Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-02-12
Cameron's Triumph.


impressive triumph for Senator j. ID.
Cameron, Notwithstanding the persis-
tent efforts of such Republican jour-
nails as the Press, the North American,
and the Inquirer, of Philadelphia, and
the Tribune and the Times, of New
York, to belittle its results, and the in
fluence it will probably have upon the
coming National Convention of the
party at Chicago. In spite of the out
spoken antagonism of these journals
and the largely preponderating senti-
ment Of the party in favor of Blaine,
Mr.. Cameron accomplished his pur-
pose, well-known beforehand, of COM
pelling the State Convention to adopt
resolution in favor of the nomina-
ton of General Grant for the Presi-
dency, and binding the delegates to
the National Convention to vote as
unit in all things. So far then as the
success of this programme may be
considered victory, that victory is
complete, and its results will undoubt-
edly be felt in the larger counsels of
the party. True, it was not achieved
without something Of struggle. The
opposition was strong and boisterous,
and, indeed, at one period of the fray,
seemed likely to defeat the plans of
Cameron, and take from his hand for
all time to come the sceptre of author
ity he now presumes to WELD over the
Republican party Of Pennsylvania.
But in the end, the dissatisfied ones,
though strong in numbers and not
wanting in pluck, were obliged to sue
cumb to the pre-ordained aims of the
master spirit of their party.
Their frantic attempts to free them
selves from the domination of the
ruling house were vain and futile.
Grant and the unit rule were prompt
| ly and unswervingiy voted through.
and the indignant minority subsided
into meek submission. II is not our
purpose to consider in detail the means
by which in the critical and all-im-
portant hour majority of the men,
bers of the convention, absolutely
contrary to their better judgments and
the pronounced wishes of the people
they pretended to represent, should
have been thus brought to yield to the
commands of one 'imperious and sell.
fish will. Yet so it was. There can
be no doubt that the usual and never
failing methods of Cameron, so we'll
understood and so often successfully
employed in the past, played the part
of a potent factor in this exciting po-
litical drama. But that is neither
here nor there, however much it may
affect the significant fact that many
delegates who went TO Harrisburg
avowedly hostile to the aims and in
tentions of the young chief, suddenly
experienced change of mind, If not
of heart, and gave him their active
support. This is ever the case, and
need excite little surprise or comment.
With Cameron, the necessary means
are always used to secure the desired
end, and there is no instance on record
in which the efficacy of the Camera
nian means is more manifest than in
this latest exhibition of Cameronian
power and influence. The picture
may not be pleasant and encourag-
ing one for the better class of thought
full and independent anti-machine Re-
publicans to gaze upon. To see q
great party thus bound hand and foot,
and made to act in. subservience to
the designs Of one man, may be char
acterized as degrading to manhood
and repulsive to all ideas of free
thought and action. But there 1t
stands out in bold relief. Human
eyes cannot be blind TO its striking
outlines, and its truthfulness must
force itself upon the contemplation of
every one. 1t is Cameron's triumph,
won in true Cameronian style, and no
one better than Cameron will have
right to enjoy the fruits that It will