Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-09-27


one would suppose that one party had
nothing to do but make laws for the
tyrannical government of the other party,
and itself stand alOof from their operation.
That is not exactly "what's the matter"
Just now, 1t is the evasion, the perver-
sion, and the corrupt application of law
that is now the curse of the country. The
people are beginning to see this, and some
of them are fostering q determination to
put an end to such rule even if their own
political preferences are to be sacrificed.
1t is far better to suffer tho amputatiOn of
an arm or leg, than that tho whole body
should become satuated with disease !;
and those who cannot see this, and have
not the political independence to act &C
cordiugly, are not in condition to become
political reformers. But if the people
prefer to continue seating crow" just be-
cause they have been accustomed to it,
and for fear of bensfiting somebody else,
then they are in good condition to become
slaves.
Suppose then the present split in tho
Republican party docs result in Demo-
cratic accession to office 1--WE cannot now
say that such q contingency would be
either triumph or a victory. as that would
depend entirely upon their number of
votes as compared with the combined Re.
publican vOtes) it would not irredemably
perpetuate Democratic ruls, if they had
not the votes to continue tho party in
power. Let the intelligent reader Of he
is blest with mind and memory go back
to tho days of 1885, when Wolf and Muh-
lenburg were very unwisely the Demo-
cratic candidates Cor governor Of Penusyl-
vania and Bitnor, the opposition candi-
date, slipped into temporary power. BY
the-by. tho Cameron family had vast
deal to do with that unfortunate division
in the Democratic party, and they were
tho very head aud front Of the
kickers,' too I; it was all right then.
because the boot was on the other leg" :"
1t, however, did not prevent the election
Of Van Buren, in the fall of 1886. nor the
election of Porter in the fall of 1888. And,
if it had not been for the attempt to pre-
vent the laws by the reckless admonition
to "trcar the election as if it had not place,
and in that attitude abide the result" no
Rump" Legislature, and no threatened
"buck- shot war' would have ensued, and
tho successful candidates would quietly
have assumed their duties without com
motion or delay. Even the overwhelming
triumph Of Harrison in 1910 did not pre-
ven. tho election Of Polk in 1874. The
accession of Lincoln, only rendered posi-
BILE through suicidal division in the
Democratic party, would have been Of
temporary duration, had not the Hot.
spurs " Of the South crimiually precipita-
ted the country into an unnec :ssary in
ternecine war. No legislation could posi-
bly, have taken place inimical to their
cherished institutions, for they had a
majority in the United States Senate, and
subsequent elections showed that Demo
cracy was again wheeling into line.
But, atjuring the 4th of July aud the
American flag, turned the scale against
them, and could not secure q general
following.
When wrongs exist, the masses of the
people are disposed to right them and
if ever the timo comes when the people
subsequently allow themselves to be
bound hand and foot by party thongs,
knowing them to he corrupt, but lacking
independence to oppose them, then the
government must ultimately resolve itselI
into al aristocracy or an olisarchy.
SECTOR.