The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-01-31
Republican identification with Bossism.

Republican Identification with Bossism.
That the spirit of '.bossism," which
has done so much to disgust the people
with the Republican party, is an essen
tial doctrine of that political organize
ton, is freshly shown in the career of
Hon. Warner Miller, Senator from New
York. He was picked up by the Half
Breeds as an ardent friend of reform,
and his election to the Senate was pro-
test against the boss spirit shown by his
predecessor, whose lordly nod was q
thing before which party leaders were
wont to bow and tremble. The Repub-
ican party, when opportunity offered,
overthrow this great boss, and with
grateful shouts of deliverance welcomed
Hon. Warner Miller to his vacant place
in the Senate. The .Half-Breed press
in New York rang with his praises, and
the triumph of this reform movement
over the party machine was duly her
aided all over the Nation by the papers
which espoused the Garfield wing of the
party. They had gotten rid of machine
man and had in his stead man whose
name was Synonymous with reform.
IL StcIl1S, HCWCNcI, lAdI IuCN SuOuOOO
their praises too early. The spirit OF
''bossism." which they thought was
buried when the lordly Conkling fell, is
revived again in this patron saint OF re-
form, and his performances in that line
now afford new texts for the Republican
editors to discourse upon. They are
shocked to find that the new leader is
as much, if not more of boss than the
old one, and that his cloak of reform
was but thin disguise to deceive the
too easily duped members OF his party.
He has now blossomed out as boss OF
the first water, and proposes not only
to dictate the politics of New York, but
through his manipulation of the New
York State delegation to the Republican
National Convention, intends to shape
the destinies of the whole party. To
this end his fine Italian hand was seen
in the organization of the New York
Legislature of its officers being his
friends and retainers. And it is stated
that the New York delegation will be
two-thirds composed of men friendly to
his ambition, and that this delegation
will support the man whom Mr.. Miller
shall name, and it is said his initials do
not correspond with those of President
Arthur The full extent of Mr.. Miller S
ambition is not yet made known, but if
he starts out to manage the whole Re-
publican party, there does not seem to
be much more left for him to assume.
.Bossism" is as certain to grow and
develop as the party exists, and 1t can
no more be kept down or destroyed
than can the tides be prevented from
the regular ebb and flow ordained by
the Creator. The desire to rule the
masses is inherent in the Republican
party policy, and the best illustration
of this is the strifes and feuds which
have rent the party from the conflicts OF
the chieftains for pre-eminence in this
business. To delude, deceive and hood
wink the people has been the party
policy from the beginning. and they
who were most apt at this stood highest
in party councils. To be all things to
all men, to put forth platforms to tickle
the ear of reform while they plotted how
power might best be maintained, this
has been the chief work of the Repub-
lican leaders, and that this system has
been productive of bosses is not at all
to be wondered at.
If the leaders have now been them
selves deceived by the development OF
of the Senator from New York to the
rank of great boss, they need not com,
plain, for it is what they all have prac,
ticed, and if they are to be led around
with ring in their noses they can then
perhaps understand how the people
must have liked the previous perform
ances in which they were the chief ac'
tors and the people the dupes. If the
Republican party was anything else
than an aggregation of ambitious spoils
seekers. and intent upon anything else
than the perpetuation of party power,
the "boss" system might not so veA
and worry them, but unfortunately they
are so wholly bound up in their ambi
tons that anything but that which min,
listers to their desires finds no place il
their creed. So long as that party re-
mains in power so long will the vices OF
our peculiar system of politics remain
with us to veX and annoy those who
would desire to see different order Of
things prevail.
There is, however. hope that the days
| of the bosses are numbered. The signs
of the times point to a release from SC
/ odious dynasty and the restoration OF
methods more in accord with the rights
/ and dignities of the voter. If this cam
paign is TO be the last in which Repub
lican leaders will scramble for control,
and fret the air with their feuds and
strifes it will be glad season for the
people and one which they could ap-
propriately celebrate with all manner
! of rejoicing, for never was there great
er need of deliverance from party DOM
ination. Register.