The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-06-28
Wisdom or Folly.

WISDOM or ROXY.
Party names and party records have lost
much of their power upon large element of
society, and independence of thought and ac-
ton is more widespread to-day than ever.
Nominations are no longer equivalent to cleo
ton where the party is in the ascendancy.
This has recently been eyinced in Pennsylva.
MIA, Ohio and New York, the leading and
controlling states of the Union, as well as
elsewhere. The conservative element holds
the balance of power, and the party that puts
up able and clean candidates is the one that
will succeed. This class has largely increased
within the past two years, and their name is
legion They are Democrats or Republicans,
but they are first of all patriotic citizens.
The Democratic party has now presented to
it grand opportunity to take control of the
government and bring it back to its former
efficiency and purity. They have butt NOM
mate an acceptable ticket and their success is
assured. The Republican party has fallen
into the hands of star-routers and public plum
derers, and they have forced the nomination
OI one Vi IUelf hillu lOT L TcSluCHb. o
whole record, nearly, is subject to suspicion,
and his own letters convict him of unsavory
jobs. He is not safe man, and many of the
better element Of his party have refused to
support him. They are men of character and
independence, not hurrah boys and shouters
who can be controlled by money or tenders
of positions. They are deliberate and con-
servative men. They have not hastily acted,
and put up another ticket. Alone, they could
accomplish nothing more than record their
votes for pure men, without hope of success.
Though not Democrats, nor intending to be-
come Democrats, they are patiently awaiting
the action of the Democratic party at the ap-
preaching convention. If that party presents
able men with clean records, they viii active
ly support them and cast. their ballots for
their success. They do not~Bish to dictate,
nor do they even recommend, further than TO
express readiness to support Gov Cleve--
land, of New York, or one of the same char
acter and ability. That they are sincere, is
shown by their activity in organizing, and by
the course of their organs, the New York
Times, Haper's Weekly, New York Post,
independent, Boston Herald and others.
They warned their party in advance that the
candidates must be above suspicion. Their
voice was unheeded, and now the star reuters
aud jobbers must conduct the campaign and
election without them.
This element numbers thousands in each of
the Northern and Eastern states. They are
sufficient to turn the scales in New York,
Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,
Ohio, Illinois and Indiana, and other CON-
monwealths. They are ready to support the
Democratic nominees, provided they are men
pledged to reform and economy, and whose
records would warrant confidence. The issue
is Reform against Corruption. The Republi-
cans have chosen the latter, and named a
candidate who is well suited to the platform.
The Democrats to succeed must put up men
who will stand for the former. They must
not be men without public record. Merely
good men will not do. They must be tried
men, whose records are a guaranty. Unless
this is done, the Independent Republicans will
be forced to put up candidates of their own,
and they will be Joined by large class of in
dependent Democrats. There is determi-
nation to elevate the politics of the country, a
determination to purify the government, and
the effort is to be made this year.
This is the situation, and it remains to be
seen whether the Democratic party is to be
controlled by WISDOM or whether it will conf
NIT the folly of nominating untried men.
Cleveland and Hoadley, Parker and Palmer,
Bayard and McDanald, are combinations that
will command public confidence and whose
records give an assurance of purity in the
public service. They rank in the order named,
though either ticket would be acceptable to
the conservative and reform element, without
whose votes success is involved in doubt