The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-11-03
The True Independent Republican,.
Philadelphia Psess. ]

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II has happened, by reason of conflict
ing opinions concerning the adminis-
tration of the'party, that the Repub-
iican organization has divided into
two wings contending fur the mastery.
In Pennsylvania these wings have
been known respectively as the
Machine" representing the element
In control, and Independent Repub-
licans, representing the element which
demands better methods Of party gov
ernmeut.
These designations were well under
stood before part of the independent
Republicans kicked out of the traces
and went into virtual alliance with
the Democracy; since then they have
led to a confusion of terms and mis-
guided some interested observers who
are looking on the campaign from
outside. The name Independent Re-
publicans meant, and those who bore
it contemplated, very different thing
from, revolt against the party will rs
expressed in convention. The inde-
pendent flag was raised within the
party that the Republican party
might be elevated TO a higher plane
not that the Democratic party might
be elevated to State otfice-and that
flag is still flying as the emblem of the
same high aspiration and honorable
purpose. ... Ga.
Mr.. Wolfes flag of revolt stands for
quite another thing. His followers
are Independent opposing the Repub-
lican party with which they were
lately in tfiliation, and aiding the
Democratic party to which they were
recently hostile. They would most
properly be called Independents pure
and simple; Or they might be jus
titled in taking on the name of
Independent eN.Republicans. In this
campaign the essential fact would
also be expressed by the term indie.
peudent Associate Democrats. The
real Independent Republicans of
Pennsylvania are not Mr.. W0lfe's fol-
lowing, which is largely If not mainly
made up of men who take no part in
the internal affairs of the Republican
party, who do not attend primaries
but find fault because the primaries 90
not result to their liking.
The men who went into the Har-
ri3hurg convention to support the
cause of party reform aud chose Will
liam II. Davies of Bradford county
for their standard. bearer represented
so far us their number could represent,
those Independent Republicans who
believe that reform within the party
is worth striving for, and who did
strive for it at the primaries immedi-
ately preceding the Convention. The
reform representation in the conyen-
ton stood for those Republicans who
are steadily active far reform. 1t was
not the result OF q special canvass III
the interest of reform, which would
have resulted in a controlling infiu-
ence. Yet, while the Davies men did
not represent the full force of the re-
form sentiment within the party, an
analysis OF the vote in convention
shows that they directly represented
constituencies polling 10000 Repub-
lican votes, more than half the Re-
publican vote cast at the most recent
election for State Treasurer.
Standing for what they did, with
this splendid constituency behind
them, the attitude of those delegates
in the Convention becomes an argu-
ment in this campaign. AS Republi
caus they fought their good fight for
victory, and rs Republicans they sub
mitted to the majority which defeated
them. When the proposition to make
the nomination unanimous was adj
vanced, and by al Independent, there
was not dissenting vote. No matter
whose will made General Baily the
nominee of the majority, all the dele
gates united to make him the nOmi-
nee of the majority, all the delegates
united to make him the nominee of
the convention. Never Il nomination
WAS more binding on the party con-
science. Senatur Davies and his
friends so accept it and are supporting
General Baily. OF I'LL the Independ-
ent leaders in that convention Mr..
Landon of Bradfon! county is the
only one who is with Mr.. Wolfe i'll his
unwarranted bolt.
The men who fought for Davies and
reform also fought for the integrity of
the party. Their position has not
changed. They are consistently pur-
suing the same Object, though under
changed conditions, and they are not
to be drawn off to follow a phantom