Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-05-22
Nanrdstrl fn:rll,Qcnrcr.
MONDAY EVENING, MAY %, 1882.


The Democratic Duty.
Because the New York Sun advises
against Democratic and Independent
Republican coalition in this state and bids
the Democracy remember Greeley"
the Philadelphia Times jumps to the
conclusion that the article is " from the
pen of Mr.. Chauncey F. Black, of this
state, who is the Pennsylvania political
editor of the Sun, and who is an able,
worthy and somewhat urgent candidate
for the Democratic nomination for lieu
tenant governor. Without any further
knowledge of the author of the Suns
editorial article or the inspirer Of its
policy than the Times has, We are free to
question the correctness of its inSinua-
tion that Mr.. Black influences the San
to oppose any bargaining or coalition
with dissatisfied Republicans" because
he is somewhat urgent " candidate
for lieutenant governor. We feel free
to do this because we are quite certain
that Mr.. Black is not such candidate
and has no aspirations nor desires which
conflict with the permanent welfare of
the party and of the commonwealth !;
and because there are very much better
reasons than regard for any individuals
political fortunes why no such coalition
and dickering should he cOuntenanced
in this state by Democrats. AS we
understand the demand of the Times
upon the Pennsylvania Democracy, it is
that they shall measure up their ticket
and platform to the issue of " honest
government" We are heartily in ac-
cord with that demand. But we fail to
see wherein the party needs to 60 out
side Of its organization to accomplish
that. We have pointed the Times to the
Democratic candidates for governor for
many years and to the declarations of
the recent state conventions rs proofs
that the Democracy are able and willing
to meet what it says is the wish of a
large majority of the people of the state.
We have not been shown by the Times
how this cause would he imperilled by
the nomination of Mr.. Hopkins, or Mr..
Black, OF any of the other estimable
gentlemen who will he presented
to the Democratic state convention
with likelihood of their nomination. So
long as the Republicans who are now in
revolt could control the organization of
their party they were for reform within
its lines strictly, and they have only now
gone outside them until they can secure
that direction 10y open revolt which they
cannot gain by compromise, concession
or by the struggle for mastery within the
party. They do not profess to be Inde-
pendents :; they are simply anti Cameron
Republicans, mostly indeed, as Senator
Mitchell puts it, Blaine Republicans.
MaEifestly Democrats have no right of
interference in such purely family
affair. 1t is the business OF the Demo-
cratic party to put up ticket
and declare platform that sin
cerely mean " honest government -
and to let all who are for that come
to its support. Nor do VIC recOllect
that when, in 1860, the Democratic party
split, the Republican organization felt it
to be its duty to disband.
The Times is right in its record of
Democratic victories won in New York
with the aid of Greeley Republicans, and
resulting in the election, rs slate candi-
dates, of men who had been joined to the
Democracy in 1872. But they were men
who came and stayed. Robinson and
Dorsheimer and Bigelow have not acted
rs &" Independent Republicans" but rs
men who believed in the sincerity and
ability of the Democratic party to ac-
complish honest government. While
Gov. Curtin remained on the ragged
edges and uncertain of his party attach
ment, the regular Democratic nomina.
tiOn for Congress failed to secure his
election in one of the strongest Demo
cratic districts. When he spoke with
no uncertain sound he was returned to
the national councils by the vote of his
party, and he now points out to Times
correspondent the duty and policy of the
party of this state in an opinion which
the Times will hardly impugn as being
insincere or prompted by selfish consid-
erations. Mr.. Curtin says:
GAS for the Democrats of Pennsylvania
they ought to understand that Senator
Cameron now bases his only hope of sue
cess upon their blundcrs Nothing else
can save him. But the Democrats will
make no blunders They will move on
independent of the qua-rels among their
opponents, nominate a straight, clean
Democratic ticket and poll full Dem O.
cratic vote. That is the best they can do.
Anything like coalition is suicide. 1t is
nonsense. 1t can't be done. And if it
could it ought not to be done.'