The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-12-29
LET ALL GOOD MEN UNITE.

the recent struggle of the Democrats
and Independent Republicans for
honest government in Pennsylvania, it
will have to come through a close
union between them. Standing by
themselves, the Democrats can ac-
complish nothing; and the Independ-
ent Republicans, being far less num-
erous than the Democrats, have Just
SO much less chance of accomplishing
anything if they stand out by them
selves.
There ought to be a concert of
action between these two anti-Ouay
forces In the Legislature, and this
should at once be followed by close
union of all opponents of the anti-Quay
machine in the State. This union
should extend to all future campaigns
involving State issues, and be kept up
till Quay's treasury plundering organ
ization should be broken and scattered.
Should there be concert of action in
the Legislature, the Democrats, being
lliuSll llulllSl Ouo tildll lllC
pendent Republicans, would in fair
ness be entitled to the lions share OF
such positions as might be secured;
but this being a matter of secondary
Importance, it ought not to be permit
ted to prevent union. The Demo
Gratis ought to have the nominee for
United States Senator, and the Inde-
pendent Republicans should have such
positions of influence in the Legisla-
ture as would show that Quay's pre-
dominence on "the hill' had come to
an end. His followers will fall away
from him IN troops whenever they find
him powerless to control the Legisla-
ture. They have no admiration for
him. for he has neither talents nor
other traits of character to excite ad-
miration. He has held them simply
by "the coheslye power of public
plunder," and whenever they find this
power loosened they will fall from him
like rotten plums from we'll shaken
tree.
We have it stated that several
Democrats, who make some pretention
to be leaders, advise against union
with the Independents. If we believe
them to be sincere we must also be-
lieve them to be stupid. The Demo
Gratis can neither accomplish good
now, nor SOW seed that will bring
forth good fruit in the future, by shut
ting themselves up inside of their own
party organization, like silkworm
inside of a cocoon. The silkworm can
multiply only by eating its way out
and following the dictates OF nature;
and the Democratic party, having be-
come minority In the great State in
which it once was the majority only
by following the dictates of common
sense and forming liberal union with
the large body of Independent Re-
publicans who, like itself, seek to
rescue the State from the leprous
clutch of political "nachine" which
has made the Capitol and Depart
ments at Harrisburg reeking cess
pool and sink of iniquity.
No confidence should be placed on
any professed opponent of Quay's who
may propose to go into the machine
caucus. Unless the indictments hang
ing over Quay scare him off the track,
that caucus will nominate him, and
every man who participates in it will
vote for him, no matter what show of
opposition he may begin with. Nor
is Quay the only person who ought to
be struck at. He is chief of the
vicious gang, every member of which
ought to be driven out of public life
and out of active participation in
politics. The interests OF the Com
require that this gang be
broken up and individual members be
deprived of political influence, and the
honor of the Republican party de-
mands that it be no longer dominated
by these disreputable characters.
Let honest Democrats and honest
combine for the public
good, and let the combination last till
the public good shall have been thor
ouphly subseryed.--Carlisl DoIvUfee,