The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-04-03
A Corrupt Party.

Chauncy i. Black writes a strong
letter from Harrisburg to the New
York World on the doings of the do
nothing Legislature now in session at
Harrisburg. We quote some extracts:
Three months of the Legislative
session have passed. Nothing has
been done. The Republicans are in
absolute control of both Houses, but
they have seen fit to complete no bust
ness except rhe election of United
States Senator, against whom the
people protested, but in whose favor
all the bosses agreed.
All their lavish promises to the
people in the late campaign remain
unredeemed. Their purpose is mani
festlv to go on as before; to disturb no
profitable abuse; to maintain railroad
determinations, unequal taxes, and
corrupt and fraudulent elections, as in
the past. and to grant no relief what
ever They have been supported by
the few who prohted by these wrongs,
and they expect to be supported by
them in the future.
They reason that they gain more by
this course than by tightening of the
burdens or broadening the liberties of
the people. Monopolies and corpor-
ations powerful classes mingled out
for special favor at the expense of the
many-are bound to the party which
thus distinguishes them by the endur-
ing ties of self-interest, and they will
respond with money and with the ex.
ercise of power over their vast num-
bers of dependents whenever occasion
requires, while the people at large are
apt to thank nobody in particular for
permission merely to enjoy as their own
the concession Of rights which are un-
deniable and indefeasible. This is
the corrupt theory and the shameless
practice Of the monopoly party in Ma
tional politics, and it has been and is
still preeminently the Republican
bosses and their slavish followers in
Pennsylvania.
This Legislature is plainly in the
hands of men who, having prohted by
this principle of political conduct, are
determined there shall be no relaxation
in the application. Mr.. Quay and his
agents are omnipotent
Accordingly no measure, looking in
any other direction has been ALLOW ed
to get forward. Anti-discrimination
bills, treasury reform bills, farmers
revenue bills, workingmen's bills, bal
lot reform bills are treated alike and in
strict pursuance Of the boss plan that
none Of them shall be passed unless so
emasculated as to be worse than
worthless. The Grangers and the
Knights of Labor, who were promised
everything in the campaign, have al.
ready ascertained that not a single
one of these ready pledges, wrung
from the ratified machine in its ex.
tremity, are to be kept. Their COM
mittees on duty are fully satisfied that
they have nothing whatever to expect
from this Legislature that it is, in
fact, more Obedient to the bosses and
the corporations than the one which
elected Mr.. Quay Senator, and sub
mitted the prohibitory amendments to
cheat the temperance people and
squeeze the liquor men at one stroke.
These committees will be heard from
when the next Legislature is to be
chosen.
After the election, and even after
the meeting of the Legislature, some
Republican newspapers, among them
the Philadelphia Press, insisted upon
the honest redemption of the pledge
for ballot reform. The Republicans
who were suspected of a purpose to
unseat the bosses by means of the
secret vote have been silenced. The
newspapers including the Press, have
ceased to demand the convention. and
are all as actively supporting the
partisan Baker fraud as ever they sup
ported the convention.
This Baker bill adopted by the boss
caucus, with notice that no amend. /
ment will be allowed, pretends to
gum down" the Constitution and thus
rid us of the necessity for a conven- I
ton to change it. Its only object is,
OF course, to defeat the reform or to |
postpone it until after the Presidential
election. 1t is of piece with the !
previous Republican proposition, in
whose name it is presented, to sub
NIT q legislative amendment, which
could not be consummated under three
or five years. VIZ |,
The denial of the convention is the