The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-02-06

followed to q successful conclusion-tech-
nically speakiug-at Harrisburg, yester-
day, but we greatly doubt II those gentle
men are wholly satisfied with the result.
1t was success by "the skin Of the teeth,
as 1t were, and the apparent victors will
not indulge in hearty handwriting and
enjoyable wine drinking in consequence
OF It.
In many respects the convention Of yes
terday was the most remarkable body Of
political delegates ever assembled in this
State. 1t discovered large measure OF
independence, and among the indie
pendent members were men OF State rep
rtstion who have for too long been ac-
customed 10 not trouble themselves with
opposition to the self.Constituted man
ayers, while ut the same time they never
fully affiliated with them.
1.-THE spirit OF independence has been oil
rapid growth in this State during the last
two years. From first exhibiting itself in
frank expressions OF dissatisfaction 1t has
advanced to bold opposition. 1t manifest
ed itself in startling manner in the ex-
posure OF bribery lobbyists and their arrest
and enforced submission to trial. 1T
showed itself in the caucus OF Tuesday
evening and the convention OF yesterday
in manner which must have surprised
Senator Cameron and his immediate
friends more than it did anybody else. 1t
proved that they had made an almost fatal
error in their estimates OF the strength OF
opposition 10 third term in this State, OF
the great popularity OF Senator Blaine, and
OF the growth OF an independent spirit
which led gentlemen ofability fully equal to
that OF the eminent manipulators to assert
tonce their own manhood and the wishes
OF the great majority OF their constituents.
Notwithstanding this annoying miscal-
Eeulation Senator Cameron and his assist
ants were enabled to secure majority OF
the Convention and TO give instructions to
the delegates which are in direct opposi-
ton to the sentiments OF nine-tenths OF the
Republicans OF Pennsylvania who are not
Immediately within the magic circle OF
machine influence. But their escape OF
defeat was exceedingly narrow. After
electing delegates in Allegheny and
Dauphin counties without giving the peo.
ple an opportunity to express their wishes;
alter patching up peace with Mr.. Nc
Names and Mr.. Leeds, managers OF the
Philadelphia delegates, and thus securing
large part OF the Convention to do
his bidding; after employing "repeaters"
in caucus; Senator Cameron was still
forced to use extraordinary exertions, II
not considerations, to reach his aim. 1t
was hardly to be anticipated that among
the delegates instructed for Senator Blaine
there would fail TO be some whose former
and present associations with the friends
OF Senator Cameron would render them
friendly and approachable-some who, for
iavors received and others probably to
come, would hold their instructions in
contempt and boldly work for the very
object which they were sent to Harrisburg
to oppose. Among gentlemen Of this kind
| " nature Mr.. Cameron found the instru.
ments with which to win apparent success
where unqualified defeat seemed ineVita-
bic.
1t is idle to assert that to win by an inch
in this case is as good rs to win by an ell.
! II Mr.. Cameron really desired to take q
delegation to Chicago which would be a
great moral power TO further the nomina-
ton OF General Grant; or, il he merely
wanted delegation which would do his
will; it was imperatively necessary that
he accomplish his purpose in perfectly
harmonious manner. Wemust infer from
our description OF the convention that he
was not able to effect such happy con-
clusion. Instead OF the result being
victory for him it was an overwhelming
defeat. He goes to the convention shorn
OF his prestige, and the formidable
and almost victorious opposition to
his scheme Is warning that he
and other supporters OF General Grant
assuming that they arc his sincere sup
porters abandon all thought OF
nominating their favorite II they would
not invite defeat. 1t would be folly, in
the face OF such determined hostility OF
prominent, influential, upright Republic
cans OF the State, to make General Grant
The candidate OF the party. We believe
that Senator Conkling as well as Senator
Cameron will recognize the force OF this
opposition. The convention in this State
was intended from the first to test the
temper OF the people on the question OF
the third term. 1t must be evident from
the events OF yesterday that their
temper is not to be triaed
with. Partisan feeling does not run
In those deep channels and with those
strong currents which marked the contests
OF few years following the war. Party
managers can no longer depend on whip.
ping in the independent voters to the sup.
port OF Objectionable candidates or objeC.
tionable principles The declaration OF
the Lancaster Convention OF 1876, in un.
alterable opposition to third term for
any President, is more truly the sentiment
OF the Republicans to-day than it was four
years ago, and the Cajoling and command
ing and threatening which Yesterday re.
suited in bare majority in favor Of Nr.
Cameron cannot change the force or the
truth OF this assertion.
Possibly General Grants friends NAV
still insist on further trying the popular
mind on this question, but we think it will
occur to every thoughtful person that it
will not be judiCious act 10 permit the
eX.Presidents name 10 come before the
National Convention. We can only re-
gret that the name OF one who deserves
10 be generally honored-not made the
scapcg0at OF scheming politicians-should
have been banded about as it has been.
Surely the opposition OF good men-not
W SLhuG Dub " q tuslu tCiLll tuG GIltuuhl"
asm for Senator Blaine; the Kisses and
other marks OF disapprobation which fol.
lowed the mention OF Grants name, be.
cause that name suggested the bad policy
OF third term; surely, these things will
carry only deep modification to General
Grant, and lead him to pray for deliver.
ance from his so-called friends forever in
the future.
AS for Senator Cameron, he has proba.
bly, concluded that he is not so much Of
political Hercules as he thought. The
opposition to him was merely spontane.
Gus expression Of genuine sentiment. 1t
Is not yet organized. Perhaps Il will not
be, but even in its present condition II is
OF sufficient power to warn him that II he
would preserve any prestige Of value TO
him and his friends he must follow public
opinion instead Of opposing it.
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