The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1886-02-10
OHIO METHODS.
An Occasion for Severe and Hearty Root
and-Branch Work.

and-Branch Work.
The offense of the political methods
Of Ohio Democrats is crank and smells
to heaven" These methods are an
outrage upon party allegiance. They
not only violate every principle Of hon
esty and every instinct of honor, but
they set at defiance every dictate of sa-
gacity. They wrong the people whose
decisions they nullify, while they de-
grade the party in the interest Of which
they are exercised.
The management Of Democratic in
terests in Ohio-and especiallythe Gin
cinnati influence in that management
has been in bad odor for years. The
men who have come to the front have
not been distinguished for character or
ability. They belong to the class of
politicians, always too numerous, who
value narrow and time-serying expe-
diency more than principle. For po-
litical wisdom such men substitute cum
ming, and for the true methods of party
effectiveness they resort to the clumsy
laundering of the ruflian and the Grim
inal.
Ever since the malign element which
was content to leave Allen G. Thur
man in retirement, and which con-
spired for the defeat OF George H.
Pendleton, became potent in State pol
itics, the tendency of the Democratic
policy in Ohio has been steadily down.
ward. In place of an earnest endeavor
for the public welfare in the line of the
cherished principles of the Democratic
party, low aims, connected with mere
personal ambitions, have been made
the objects of partisan zeal. In the in
terest Of these ambitions caucuses
and conventions alike have been
packed and bribed and dominated. In
trigue has taken the place of honorable
political conduct. Momentary success
has been preferred to permanent re-
suits. Instead of the plans which ex-
perience and sagacity suggested, the
devices of the forger and the thief have
been adopted. Corruption has stalked
about in hideous nakedness and has
not been ashamed. Asd the grasp of
mercenary hand has been so laid on
the springs and mechanism of party
action that the purposes of the State
Democracy have been discredited and
its methods involved in indelible dis
grace.
This downward tendency in Ohio pol
itics has recently reached the zero
point. A lower depth of degradation
than that which the Mclean ring in
Hamilton County has attached to the
record of the Democratic party, it
would be hard to conceive. When
Mahoney, one Of the ousted Hamilton
County delegates, could stand forth un-
abashed and state: "Now that the fight
is over will say that Twas not elected,
neither were any of the Hamilton Coun-
ty Democratic candidates." party feel
ing, purpose and methods would seem
to have grayitated TO the lowest point
OF infamy.
It is the clear duty of the Democrats
OF Ohio TO take instant action in regard
to this matter. The evil incubus which
has so long dominated the action of the
party must be deposed. This is time
for severe and hearty root-and-branch
work. No half measures will answer.
Those who have betrayed the best in.
terests Of the Democracy must be
awarded the treatment and doom of
traitors. Their voices must be heard
no more in the councils of the party,
and their methods and devices must be
disavowed and discontinued. II the
Democratic party in Ohio is not to lose
the last vestige Of influence; II it is not
to forfeit all title TO the confidence of
the people, it must make the maInte-
nance Of popular rights and the promo
ton of the public veal the objects of
its endeavor, and these it must contrive
to effect by policy of purity as well as
wisdom.
The whole country will watch with
interest the course which may be
adopted to remedy the evil condition
of things which has received such de-
plorable manifestation. II can not be
but that sufficient wisdom, virtue and
energy will be found in the Democracy
of Ohio to provide efficient means for
its own protection and perpetuation.
But should nothing be done-should
the evil influence which has blighted
the party remain unchecked, then it
will be strongly felt that it may be the
duty, as it is the right, OF the National
Democracy to condemn and disown all
affiliations which would draw to it dis
grace, humiliation and defeat.-W Wash
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