Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1880-01-21
THE UNWRiT7EN LAW or
THE REPUBLIC.

IHE hEfODLft.
The extraordinary aud startling ac.
ton OF the Republican State Commit
tee in fixing an earlier date for the
holding of their State Convention than
was ever before known in the history
of the Republican party has at last
borne legitimate fruit. For a little
while after the edict Of Donald Cam.
eron had been proclaimed through the
happy medium Of the State Committee
the whole organization stood aghast.
The party press was paralyzed and 81.
lent from sheer astonishment. Party
leaders held their breath at this new
and unparalleled assumption of aa.
thority on the part of the heir of the
ruling family, and family wondered
what the next move upon the political
chess board would be. But now q
marked and wholesome reaction has
taken place. Protests loud and deep
well up from editorial breasts, and
statesmen who were not consulted at
the crucial moment now indulge in
language which, If not strictly parlia-
mentary, has at least the merit Of
frankness. All at once it is discover.
ed that the precipitate action of the
State Committee under the spur of the
clan Cameron is but thinly disguised
spurt OF the third-termers, and is in.
tended to open the Aood-gates OF
Grantism all over the country. Penn
sylvania Republicans are to follow the
nodding plume of the highland chief
as he puts his lance at rest, ready to
do battle for the iavorite against the
field. Now, it is apparent for the
first time that the nomination OF Gen.
eral Grant for the third time would be
a crime and in direct violation of the
"Unwritten law of the Republic" But
where was tho ready and powerful pen
of M'Pherson while the conspiracy Of
which he now so bitterly complains
was being contaminated under the
very shadow of the Press office? Where
was the sanity, bibulous Lear while
the machinery Of his party was being
prostituted to pander to the ambition
of one man2 Why did he not sound
the note OF alarm before the chains
were riveted and his denuneiation fu.
tile? II will not do now for these
carpet-knights to parade their virtue
before the world, when they were
passive if not active participants in
the outrage which they now SO loudly
condemn. 1t is of no avail TOR them
now to go back to the historic tradi-
tions of the past and exhume the pa
triotic warnings of the fathers of the
Republic. The naughty young leader
cares nothing for tho prophetic words
of Washington and jackson. He will
not pause to make himself acquainted
with "the unwrltten law of the Repub.
lic." M'Pherson may rant and Lear
may bluster, but the work 80 carefully
mapped out for the convention will be
conscientiously and servilely compile
ted Then for the sake of "harmony"
the discordant elements will be brought
into subjection. M'Pherson will be
silenced by being made a delegate-at-
large, and Lear will be left TO tear his
hair amidst the awful solitude and OBJ.
scurity Of his Bucks county home.
And the heir apparent, with the Penn
sylvania delegation in his pocket, and
tho National organizations under his
entire control, can look calmly over
the field and take his choice of posi-.
tions. By June it may be possible
that the nephew of his uncle will call
his outposts and effect change of
base. There are those who do not
hesitate to say that the Cameron cap
ture Of the Republican organization in
this State is in the interest of "Uncle
John" In that case "the unwritten
law Of the Republic" will remain invi.
olate. Bethat as it may, this odious
and humiliating fact stands out boldly
and clearly-that the Republican par
ty of Pennsylvania is bound hand and
foot and delivered over to Cameronism
for years to come.-Csntre Democrat