Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1884-04-24
The Wet-Dog in Politics.

1t, 10y shsklng IRON himself loui
hu nidity. The element of this
canine unpopularity may be summed
up in these facts: that he comes un-
bidden to where he is not wanted (;
that he is foul with stagnant moisture (;
that he is particular to shake himself
when he can befoul the largest mum
ber at one aud the same time. The ef-
feet Of this prop nsity is to disgust the
dogs temporary society. 1t relieves
the dog. but it scatters the crowd.
Such animals there are in politics.
They lack the shaggy coat, but they
scatter the filth ell the came. They
relieve the itching in tseir own dis
eased political skins, by wallowiug
in the Purlieus of personal vituPera.
ton and scandal f; they find relief and
pleasure, Of a pcrculiar sort, in shak-
ing from themselves, showers Of invec-
tive and abuse, upon those who have
been theirs aud the Party's beueiac:-
urs.
They are the breeders Of disorgan-
ization they are the fostering sores
they are the kicker-; ; they say "we
cannot, and YOU shalt not" they must
be continually placated. consulted,
tcnporized with. coaxed. cajplcd, pat
ted on the back, but they always, in.
evitably, play the "wci-d,g."
One Of the most striking trait. of
the mcauc-t of these lii,lc politicians,
Is always to bring their personal quar-
rgls with neighbors into polite, aud IN
stead of fighting them out in coura.
geous, manly and open manner, call
upon every one subservient 10 them,
for favors IS customers, etc, to take
sides against neighbors with whom
they have no quarrel and thus en-.
gender strife, animosities and Jealous
ies, aud break up otherwise happy and
cnnteutsd neighborhoods.
They are disturbers, never Leaders
They have no party fealty. They
give their party no financial support /;
moral support or influence they gener-
ally have none. Those whom tic par.
ty look to for Leadership, are generally
the objects Of their vi,uperation.
Luckily our good party in this
county, at the present time, is not
much cursed with the wet.iog class
They appear to be confined mostly to
the Republican party in Centre coun.
ty. For party that has been, and
promises for many years to be, in a
hopeless minority, there would seem
to he small use for leaders or disturb.
ers. But they do exist. Every year
the Republican party makes its nom
nations. and it, feeble efforts towards
success. Every year they get left by
the way.idc, aud the Democratic ma
jority increases. Whenever a Repub.
lican ASSUMES to be leader. to take
an actiye part, to give of his time or
OF bis money, either of principle or
personal advancement, he is set upou
by the class We have described, aud be
generally retires di.gusted.
There are a few small Republican
plums to be handed around each year,
such ns chairman Of the county com.
mittee, delegate to the State conven-
ton, member Of the State committee,
delegate to the National convention,
and the like. For these there is gem
orally n scramble. Sensible men rec.
ognize the right of the hard workers
and influential men in the party, to
these positions, but here is always the
wet-dog's opportunity. The deserving
man is set upon, abused, and vilifed /;
and if he gets away with the honor, he
gets his share of the mud.
We are not wanting for illustra.
tions. Take the case of Chairman
Keller, the late Republican delegate
TO the Harrisburg convention. Il was
sought to defeat him on the ground
that he could not be trusted to repre-
sen: his party as a delegate. A pub
lie meeting was called osiensibly in
the interest Of Blaine, but really
for the purpose Of beating Kallerl a
COMMITTEES Of ten was selected Il Held
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