The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-17
SHAM REFORM.

ohAm hEEO
Reform" does not always reform. The
citizens of New York found that fact out
through the actions of reform" Demo-
cratic Assembly, the record of which is only
less infamous than that of the Indiana Legis-
lature Nowhere did the reform banner hang
higher and float prouder than in Pennsyl-
vania. Under Governor Pattison, the young
Joshua, the promised land was to be taken
by storm. The Democratic party, reinforced
by the Republican independents, marched
together to show the world an example of
reform" government that would put all
machine politicians and machine administra-
tons to the blush. Well, the experiment
has been tried, and if the testimony of its
friends is to be believed, it has proven
most disastrous failure Colonel
A. K. Mcclure editor of the
Philadelphia Times, one of the
chief captains of the grand army of 1882
says: "There is not a Democratic editor who
does not deplore the attitude and weakness
of the administration from which we hoped
so much" while Mr.. Charles Emory Smith,
of the Philadelphia Press, confesses, in an in
terview, that he is entirely done up over the
failure of the movement to which he con-
tributed. From the report of Mr.. Smiths
confession we quote:
Gin other words, the Independent Repub-
licans have had all they care for of reform
Dem ocracy?"
Precisely So"
"And after this the Republicans intend to
go it alone"
"They do. They intend to go it alone
and win"
The Pennsylvania experience is in accord
with the universal and uniform history of
all these professional reform" movements,
in which the Democratic party is taken hold
of by disappointed bosses to be the instru-
ment of the reform. The independent Re-
publicans OF Pennsylvania, who could have
been mighty power for good so long
as they worked with their own party,
became utterly powerless when they stepped
outside, and acted merely as cats to paw the
chestnuts out of the fire for the Democratic
monkey. We have not word to say against
reform movements honestly undertaken and
carried forward with common sense. Reform
is necessary, and the best men of the Repnb-
lican party need to be constantly on the
watch to prevent the bad and selfish from
using the party organization for unworthy
purposes. But the Pharisees never accom-
plish anything, never succeed in bringing
any good about save their own discontinue.
The people are quick to see the difference
between an honest effort and the
pique which is born because of per-
sonal failure to "boss;;" and they
know that the worst specimens of "boss-
to form new combinations wherein their
personal influence and power may be greater
than in the old organization which they
could not control. The results IN New York
and Pennsy lvania are of value. They en-
phasize the difference between the real and
the sham, and they prove to Republicans
that nothing is to be gained for any good
cause by putting the Democratic party in
power. The Republican party is capable of
reforming itself. 1t always has done so. Its
lamentations are the marvels of political his
tory, as is its treatment of its rogues and
rascals. There is place and work in the party
ranks and counsels for all the best men of
republican faith, and the indications are
many and satisfactory that we shall be to-
gether in perfect accord in 1884.