Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-04-29
WILMINGTON, Dbl.
Monday Afternoon, April 29.
THE eovERNoRsH1p, IN Pennsylvania

The Republican candidate for Governor in
Pennsylvania, deserves the warmest and kindest
support of his party, and more than that
Speaking from personal knowledge, we testify
to the high character, as citizen before the
war, as soldier during the Great Struggle, and
as an official, since 1865, of General Hartranft,
and it seems to us that seldom are assaults upon
candidate more unfair and unjust than in his
case.
Probably, the most offensive charge against
him is that he was nominated by Ring" This
is so untrue that it seems almost unnecessary to
seriously deny it. General Hartranft was pro-
posed for Governor, long ago, and the fact that
his many friends, throughout the State, would
earnestly press his name for the nomination, in
1872, was fact never concealed, but perfectly
well understood, and generally canvassed. Other
candidates were proposed, including General
Lilly, Francis Jordan, Harry White, ex Senator
Ketchum, and their friends put them in the field
with the full knowledge that General Hsrtranft
was the strongest, and most formidable compe-
titor of all. He was known throughout the
State, and wherever known, was appreciated and
respected. There are hundreds Of Republicans,
in every county Of the Commonwealth, who had
looked forward to his nomination, with earnest
and pleased expectancy.
To say that nomination, thus publicly an
nounced, generally understood, extensively can
vassed, and widely expected, was one made
secretly, unfairly and violently, by ''Ring" man
agemsnt,i is manifestly untrue. The delegates (S7
out of 1885, who voted for him, did not act or
vote together, in the Convention. for any other
9TH ba
platform, proving by this that they were no or
ganzed band of political associates.
In point of fact, General Hartranft has been
an independent Republican, in Pennsylyanis
politics. In spite of all the entanglements that
are so numerous and so difficult to avoid, he has
belonged to neither of the two Republican
wings, but has discreetly stood aloof from both
aud his candidacy, though not the special worl
of either was accepted by the friends of Gen
eral Cameron and of Ex-Governor Curtin, alike
They knew his strength before the people, an,
accepted him, on both sides because they kne,
him to be fair honorable and independent.
These were the circumstances, briefly told, o
his nomination. 1t was entirely deserved, an
he receives it from his party, honorably an
fairly. He deserves from it, this being proven
it's warmest and most energetic support. Penn
sylyania ought to remain Republican, and W
trust will and no member Of the party, high O
low whatever his personal ambition or disaI
pointments may be, can find any excuse, eithe
in General Hartranft's record his personal
official character, or the circumstances OF b
nomination, to justify any degree of unfaithfu
nesss to the candidates on the State ticket.
Moreover, while their nomination for Cove
nor justly deserves all their efforts and viii
their great party is as much entitled to their a
as ever, the Republicans Of Pennsylvania shou
understand-and no doubt they do-that the r
suit in October is the sure presage of that in N
vember. If they mean that the State shall vot
for the Republican candidates for President an
Vice President, they must carry it for Goyerno
Hartranft and Judge Mercur. Any represents
tion to the contrary is fataldeception, whethC
sincerely made or not. A defeat in October wi
bring another in November, and State repuls
may entail National disaster