National Republican., 1883-09-10
A Form OF Reform.

There is nothing so dear to the democratic
heart as reform. II doesn't make great deal
Of difference to thom what is reformed nor
how tho act is accomplished, so long as IL
partalSos of the nature Of u republican defeat.
They were willing to reform this nation into
two great confcdoracios, which would be nat
urally antagonistic aud forever at war, or on
the verge of IT, for the sake of defeating tho
republican party when It first came into being.
They were willing to hang upon tho portals
of every home tho insignia of bereavement
and woe, by means of internecine war, rather
than submit TO the will of the people when
they declared that the republican party should
administer the affairs of government From
the moment when the smoke of the last gun
fired by murdcrous guerrilla curlcd away
into the free air, they were for reform, so
long as republicans were debarrcd from tho
management of the rcbellious states. To dc.
feat the republican party in 1872 they were
n radical republican, aud thus reform them
selves into the most nbioct party dobasement
In 1876 they conducted n campaign on the
slogan of ",ridcn and Reform whllo their
embodiment of virtue, Tildon, was re-
forming tho country with mules and
an unlimited barl of corruption money.
In the carly months of 1877, while
their chief was endoavoring to buy
white slaves for mess of rotten lucro-
pottagc, and thereby add infamy most damna-
bio to the slaughter of southern voters, they
were declaring for reform aud demanding the
Inauguration of their idol. In 1850 the samo
programme was carried out, but the people re-
buked it by q majority so pronounced as to
make cavil impossible. At present it is we'll
known that one Of their chosen leaders, Gov.
Hamilton, of Maryland, is taking hold of the
matter of reform in o much moro vigorous
fashion than his democratic constituents had
intended, and consequently tho party in that
state Is in condition of turmoil The
democratic leaders are for such reform only
as will inure to their spoilship. One of their
purest and most able statesmen mstook the
vociforous reform cry of his party for "honor
bright" opinion, and advocated q measure of
civil service reform. The result of his honest
action will be political retirement. The
present governor of the state of Maryland
is guilty of the same error, and the party of
pretenses and rotrogression seems determined
to injure him politically. They propose to re-
tire him to private lifo for his honesty
The bourbon bosses declare that he
shall not have another term. Gov.
Hamilton, backed by the almost unani-
nous voto of the Baltimore democrats,
demands u denomination, and says that the
work of genuine reform shall go on or he
wi1l defeat the democratic candidate, who
ever he may be. This he can probably do,
and will. Meanwhile Senator Pendleton
quietly submits to the indignities which are
heaped upon him. The only reform man who
can evoke the plaudits of the bourbon masses
is the New York octogenarian who never
knew an honest political thought and never
entertained an honest political measure eH
cept for his own ACKNOWLEDGMENT. Tho demo
cratic party is for reform, but it only wants
it on c-republican-p party must-go theory.