Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1885-02-16
dllt Ganfaster 1ntelligenfer
LANCASTER. FEBRUARY ie, 1855.
Practice and Profession.

The North american points out that not
only Senator Wallace, the president OF the
Beach Creek railroad, is Democrat, but
General Magee also, who, as Senator wal
lace says, controls it. The North Amer'-
can is moved to wonder that any intlma-
ton Of disposition towards constitutional
infraction should be possible against
Democrat. The North american fails to
make the distinction between Democrat
in private and public station. General
Magee goes for cash across the constltu-
ton; which is very wrong in General Ma
gee, but he follows the crowd to be in at line
death and get the biggest possible part OF
the carcass. The tone Ofpublic sentiment
is not yet sufficiently high in this country
to require the citizen in his business pur-
suits to make his practice wholly con-
sistent with his political profession. W.
hope, however, that it is strong enough to
require that the statesmen of the country
shall have this consistency in their con-
duct.
1t is entirely true that the controlling
management of the Beech Creek railroad
Is in Democratic hands and that the road
should be run in obedience to Democratic
professions If it is not, it is bad for the
Democi ats in control, if they would also
be popular leaders. That il is not, we do not
yet know.
We have however had the courage to
inquire; we would recommend our exam
pie to the North American and its fellow Re
publican organs. Perchance if the news
papers would undertake to hold the rein oI
the politicians of their respective parties
who are running railroads through thu
constitution, the practice might be checked
or does the North American want us t
understand that Republican principle:
warrant such infracton Of the constitution
and that only the Democratic newspaper:
need bother about it ? If this is SO, we will
cheerfully assume that position. W,
fancy that when the people get to compre
hend that this is the political situation
the Republican vote will soon dwindl
rapidly.
AS Democrats we do not propose to con
done the stabbing of our political cor
victions, though done by Democrati
hands. We are fully aware that a grea
deal Of the responsibility for the railroa
violation of law and justice rests upo
Democrats. Thomas A. Scott was Dem
ocrat, and yet one of the most aggressive 0
railroad managers against lawful restraints
Mr.. A. j. Cassatt is q Democrat, and ye
science when his interests clash wit
his political faith. William l.. Scot
is Democrat, and one now active in tn
party councils and yet no one would sa
that ne has ever manifested a proper regar
for the constitution, the law and Demo
cratic principles, when they crossed tn
paths of his private business. He has bee
in search of wealth all his life, and has 60
it most abundantly. He has been an activ
Democrat all his life and is now in Con
gress. There are other Democrats VIII
have reached out for political fame and fo
private fortune in railroad operations. The
are not necessarily contradictory aims; We
tits hard torun them successfully together
as it Is hard for the camel TO go through
the needles eye. AT least if they are on tn,
Democratic side of politics, where the,
must respect the constitution and the law
to keep their political title clear to man
sions in the skies. We understand that il
is a fundamental condition of Democratic
statesman's leadership that he shall be tru,
in thought, in word and in deed to tn,
Democratic demand that the railroad
corporations shall obey the spirit anG
the letter Of the constitution and the laws
and that they shall be just in their treat
ment of all their customers and honest in
all their conduct. We propose to hold every
Democrat claiming to be leader up to this
rack, he he who, or what, or where he
may and this is fair notice that we will
strike our brother if he offends.