The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-07
,T,,,e aubernntoriaI Contest.

a., ,,aninulation of partisan machinery, every
7maginabIe artifce is resorted to for the purpose
of foisting weak or Objectionable candidates upon
the people, and one of the most curious features
of American politics is the singular nominations
which are brought about by mysterious agencies.
Thousands Of men, no better than their neighbors,
who have no special qualifications for important
POSITIONS and no special claims to public conf
dence have in time, become suddenly famous,
not for any good deed they have done,
or any inherent capacity they have
displayed for doing good, but because body of
delegates have, for inscrutable reasons, endowed
them with the magical attributes of regularly
nominated candidates for leading municipal,
State. or national offices. The public usually
have no choice LETT but to accept one of the
entertainments provided by the conventions of
two conflicting parties, and the professional poll
ticians, by controlling the action of these omni-
potent conventions bind the people hand and
foot. Notwithstanding the profuse disquisitions
of the press on almost every other subject con-
nected with the management of public affairs,
but little light is usually thrown upon the secret
influences by which aspirants for office commend
themselves to the delegates, who decide what
favored mortals TO be raised on pedestal,
and rendered objects of the admiration of Re-
publcans and the execration of Democrats or
.1ice versa. Most of this work Is done
in a subterranean, mole-like manner, and the
real reason why majority of a convention
authoritatvely pronounees Tom fit subject for
the suffrages of his fellow-citizens, and Dick
unworthy of such confidence, would often sur
pass human understanding, if large allowance
WAS not made for private pledges and promises,
and for considerations entirely foreign to the
public welfare 1t is of the crying evils of the
times too, that when o man is once elected by
skilful combination of these influences, followed
by an endorsement at the polls, he is usually
more anxious to secure denomination and re-
election than to discharge in an able and salts
factory manner, the duties of his position. He
endeavors rather to compel the people to serve him
by extending his lease of power, than to serve
the people. #
General Geary, having enjoyed the honors and
delights of the governorship for the last few
years, would scarcely be true politician L he
was ready and willing to surrender his present
station. 1t remains to be seen what degree of
success viii attend his Jealous efforts to secure
Denomination, despite the general conviction of
his unftness for the gubernatorial chair,
aad the prevailing belief that in the
ranks of the Republican party of Pennsylvania,
it would be an easy task to find many men of
superior qualifications. Whatever may be his
chances, however, they will scarcely be improved
by the late action of the Executive Committee
of the Republican Inyincibles, announcing their
firm confidence in his superior wisdom and
ability, and their conviction that his nomination
would promote the triumph of the Republican
party in the October election.
Public opinion has been forestalled in many
ways on many subjects, but we shall be much
astonished if this expedient does not prove futile
The Invincibles may be useful as an ornamental
appendage of campaign, but we see no reason
why their skill in carrying torches or wearing
capes confers any special power upon their Ex-
ecutiye Commit to select candidate for
Governor of great Commonwealth.