Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-01-08
The Unwritten Law of the Re-
public.

mittee 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 little while after the edict
of Donald Cameron had been pro-
claimed through the happy medium
of the State Committee the whole
organization stood aghast. The par
ty press was paralyzed and silent
from sheer astonishment. Party
leaders held their breath at this new
and unparalleled assumption of au-
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 a
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 dis
guised squirt of the third-termers, and
is intended to open the food-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 favorite
against the field. Now, it is apparent
for the first time that the nomination
of Gen. Grant for the third time would
be a crime and in direct violation of
the "Unwritten law of the republic. F"
But where was the ready and powerful
pen of M'Pherson while the conspiracy
of which he now so bitterly complains
was being consummated 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 am
bition of one man? Why did he not
sound the note of alarm before the
chains were riveted and his denuncia-
ton futile? 1t 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 for
them now to go back to the historic
traditions of the past and exhume the
patriotic warnings of the fathers Of
the republic. The naughty young
leader cares nothing for the prophetic
words of Washington and jackson.
He will not pause to make himself ac-
quainted with "the unwritten law of
the republic" Mcpherson may rant
and Lear may bluster, but the work
SO carefully mapped out for the con-
vention will be conscientiously and
servilely completed. Then for the
sake of harmony" the discordant ele-
ments will be brought into subjection.
Mcpherson will be silenced by being
made a delegate-at-large, and Lear
will be left to tear his hair amidst the
awful solitude and obscurity of his
Bucks county home. And the heir
apparent, with the Pennsylvania dele
CATION in his pocket, and the National
organization under his entire control,
can look calmly over the field and
take his choice of positions. BY June
it may be possible that the nephew of
his uncle will call in his outposts and
effect change of base. There are
those who do not hesitate to say that
the Cameron capture of the Republi-
can organization in this State is in the
interest of "Uncle john" In that
case "the unwritten law of the repub-
lie" will remain inviolate. BE that as
il may, this odious and humiliating
fact stands out boldly and clearly
that the Republican party of Pennsyl-
vania i bound hand and foot and
| 1-l...x..I o..n- A. Carxa~ousaux cox.