The Wilmingtonian., 1886-07-10
Now, is the Time.

Now, is the Time.
After the distribution of the loaves and
fishes subsequent to the recent municipal
elections the political atmosphere of the city
was laden with sulphurous maledictions pro-
ceeding from the harsh throats of the disap-
pointed ones.
1t is more ptiful than amusing to hear the
CALCULATIONS of those who have "got left"
who had been promised something in ex-
change for their sacrifices and efforts by the
erstwhile humble and suppliant but now
derisive and triumphant oficeholder.
He is now secure in his position for anoth
er two years. He is fully aware of his pow
er. He knows human nature we'll enough
to calculate, and that with unerring exacti-
tude, the anger Of the disappointed ones will
float off into the air and be entirely disspa-
ted within very few months.
And therefore he chuckles And why
should he not? The sharper man does and
always should win in the battle of life. You
are all children in the hands of this stronger
man who moves you around as pawns upon
a chess board.
His simple strategy is that of the crudest
deceit. But how easily you swallow the
dose. The officeholder has learned good
lesson from the great Snowman Barnum
whose ruling guide in life was this 'that the
people love to be humbugged."
In ante-election moments tho officeholder
approaches you with his wiles. He talks to
you individually, alone. His beaming
smile and candid q manner entraps you.
There is not an attempt, on your part, to
make an ordinary businesslil1e Judgment of
the case. You carefully scrutinize every
point but the one of vital interest to your
own individuality and never perceive that
your astute friend directs your sight and
judgment.
You make J our promise, he has made his,
and your deceiver has humbugged you.
When the elections are over the first thing
you hear is of the appointment of someone TO
the very position you had been promised. In
dignantly you rush to the successful candi-
date for an explanation which he immedi-
ately gives, but when your back is turned
his consummate laughter at the Simon Pure
who would come running to confess his
guilelessness and gulliblity to the man who
had entrapped him is one of the most inter
esting pictures for the cynical student of hu
manity.
If there is any human being thoroughly
deserving the contempt and dcrision of his
fellow beings it is The disappointed office
holder or, he who is of the same class, the
one who is cheated or despoiled in the bar
gaining.
There is nothing more pitiful than impo-
nor less than "beating the air. to vent the
temper in that way.
The time to act is before the election not
after it. Make your choice and stick to it.
There is nothing unmanly in being defeated.
But there is everything to make man ash
AIMED of himself in being treated with bare
faced duplicity, he himself being contribute
ry to it.
There is another election coming along
that preparatory to the great November
fight.
You know, most Of you who are aspiring
to some advantage as an outcome of the Fall
campaign that the political placemen and
ringsters have deceived you over and over
again. It'has been demonstrated repeatedly
that these politicians are only for themselves.
They have made promises to you year after
year which have never yet been fulfilled
Still, at this very moment you are listen
ing to the same old promise. You have en-.
tirely forgotten the past deceptions prac.
ticed upon you. You are prepared to make
a wholesale surrender Of your power to mer
who have no scruples whatever in again be-
traying you.
What hope or pity can there be for you
when in the future you appear picture o.
mandlin disappointment your tongue ladet
with Indignant execratiOns aud, more ptifu
still, impoteut threats.