National Republican., 1883-09-11
Democratic Harmony In ohio.

Mr.. John Mclean, the newest and most
vigorous democratic "boss " in Ohio, goes for
Senator Pendeton with all the emphasis of
three columns Of double loaded BREWER in
Sundays Enquirer. Ever since "Gentleman
George" sent $S7 worth of correspondence
over the wires on Mr.. McLcan's tccgraphic
frank there has been growing coolness be-
tween these gentlemen. The senator could
not understand it for long while, but at
last it dawned upon him that the fighting
editor of the Enquirer was down on him. For
more than year the war waged upon him
by the Enquirer has beon mercloss He has
been lampooned relentlessly and without
ceasing. Since the opening of the campaign
the cards have been stocked against him at
every local election in the most barefacod
and open handed way.
For fifteen years the democrats have been
shrieking for civil service reform. They
have been advocating it through their press,
in their party platforms, and from the stump.
Mr.. Pendlcton thought they were in earnest,
and last winter lie championed an
experimental bill designed to purify national
politics and do away with the "infamOus
spoils SYSTEM" whatever that may mean.
Tho bill had no sooner become law, how
ever than the democratic reformers turned
their backs upon him, and the most promi-
nept element of weakness in his campaign
for reelection to his seat in the United States
senate is the part hn took in getting congress
10 enact law embracing what the democracy
has boon clamoring for ever since Lees
surrender. The men whom lie thought were
his party friends and hackers are crucfying
| him on q cross of his own construction The
lesson he is learning is bitter one. lie is
getting an allopathic dose of democratic
hypocrisy, He was playing what he be-
| lievcd to be the strongest trump card for
a presidential nomination when he intro
duced the civil service measure Mr.. Eaton
kindly put into his hands. He has discovered
that it was the weakest thing he could have
done
"Ho knew, when he introduced the meas
ure, that 90 per cent. of his democratic con-
stituency were opposed to any such class leg
islation," dogmatically asserts Mr.. Mclean,
aud the public is perfectly satisfied to accept
the statement as true, Democrats have no use
for reform in any shape.
Because Senator Pendleton respectfully de-
clined to dance joyously to Mr.. McLean's
LII. .t,, hall lnk
boxes on him and buying his delegates, the
editorial boss denounces him as "sulker q
schemer and a skulker," who has "sneaked
awayon the fimsiest of excuses from the plain
est duty of democrat" and whose supreme
selfshness manifests itself in blows at the
state as we'll as the county ticket" The
three columns TEEN with choice expressions
of personal and political love and affection for
the man the democrats of the state have hon
ored with n seat in the senate of tho United
States, those quoted being noted as specimens
merely.
1t is quite evident from the following brief
selection from Mr.. McLeans editorial that
the two wings of the Ohio democracy are in
the throes of the most passionate harmony
imaginable;
Mr.. Pendeton has been hoaored by the
democracy more than any other man in the party,
but he has forgotten his obligations. lie is moth
ing that the party has not made him. Out OF
politics, he is not man Of towering attainments
He Is fourth rate lawyer, who has mover been
concerned in case of magnitude. Compared
with such men as Stallo, Kittreige, Ferguson
Hoadly, Taft, Yaple, Ward, Follett Long, aud
r many other lawyers whose names gre familiar In
Cincinnati he is Insignificant. Neither has he
been aggressive in politics, or associated with any
great achievement in legislation. He has simply
been hoisted into prominence by the democratic
derrick, lie Is a politician Of questionable meth.
ods, and having been defeated in one of his mes
conspicuous efforts to keep himself In place
through undemocratic and corrupt methods, he
proposes 10 do all he can to drag down tho whole
democratic party unless 1t surrenders To him.
The Ohio republicans are umpiring the
democratic row with absolute impartiality
Like the witnesses to the combat between tn,
! rattlesnake and the polecat, they are stand
ing off at u safe distance with their fingers to
their noses, not caring copper cent which
side wins, serenely conscious that there viii
$ be nothing left of the fighters after the cleo
ton but mephitie Renaissance.
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