The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-01-09
PennsYIEania and Grant.

Pennsylvania aud Grant.
The course Of the Administration in
employing troops to enforce the laws at
the recent elections in New York and
Philadelphia Is severely criticised in the
recent messages Of the Governors Of both
StateA From Gov. HOFFMAN, this was
to be expected. From Gov. GEARy 1t is
somewhat of u surprise. Gov. GEGRY
says: '1 N1a t.'at '4F
aWlth q good President the exercise OF
the power referred TO might have no inju.
rious results, but In the hands Of bad
man, governed by personal ambition, Il
might prove exceedingly calanitous I'm.
consciously q good President might be
induced TO EMPLOY II wropghllyi . bad
one would be almost certain 10 use II
for hisown advancement Under any cir
cumstances, in my opinion, II Is unsafe
and antagonistic to the principles that
should govern our republican institutions"
He considers the employment OF troops
In Philadelphia to enforce the election
laws last October to have been alto
gelher unnecessary and wrong. 1t was,
in his opinion, an interference with the
sovereign right Of tho State, based on a
forced construction Of the act Of Congress
TO protect the right Of citizens to vote.
He complains TINT the civil authorities Of
Pennsylvania were not consulted, and
holds that they I" have always been and
are still competent to protect its citizens
in the exercise Of their elective franchise,
ind the proper and only time Tor United
States military forces to interfere will DO
when the power of the Commonwealth is
exhausted and their aid Is lawfully re.
quired."
1t has been apparent that for a year
past there has been q growing GOODNESS
between Pennsylvania Republicans and
PRESIDENT GRANT. They have COM
planned that their State has never reeeiy.
I'd proper consideration ut the hands OF
the administration that the men selected
by the President to represent her were
not representative men unsatisfactory 10
the party in the State. The fact that
Pennsylvania, the second State in the
Union, has no representation in the Cabl'
net, while such States rs New Jersey and
Maryland have, and that There has been a
feeling OF alienation on the partef leading
Pennsylvania Republicans, helps explain
why the recent elections In that State
went against the administration, and why
the State has been, apparently, lost to the
Republican party. Matters have not i'm
proved since. The refusal to give Penn.
sylvania the Commissioner Of Internal
Revenue and the giving oft to New York,
hopelessly Democratic State, has In:
creased the feeling Of irritation. The
GOODNESS between the President aud Mr..
FORNEY has had It's influence; because
whatever we may say Of FoRSEY as a
politician or editor, he has long been and
still is, through his Philadelphia paper, q
power In Pennsylvania politics,
But this attack from Gov. GEARY Is by
far tue most important sign Of the Re-
publican soreness toward GRANr that has
yet shown itself IN Pennsylvania, because
1t Is unmistaltable, and II comes from the
recognized head Of the party in the State.
Tho Governors pride has been touched
by this interference with the election In
his State, and perhaps he is not unwilling
TO avail himself Of the opportunity II
affords 10 give expression TO resentment
which there is reasOn,to believe Is felt by
good many leading Pennsylvania Re-
publican politicians.
Concerning the Governors attitude in
this matter, the Philadelphia Post re.
marks: E7'' 500 20 ~ ~,
This part of the message Is probably
the first step Of the Governor towards q
political position independent Of the M
iional Administration. He has held up
the President before the peopleas an off,
Ger who Is disposed 10 use the military
improperly, as one who rnisunderstands
The laws he Is sworn to enforce. Such IN
arrangement must have political
meaning, for Governor Gcary would
hardly have made It upon merely theoret-
ical grounds. We consider II the begin
ming Of new political movement In Penn.
sylyapia politics, and one Of those signs Of
the times which the President would do
well to study closely. 4't.lH h.ailiel +,