The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-09-10
Riding Two Horses.

y
The difficulty of riding two horses, OF
sitting on two stools, or serving two
masters, or performing divided duty
Of any kind, is so great that it has
passed into proverbial literature, and is
expressed in variety of sayings curt
and Ineligible. So extreme is it con-
sidered to be, however, that only the
possession of great natural endowments
In this direction, combined with unu.
sual skill in the performance of feats oi
this kind, will insure the success OF the
effort at every trial, and, even then,
there is risk of failure which is no less
disastrous than disgraceful.
The Democratic party has long been
celebrated for its performances in
political circus-riding, and when the
platform was first published this paper
pointed out the possibility of acrobatic
achievements in the tariff clause. The
prediction, founded upon the estimate
then made, has been more than realized,
and it is pleasing to observe that this
plank is now being put TO variety Of
uses not less profitable to the party than
promotive of mental strength and &C.
tivity in those who are interpreting and
applying it. By means of this plank,
when held steady by protectionists such
as Albeit and Randall, it is used in New
Jersey and Pennsylvania as bridge by
which the independent iron-master may
pass from Republicanism to Democra.
cy; by means of this plank, when WELD.
ed by the vigorous hands of Watterson,
the Kentucky free trader is spanked in.
to the Democratic line and made to ad.
nit that Exclusively for public pur.
poses" means the same as 'for revenue
only" In Central Ohio it means pro-
lection; in Northern Ohio, free trade;
in old mossback communities, 'it is the
doctrine of Andrew Jackson;" in more
civilized districts, "it is the expression
of true Democracy tempered to the de-
mands Of a growing age"
II is, in short, the solution TO the
problem how to ride two horses with
out falling off either; how TO sit on two
stools and not be spilled on the ground;
how to serve two masters and get pay
and compliments from each. But in
spite of the laudable character Of this
performance, there are people in the
country who, Notwithstanding the fact
that their consciences have been scared
with Democracy for many years, can
not, even if they are Democrats, divest
themselves of o dim suspicion that
there is something wrong about all
this, that no matter how much strain
ing the English language will bear,
there must be limit somewhere, and
it seems to them that this limit has been
reached in declaration which is capa-
BILE of two entirely different and oppo-
site constructions, as in this case. To
be sure, these people are not very
numerous, nor, as Democrats, are they
very influential, but still they exist and
the party leaders feel under some little
necessity OF allaylng their suspicious.
The process by which this is done is
no less ingenious than effective. The
chain of reasoning is complete. Is not
the Democracy infallible? Was not the
Chicago Convention regularp Did il
not make PLATFORM Is not this the
PLATFORM Then, il this clause Of 0
platform made by regular convention
OF an infallible Democracy be not re.
ceived with faith, nothing doubling,
you are no Democrat. In vain may
the doubter hope to escape the dilem
ma. He is obliged to accept the plat.
form, the whole platform and nothing
but the platform, or political ostracism
Is the result. The right of private judg
ment is not permitted save to those
who are too opinionated to receive the
teachings of others and at the SAINT
time too important 10 be unceremoni
ously kicked out. All others must ca
in silence the political meat set befor
them, asking no questions for con
science sake"
The harlequinism of the party will
protection colored legs and free trad
body occasions neither solicitude no
embarrassment TO the leaders so long a
the rank and file acquiesce. Hence IL /
that the party can be protection part
in one State and free trade party il
another. If the majority Of the Demo
Gratis were reading men, such state o
things would be impossible; but fortu
nately for the leaders, the heavies
Democratic maiorites come from thos
States which have the fewest and tn
poorest newspapers, and here is perhap
the main reason why such piece O
deception and political fraud can b
practiced. The Democratic voter i
Kentucky or Georgia, who reads n
paper, can easily be kept in the dark a
TO what his brother Democrats in Ney
Jersey and Pennsylvania are believin,
about the platform, and If vague rumor
reach his ears, the assertion that the
are but campaign lies will generally b
sufficient to dlssipate his suspicious an,
bet his mind at rest. Ignorance is sal,
10 be the mother Of vice, but in view q
such a state of things, it is questionable
whether the proverb should not b
amended to make her also the materna
parent Of Democracy.-St. Louis Globt