Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1890-02-20

It b Interesting to note the indlgna-
tiou which permeates the Republican
editCr's bosom, or at least flows from his
pon,at the contemplation Of the heinous
lSnbay Of the Ohio Democratic Legislature
- s0 divide the state into congressional
districts a. to reverse the order
Ia which the two political parties
are now represented in the lower
House, where the striking pcr-
Torrance Of Speaker Reed has been
made possible only through his election
by these Ohio Republican congressman,
elected persuant to the Ohio Republican
Legislature 'sgerrymander Of the congress
sional districts whereby only six Demo-
Gratis have been returned to the House to
fifteen Republicans.
As Ohio is state which Is carried by
the Democracy and Republicans with
frequent alienation /; and as at present
Il IL Democratic, It will strike the aver
age mind that it is just as proper and
fair for the Democratic Legislature to
make the congressional districts 30 as TO
return fifteen Democrats, as 1t was for
the Republican Legislature, when 1t had
its chance, to create fifteen Republican
districts and more justifiable, because
the example of taking such advantage
Of their power was taught the Demo-
Gratis by the Republican precedent
ret them; and rammcd homo to
them In most offensive way
by the present performance Of the
the speaker of the national House, who
was elected to his scat of power rs the re-
suit Of the Ohio Republican Legislature's
gerrymander Of the congressional dis
tricts. With all this influence excrted
upon the Ohio Democratic Legislature
+ TO make all theD Democratic congressional al
districts that they can, now that they
have the making Of them, 1t Is moi
strange that they proceed TO do 1t.
And anyone who undertakes TO con.
denim them for 1t, will do well to con
slider whether the people are yet Of ths
mind TO demand fairness In politics
from party managers. That such fair
ness II right and that 1t should be en-
forced Is not to be denied but Is 1t thu
= question in:sthe case which Is rather al
to whether the people are disposed Il
insist upon Its practice.
II the voters of the country are ready
to acquiesce In such methods rs the Re
publican party managers freely prac
tice to keep up their power In Congress
Il b unreasonable 10 ask the Democratic
party managers to abstain from thcs
methods when they have q chance Il
follow them. They have right, rather
TO conclude that the state of public sen
tlInent Il not such as to call for fairnes
In politics, and that the devil take tn
hindmost practice is the one that tn
people want.
It Is true that this Is not q practic
which Is likely to wear forever, and thu
the party leaders may be the wisest VIII
let the walk of their party be conspicu
ously virtuous in every hour ant
ut every step. But such self contro
II not to be looked for from the averag
man, and doubtless il not to be expecte,
from the Democrats Of the Ohio Legis
lature. If they can control their actio
30 as to exclude the question of part
interest from the congressional appol
tionment, they will be good deal fitte
for heaven than the majority of mel
whom the people select for their law
makers.