Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-01-27
FREELAND, PA, JANUARY 27, 1896
The "Great Moral Party" in Luzerne.

The "Great Moral Party" in Luzerne.
There was time, not many years
ago, when the claim was made by Re-
| publican leaders that their organization
was the great moral party of the
| country. Luzerne and its neighboring
counties were strongly Democratic then,
and the apparent difference in the
methods of the two parties in such mat
ters as primaries, conventions, etc,
caused not few to believe that in
the Republican ranks were to be found
the better elements of the people in
each locality. However, any one who
resided in community wherein the
Republicans predominated to an extent
that would admit of them showing their
greed in its true light knew there was
no foundation for any claim which held
that Republican politicians were one
whit whittier than those of any other
party, Notwithstanding the repeated as
sertions of sanctimonious hypocrites OF
the Wanamaker stripe that it was the
great moral party"
If there has been any doubt in the
matter the events of the past two years
in Republican circles furnish abundant
proof that for either genuine kid-gloved
corruption or open boodleism the great
moral party of this county is head and
shoulders above all competitors. The
time was when, after a Democratic CON
vention, the moralists would roll their
eyes upward and deplore that there were
men who persisted in being Democrats.
That was the time when Il Republican
county nomination was equivalent to an
| overwhelming defeat, and the party had
to go begging for candidates.
Internal dissensons and quarels re-
duced the Democratic strength in Lu-
zerne year by year, and suddenly the
Republicans found themselves sufficient
ly strong to elect their county and
district nominees. Then began Il reign
| OF corruption and low politics the like of
| which was never dreamed of even in the
| palmiest days of Democracy. The con-
vention in 1894 was one huge mass of
| bribe-takers and bribers, who under
| stood each other and transacted their
| Iawlessness openly. Charges and coun-
ter-charges of money taken and money
| given were made by and against the
| broadcloth "moralsts, and to hide from
the general public the true facts the
party found itself compelled to adopt
stringent rules against the illegal use of
money by prospective candidates.
| But the pent-up greed for Office was
too strong to stop before paper rules,
and the convention of 1895 was Il repeti-
tlon OF its predecessor. Money was
| freely offered and taken, and those
whose piles were not able to respond to
| the demands of the Doodle delegates
were given hush money or promises of
| appointments so that they would tie
their tongues.
To such an extent has this pernicious
| system permeated the party that when
a man announces himself as II delegate
to Republican convention the know
ing ones smile and wonder what is his
| price Whether the Office sought be
one that has salary attached or is
merely an honorary one, cash consid-
Grafton, or its equivalent in promises, is
part of the method that is necessary to
| pursue to obtain it. The recent Quay
Hastings debauchery was proof of this,
| and another instance of later date can
| be named. One of the Luzerne dele
gates to the Republican national con-
| vention goes there with stain upon his
election. Morgan Il. Morgans, it is
claimed, was chosen by the votes of
bribed delegates last Tuesday, and the
stencil that surrounds the circum-
stances is so strong that the party organ
has found it necessary to puff out a big
denial in Morgans behalf
Such is the condition of Republican
ism in Luzerne, aud it is no better in
any other community where the party
feels secure of its power. An organiza-
tion that is controlled by men who lead
it for what is in it may llorish for awhile,
but its doom is sealed All the Demo-
Gratis need to do is to wait year or two
at the utmost. The rise OF Republican,
ism in Luzerne was rapid, but the fa,l
of the same party can be counted upon
to be more so. Already the elements of
disntegration have made their appear
ancc in the ranks, and it requires only
a few more conventions to incite the
voters at large to rise up and sweep out
of power the boodlers and bribers who
now occupy the seats of honor.
|