
theory which in their practice they as
zealously disregard.
Thedeclarationsa about thehigh trust of
public Office and the propriety OF nomi.
mating fit men for office afforded, OF
course, no bar to the agreement of tho
eminent patriots who came together to
be at peace. So far as wordsso they are
together whether they will stay to-
gether after their respective conventions
are held, is to be seen. Wcdo not doubt
that they will. The independents told the
regulars that if they did not do things to
suit them they would set up separate
ticket and this was the only thing Of
any consequence they did say. But they
will lie suited sufficiently to keep them
in order. They will he given just as
much as is necessary for this purpose.
Wolfe, who was read out of the party
year ago, is offered now the nomina-
tion for cOngressman-at-large and
there is an assortment of baubles and
gilt medals ready for distribution to the
Independents. But after everything is
done Senator Cameron remains in con-
troll of the machine which he alone will
have the fuel to feed while Arthur lives
and reigns.
A Fine Opportunity.