Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1885-02-27
THE VENAl DEMOCRACY.

Press.
THE VENAL DEMOCRACY.
Some Frozen Truth with Regard to the
Party Which Was Successful mt the Late
Election.
The Boston journal has suggestive
article under the caption: "Is the
Democracy Venal?" in which it makes
the following points:
When the Dem )crutlc party gets whipped 4
In amy contest the leaders and organs always
attributes the d sns.er to The purohnse of
voters who would otherwise hlve voted the
Democratic cket. This is II confession on
the part of the leaders of the party that n
certain per cent OF their followers will ey-
change their principles during election day
for Il few patry do lars. We have alwa 's
been 10th TO believe that this could bo true.
But recently we have come to the conclusion,
upon Democratic evidence of different ma.
ture that tho Democracy is vcnal. Our rei-
sons arc three; During the last month qu to
a large number of prominent Democrats
have visited the President.elcct to impjore
him to select member OF his Cabinet from
ti their respective re, States. wlscons ms deleye
ton satd-f correctly rcported-that II their
representative could he cal cd to the Cabinet
Wisconsin from thcncclorth would be a
from Illinois are alleged to have made similar
promises II he were made Secretary OF the
INTERIOR, Indeed, we are told that all the
could be- turned into Kentuckys and Geo rylaa
if'cnch could have Cabinet officer. Mch-
gan did not aspire quite so high, but its
Democratic spokesmen promised that the dor
mant Democrat could be reused Mt ever cleo.
ton If some one Michigan Dem icrat could bu
appointed to be chief of II prominent bureau.
THIS seems very Reasonable price for II State
with eleven Repre- sentatives in Congress We
are waiting now to see III some delegation of
Vermont Democrats if there are enough of
them to make II group sufficiently lurIc to
which the term delegation can be appl cd do
not visit Mr.. Cleveland and promise to make
that State MS solid hereafter for the Democracy
Us IL has been for the Republicans if some ono
OF the now limited number of Democrats is
made member of the Democratic Cabinet.
We snail look for this announcement with |
great interest and not II Little anxiety.
II Republican stronghold can be changed |
into reliable Democratic Stlte in considera-
ton OF being honored with II Secretary of some |
department, we shall not be surpr sed to hear |
of an attempt to increase the number of Cabi- |
net officers to the number of Southern States
whicn the Democratic magnets deem Suilic ent |
to control the country. If this is not feasible
perhaps the Democracy could be hired to come |
lent of u Cabinet office in heads of bureaus.
foreign Ministers, Consuls, etc. A scile of
equivalent values on smaller offices might he
arranged satisfactorily, which would soon
glndden and encourage the now inv siblc De.
mocracy of Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Michi-
gan, Wisconsin and Vermont that they would
rise from the graveyards and make Demo.
cratic Gibraltar of each.
There is "frozen truth" in every line
of the above, and similar reflections
must have occurred to very many in
telligent persons. While there are DEM
ocrats who in personal character typify
the highest and most honorable man
hood, it is lamentable fact that the
course of the Democratic party is al
most invariably upon low and ques-
tionable line of procedure. Its meth
ods are those of the blind partisan, the
pothouse politician, the interruptions
ward heller, rather than those dictated
by lofty and statesmanlike policy. 1t
aims at political success through small
and questionable cunning instead of a
manly avowal of purpose ard a stur y
and open support of well-d ,fned prin-
ciples. 1t prefers IDEAL to straight
out fight, and victory gained by de-
ce,t to square triumph won in plain
view of the world. Its faults are in
herent and congenital. They are in
bred, deep-roo ed and ineralcable.
Naturally, we do not expect parry SO
constituted to use the advantage II great
National success has gwen it in other
than an ignoble way, an the Journals s
analysis of its character is in accord
with its ent re history and its present
behavior. II Is unquest,onable that the
distribu ion of the spoils of Office and
the devsing of means for retaining
maintaining and extending Democratic
power in the Nation and State are far
more inviting subjects of consideration
to theparty leaders than the preparation
of well-matured, broad and patriotic
policy based on sound principle and
aiming to subserve the highest welfare
of the country. Evidence of this has
been abundant of late. The public has
not been admitted to the conferences
held in Albany and New York between
the President elect and representative
members OF his party. But enough has
been given out to indicate that consulta-
tlons have been influenced more by ten
der regard for the fortunes of the Dem
ocratic party and its "heelers" than
watchful care for the peoples interests.
The New York Herald, which seems to
consider itself sort of guardian for
Mr.. Cleveland and assumes to have in
innate knowledge of his political in
clinations, quotes "a leading politician"
as saying:
regard this visit OF Mr.. Cleveland as very
Important Ia view of the interesting State and
local elections we arc To have this ycnr. /
know that II is the desire of many persons
representing tho different local factions To
have united county and State ticket, and 1
am assured that for the future of the Demo
cratic party Mr.; Cleveland heartily indorses
such an idea This year we are 10 vote for u
Governor and Lieutenant Governor, State
Comptroller, State Treasurer. Secretary of
State, State Engineer and Surveyor, Attorney
General. State Senators ana Ascmblymen,
Sheriff, County Court Clerk, Supreme Court
Judge, Common Please Court Judge, Superior
Court Judge and City Court Judge. Wo hope
That ME- Clevoland's visit VIII have beneficial
effect.
Does this not confirm what has al
ready been said as to the inability of
Democratic politicians to entertain
any high conception of political respon-
sibilityP The person here quoted sees
in the election of Mr.. Cleveland and
the power and prestige it gives the
Democratic party only a chance to unite
the factions and satisfy an enraged ap.
petite for spoils. The opportunity 10
serve the people by framing broad, COM
prehensive and far-reaching measures
of public policy have no place in this
gentleman's mind, just as similar con-
sideratlons are banished from the
thought OF every rival "hall" and
faction seeking to turn the Democratic
triumph to the qualification of its own
small and contemplate desires. This
may not be venality In the strict accep.
tation OF the term, but II Is such close
approach to It that honorable men are
Justified In regarding the party with
suspicion and distrnsh Troy IN ~
lsnles,