The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1884-10-24


ened by the actions ef the respec-
tive conventions Ot the two parties.
That section Of the republican par
IL which in the chicago convention
represented the demand for reform
Was a powerful one in numbers, And
character and influence It included
some Of the purest aud sblest and
most eloquent leaders OF the party.
The nomination made by the eon-
vention was regarded as an over |
whelming defeat OF that wing OF
the party, an Ignoring OF Its de
mands and an offensive defiance Of
| its opposition. The nominaIion OF
Gov. Cleveland vas forced on the
Democratic Convention over the
heads Of leaders beloved and hoa.
ored iu the party, simply because
bis name was associated with re-
torn. He had fought with intre-
pidity and success against corrup-
tiou aud official abuse 10 every sta.
ton to which be had been called.
His nomination, II ratified by cleo
ton will inspire every young man
of ambition with confidence in the
efficiency OF virtue aud ability TO
secure their appropriate rewards In
tie honors and Offices of the repab
lie. His defeat will teach the ep-
posite, namely, that the record OF
fdelity to public trust and Of u
reform of public abuses, is no ele-
ment OF strength IN a candidate for
the sutirages and confidence OF the
American people. Another cause
which has operated in previous
elections against the cooperation
of all friends of administrative re-
form, was the prejudice against the
democratic party, an unwiliingness
to restore il to power aud distrust
of its ability to effect the needed
reforms. This prejudice Is fast
wearing of. The independent re.
publicans now feel that the work cf
reform cannot be accomplished as
long as the republican party is in
power. To admit that it cannot be
done through the democratic party
is to give up the cause of reform.
To allow their dislike OF the demo.
cratic party to make them continue
the republican party Ia power is to
ratify the existing system and to
surrender all hope Of good govern.
meut. Independent republicans
realize this, and when warnesl that
by defeating the republican party
they 9 danger important interests
they reply that the influences and
tendencies now debasing the char
actcr aud tone of the public service.
the corrupt use of pnblic patronage
to perpetuate itspower, tho narrow
and violent partisanship which has
usurped the place Of u broad states.
mauship, the methods which have
lowered the standards OF official
honesty will inevitably lead to
greater dangers than any now in
sight. The detear of the party re-
sponsible for these evils and under
which they have grown up, they
belie,e will give a death.blow to
the system, and If the result is the
ascendency of the democratic party
IL will come iuto power with warn
ing of like fate should it pursue
like methods. But the distrust OF
the democratic party is wearing of
with liberal aud patriotic republi.
caus. The country is now accus.
toned to seeing democratic majorl-
ties iu congress without apprchen-
sion OF unwise or hurtful legisla-
tion. 1t now sees, aud expects to
see, the legislation of those demo
cratic maiorities tree from venslity
and corruption. Powerful corpora
tions and the agents of plundering
, capitalists exert no induehce upon
, the action OF u democratic congress
De Golyer contracts are not made
, with the chairmen of its Committee
, gu Ways and Means or of any othel
, important committees or any of itl
!. speakers. No scandal or charge o.
: corruption or official indecorum il
Q made against Mr.. Carlisle, Mr.
I Randall or Mr. Kerr. True, y char
+. actefiess adventurer attempted Il
8 sdiirch the fair fame of Mr.. Kerr
8 but the House BY a uuauimous vote
1 OF both ssdes put its brand upoi
!. the calumay OF its author. The
!. system OF retrenchment in expcn
1 ditures and reduction OF taxation
J. to which the democratic party il
. pledged, and which it has sough,
to carry out, presents q sure meani
!. of cutting oil one of the greatest
/ sources of federal patronage and
{ administrative corruption. The
: effort to raise the cry OF solid
4 South is again made, but this cry
} has lost much of its efficacy ID
j. checking the aspirations OF thu
: people North for progress aud re
: form in the government. They
!. know the unreality Of any danger
), from that cause; they know that
4 the North is the dominant sec
Q tioa of this country and viii
!. continue to coutrol the natioua
D policy, whatever party may be II
! power. Whenever q majority o
. the thoughtful people deem I
Q change in the National administra
I tion necessary, they can make !
{ without any relative change Il
D Southern sentiment 0v Influence
0 Six Northern States alone have
+ larger electoral vote than all th
Y South combined. Each of thos
J. States, save one, have given demo
!. cratic majorities at different time