Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1881-10-19

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ty constituents to Mr.. Grow. 1t was
supposed, therefore, that his nomina-
tion was conceded and would be ac-
ceptable to the Regulars and not
distasteful to his more ultra Independ-
ent colleagues Senator Davies did
not seek but rather avoided, as likely
to be prejudicial, the support of myself
and other pronounced Independents.
About month before the convention
august A. Colonel Stewart appears
upon the scene. A week later comes
General Baily, backed by the bosses.
Suddenly the white flag of peace and
harmony is hauled down, and, when
Senator Davies is fairly in the trap, up
rims the black flag and the Stalwart
battle-cry, No quarter to bolters,'
sounds forth. Even so conservative
an Independent as Senator Davies can
not be spared. Should the brittle
threads of Garfeld's precious life be
snapped, there must not be the SEM
blance even of divided sway Up to
the day preceding the Convention, by
no word-written or spoken-nor act,
had l, though fastly charged with do
ing otherwise, meddled with Senator
Davies candidacy 1t had been my
purpose not to go to the Convention
but, when l saw that war upon Sena-
tor Davies as an Independent had
really been determined on, feared my
! absence might be misconstrued. |
went, but took no part until Sena-
tor Davies sent for ME and requested
it. He informed me how Senator
John Stewart had called upon Senator
Cameron and received from him the as
surance that he would not oppose his
candidacy-how other leaders had de-
ceived him and had drawn away votes
of delegates committed to him. He
then and there declared his determine
ton to make battle and asked me to
join. l consented and went vigorous
/ ly to work, Soon it became apparent
that the case was hopeless. The
bosses not only were omnipotent, but
determined to display their power IN
the most arbitrary and offensive man.
ncr. They knew their power and
meant that those who had opposed
them should feel it in the most
humiliating way. The Convention
slate-Baily for Treasurer, Quay for
temporary Chairman, Harry w Oil
ver's br1 ther to present him, White
for permanent Chairman, Palmer to
present the candidate, and Tom Cooper
to be Chairman of the State Committee
was suggestive of Stalwart audacity,
Senatorial indignity, Riot-bill rascalty,
Pardon Board infamy, and Legislative
jobbery. The Gas Trust, Recorders
Office, and Delinquent Tax Office were
on top With fendish joy the censur-
ed bosses seemed to glory in their
share and to defy the people. I'm
willing that we should be compelled to
witness the bosses arrogance and our
own deep humiliation, / suggested to
our friends the propriety of our making
silent and dignifed protest by not
entering the Convention but retiring
quietly to our homes. This sugges-
ton was overruled on the ground not
that there was not abundant provoca-
tion-but that the delegates constitu
ents might not sustain them in such a
course.
There was painful gagging at the
feast of bitter herbs the bosses'l had
prepared for the Independent and Re-
form Republicans of Pennsylvania.
Relief was found in fierce denunciation
in the private conference. 1t was
determined that vigorous and eloquent
protests against the shameless wrong
should find expression on the floor of
the Convention. Attorney General
Lear, Senator Stewart, and ex-senator
Landon were commissioned to enter
them. The Convention came. The
weak protest of Senator Landon was
but poor apology for the condemna-
ton promised and that should have
been pronounced. 1t was surrender
shameful, craven and complete. There
was a majority, but it was one secured
through treachery and boss power.
There was harmony, but it was the
harmony of despair. There was unau-
unity, but it was the sullen or helpless
acquiescerce of poor slaves recaptured
in their flight to freedom and led back
with bandcuffed wrists and manacled
ankles into accursed slavery. AS if to
fill the cup of bitter humiliation to the
full, the platform must outrage the
party by feigning ignorance of the
gross corruptions and abuses which
so recently have shocked the public sense
by indorsing a State Administration
which no honest man can but condemn,
and by trifing with our sense and
sympathies in awkward, meaningless
and heartless platitudes of approval .of
President Garlield's Administration and
of sympathy in his sore afllction.
Fellow citizens, not in humility and
repentance do the political usurpers,
political jobbers, and official wrong
doers-your dishonored leaders--ask
forgiveness for their offenses They
crave no condonation. They rather
demand that you condemn those who
would dare to thwart their evil mach
nations, and give to them fresh COM
mission to pursue TO your detriment
and shame their work of usurpaton,
selfaggrandizement and plunder. Do
you realize what they are asking of
you?
GIVE ME LIBERTY OR DEATH !"
Anxious, heart-sick, crushed, has
tened to my home. saw the danger
lurking in the cup they had prepared
for you. TO drink it now was to take
more fatal draughts hereafter. felt
powcrless to avert the danger. | re-
solved | would not help to raise it to
your lips. This did not meet the stern
demands of duty. You must be warn
ed Those thrilling stanzas of the pure
and patriotic Whittier came ringing in
my ears:
Men nf the North.Ia Where'a tho manly