Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1874-09-02
A TEST QUESTION.

Ii seems, according to the New York
Tribune, that the question before the
Radical State Convention last week
was Paxson for Supreme Judge or the
penitcntiary The 1ribmeadmits there
were some decent men in that body
and then continues as follows.
eLast year the Philadelphia Ring
made a determined effort in the nomi-
mating Convention at Harrisburg to
obtain place on the Supreme bench
for Judge Paxson. He had done them
important service; he was commonly
supposed to have an extensive knowl
edge of their secrets; and it was frank.
ly declared in the Republican caucus
that certain leaders of the party mus
procure his nomination in order to
save themselves from state prison.
There were Republican reformers, how.
ever, in the Convention who bitterly
opposed this movement, and the fight
over Paxson was one of the scandals
Of the season, The Ring were not
strong enough 10 carry out their plan
though they were able to defeat the
first choice of the opposition, Judge
Butler; and compromise was finally
made upon Judge Gordon. This year
the Ring returned TO Harrisburg bolder
and more determined than ever, and
Judge Paxson was nominated after a
bitter but brief contest,
"There was some spirited language
in the caucus and the Convention, how.
ever, just as there was in 1873 Last
year we remember atleast one of the
Republican newspapersin in Philadelphia
declared that it would not support
Judge Paxson if the corrupt politicians
Of that city succeeded in imposing him
upon the people Of the State, We are
curious TO know whether any consid.
cradle faction Of the party is ready to
adopt similar independent course
now. The objections to Judge Paxson
were based upon his alleged afliliation
with one of the most neiarious Rings
ever organized In an American city
To Judge, of all officers, such obioc
tions ought 10 be fatal, The question
now is whether the men who have de.
nounccd him as unfit for the bench are
going 10 vote for him because IA pot
house politicians at Harrisburg have
decided that they need his services.
THE answer to this question ought
to show whether there Is really any
hope for Rcpublicanism in Pennsyl
yania, ltmay not be feasible 20 deieai
the election of Judge Paxson but tn,
Reformers who have opposed him Sc
ficrccly are bound to vote against hin
if only that they mayrecord their pro
test against an immoral transaction
lfRcformcrs are to waste their strength
in furious vaporipgs at caucus and con
vention, and then fall into hncimmedi
ately afterwards, TO work and lie ant
cheat FOR tho candidates they have
been denouncing as rogues, we may
give up all hope Of the publication o
| Pennsylvania until the Republican
party Il completely destroyed. Tha
State can only be reformed by mel
who have the courage oi 'neir convic @
selves with 1hmcntation and rcmon
stance over corrupt bargains ana als
graceful nominations, put WIN preai
from tho ranks Of Their party when
asks them TO do an unworthy acuon
and when i sets up a creature OF IN
notorious hlng ana ,,,. o,os them vote , 10 y,
nm WV answer poiu,S, Notn-anu MOI. vii
keep tneir wprai No wa, now Y
see whether 'he liaiiispurg helormer
wiii po't the hom'ha''oh o,suage raS
SON. Al tiipy 90, W. snhli nNuerstAh'
that they mean business, irNnN