It was a fight between the law and its violators, between the Faithful and the Heretic, between the Good and the Wicked.

In such a fight there was, of course, only one aide to take.

It was not to be doubted that the honest men, who constitute, of course, an enormous majority of the "plain people," would rally to the banners of reform.
The rascals would be turned out; the people would regain their economic opportunities and political rights; and the American democracy would pursue undefiled its triumphant career of legalized prosperity.
These hopes have never been realized.

Reform has rarely been non-partisan--except in the minds of its more innocent advocates.

Now and then an agitation for municipal reform in a particular city will suffer a spasm of non-partisanship; but the reformers soon develop such lively differences among themselves, that they separate into special groups or else resume their regular party ties.