The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-02-06

Two HUNDRED prominent Repubii
cans in Philadelphia. embracing meT-
chants, manufacturers, etc, addressed
an earnest protest against the third term
TO the Republican State Convention
which met at Harrisburg last " ednes-
day. The fslloWing is the important
portion OF it
To avert such result we, therefore, beg
OF you so TO act that the influence Of the great
State of Peunsy lvania may he thrown in IA
yCr Of @ie who can be cOnscieutiOusly sup
ported, and against those whom the honest
voter may feel himself obliged TO oppose at
the polls We have no candidates to sug-
gest, nor do we deem 1t fitting 10 specify by
name any whom we might feel compelled 10
reject. We may say briefly, however, that
the number OF Republicans Is very large
who cannot be relied upon TO support on the
one hand one whose candidacy would violate
tradition which has become part OF the uu-
written law OF the nation nor on the other,
one who regards the skilful use OF patronage
fOT personal ends as the highest function OF
statesman nor one whose past inability 10
resist temptation would put bis supporters
on The defensive throughout the campaign
nOT one whose personal ambition may lead
him 10 regard the public service as mere
iusTrumentaiity for furthering bis own ends.
and whose convictions are but expressions
CT temporary political expedIepCy. The
platform on which we entered the Preslden-
tial contest of 1S76--nationai supremacy il
national affairs tue avoidance OF uuconstl-
tutional iuterneddlug with local self-gOv-
erumcnt ; honest money and a thorough re-
form Of the civil StrviCe-is the accepted
declaration of Republican Urlncip .es, and IL
would he an insult to the intelligence Of the
party TO present TOR its suppOr, any one
whose record would show that his canvass
on such a platform would be but a trap to
catch the unwary.
The public views with increasing and just
alarm TIE dangerous lengths TO which party
leaders are prepared to 60 in the effort 10 ad-
vance their political fortunes. W bile the
disgraceful attempt to set aside the popular
will in Maine is still an offeEse in our nos
tri!s we are shocked with the proposition
openly made TO silence the voice cf the great
est State in the [ uion by the action OF Leg
islature not chosen upon any such issue
If the contest for 50 great stake as the
Presidency of the United States Is thus to
become n mere game of hazard played 10y
both sides with loaded dice, it needs no
prophet 10 furetell the result in the near tu-
ture as anarchy aud civil war.
When thoughtful men seek tue cause OF
these dangers, they find il in the low stand
ards of many of our political leaders aud
the unworthy methods by which the scratn-
bic for power is conducted. Recognizing
the evil, they have not Ear to look for the
remedy. In the existing perfection of pollt-
ical organization, they can have little or
nothing TO say in the selection OF candidates.
The only recourse, then, is at the polls and
the opinion il spreading apace that the high
est service a voter can render 10 his party
and his country is 70 vote against unworthy
aspirants as the only ffectual method of ell
forcing improvement. We pray you, there
fore, To be wise in time, and 10 take such
course as shall conduce TO securing for the
Republican party and its candidate the sup
port of that vast body OF independent voters
without whom success in the Presidential
contest il impossible.