Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-05-09
MIGHT Is RIGHT,

MIGHT Is JSIG1T.
 The republicans of Connecticut have again shown their belief in the undem- ocratic doctrine that might makes right. By their action yesterday in the house in rejecting the bill providing for the elec- tion of county commissioners by the people they proved that they have no disposition to give up anything that their might enables them to grab. The selfshness of the party and its members came to the top as usual.
 There was not even pretense of req son for rejecting the bill except that given by Mir Glover that it is good policy to let we'll enough alone. What he calls we'll enough is well enough for the re- publican party. The fact that in every county of the state, even in this overwhelmingly democratic county, the republicans have the call on the county commissioners berths is of the party with which he trains. But it is not we'll enough for the fifteen hun dred democratic plurality in the state. It is not well enough for the party that is entitled, according to the genius and spirit of American institutions, to the state government and the legislature as | we'll. It is not we'll enough for those with whom the county commissioners have to do in that they are frequently | compelled to do underhanded work for the republican party in order to save | their business and their means of liveli- hood. It is not we'll enough for the large portion of the community whom the county commissioners rule with hand of iron that | they should have no voice in their election, but must bow to men whom a minority party foists upon them. It is not we'll enough for the \ large taxpaying element who have an | interest in the county funds that none but republicans should have the care and the disposition of them. It is not well enough for the American sense of justice and equality that the policy of minority representation should extend | Io VliooO SuoSo oiily "1iC1C tI!C are in a minority. In fine the present system of choosing county commission CTS is we'll enough only for the repub- lican party, as was no doubt meant by MT Glover, who has never shown any capacity to see beyond the length of a | very partisan nose.
 What does the rejection of this bill | mean? In the light of the possibility l that the house will endorse the senate in passing the bill allowing but one saloon to every five hundred inhabitants, | what is the prospect of the republican party's course? It is simply that the | county commissioners, being the sole judges of who shall be allowed to sell 1 liquor, will grant licenses only to those whom they can make useful in building up and perpetuating the republican machine. This has been, to some con- siderable extent, the policy of the county commissioners in the past, and it is like ly to be their policy much more when they will have better opportunities for its prosecution. There is nothing squeamish about the men whom the republicans of Come cticut are accus- toned to make county commissioners, and they may always be trusted to avail themselves of any opportunity to push the party interest even if some poor devil of democratic saloon keeper has to suffer in consequences, As Richelieu placed the interests of the state above the lives of individuals, SC the republican county commissioners place the interests of their party above the business or means of livelihood ot democrats or others who will not run with the republican machine.
 On no other ground than the policy ot grab all can the republicans defend thei1
 action in denying the people their prop. CT right of electing the county commis. sioners. But we may expect to see re. publican editors in this state securing the south for some alleged outrage on c9lored republicans while they fail to sec with a magnifying glass the gross out. rage perpetrated by the republican party of Connecticut. It wouldn't be theil policy to discover the beam in their own eyes while they rant about the rainbow that dances in their democratic neigh bOr's.
 MOw REAnNI