Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-12-01
Aancaster fntelligenrer.
SATURDAY EVENING, DEC. 1. 1888.
RIniuess Plan,

Blaine's historical studies have been
intermitted long enough for the combi-
nation OF duplex plan Of retaining the
army of internal revenue agents and
giving the Maine philosopher boom for
the Republican nomination. Pennsylva'
MIA Is the chief factor in Blaine's presi'
Dental fortunes. Naturally enough II
is to "a party journal In this state, the
plumed knight directs the manifesto
signalizing his continued presence in th'
lists. The pretext is Of that shoit
sighted, shrewd sort, that has signalizeC
Republican craftsmanship since the close
Of the war. Taking the ludicrou:
scheme Of Wharton Barker as the basis,
and request from the editor of the
principal Blaine newspaper as the cause
Blaine invents sort Of golden bait to
the states. He proposes to have thegen-
eral government continue the vast army
of internal revenue caucus workers rs
agents of the states. In return the tax
they collect on whisky and tobacco is to
be turned over to the states in proportion
to population The effect of this in.
genious plain is vividly transparent.
The party in power would, by the adop
ton Of this novel advance in centraliza
tion, possess In perpetuity q trained body
of political janissaires, controlled by the
central administration and paid by the
state.
If this was a monarchy instead Of
republic, there would be nothing start.
ling In this project. As, however, the
constitution is in intent, If not effect the
basis of the union of the states, such a
scheme needs only to be stated to show
its ludicrous anomalousneSs. Ii is sig
nifieantly characteristic of the ignorance
OF indifference Of the Republicans and
their presses to the meaningor existence
OF the constitution that this plan IS re-
ceived with cordial alacrity. So far as
it has been discussed, but single jour
nal of Baine's party tendencies has dis
covered its incOmpatibility with the
constitution, Nor is it likely, recalling
the conduct Of theparty in the past, that
any obstruction so triling as this will be
permitted TO interfere with the plan, il
it be seen that Blaine can be nominated
on it, as the chief plank in the platform.
But aside from the constitutional OBJ.
struction, which past experience shows
would be no serious sembarrasSmentt 70 the
party, there are some bitches among the
states that Blaine has mauireStiy over
looked, Maine, for example, could not
accept the bribe, as the liquor traffic is
illegal in that state, and the wages Of
the business could hardly be accepted by
the authorities, even If the "ten lines"
advocated by the protector were adopted
by Congress. Kansas, too, could not
stultify itself by accepting i'll gotten
gains from traffic denounced and for
bidden by its laws. Iowa, also, is in the
same category, and there is no telling
how many more states may have in.
scrihed prohibition before Blaine, as
president, could bring about the work
ing of this moral scheme. Perhaps The
plumed knight has no serious thought
that the proposition will be seriously
considered. His purpose may be to
remind his Pennsylvania friends that
his philosophic pursuits have not i'm
mersed him 50 much from the world that
he has lost the faculty of delighting hi:
friends and startling his enemies.