New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-23
4 SFNATOR IN PENNSYLVANIA.

A SENATOR IN PENNSYLVANIA.
1t is pleasant to be able to announce that
the long struggle in Pennsylvania has ended.
The Republicans of that State have at last
a candidate for Senator upon whom all are
John l. Mitchell, of the
TIoga District. HIS selection was plainly
the result of common impulse, his
name having been unanimously approved by
the Conference Committee yesterday upon It's
first ballot. The new Senator-for his
election will be only matter of form - has
had creditable, though not conspicuous
place in the public life of his State. A gradu-
ate of the common schools, he served III
the Union Army "a captain, was
five years member of the State
Legislature, and is now serving his second
term in Congress. Mr.. Mitchell was not
elected to the XLVIIth Congress, and his
transfer to the Senate will therefore
raise no questions respecting the Republic
can majority in the next House. The
fact that he was the willing choice of both
wings of the party, while it shows that he
has not been so prominent in the re-
cent history of the party as to incur
hostility on either hand, is at the same time
a proof that he is generally deemed 10 have
ability commensurate with the place, and that
his character is beyond reproach.
But Republicans must not forget, in their
qualification over the peaceful issue OF
fins controversy, that it was not mere
factional quarrel about an important place.
The contest will be long remembered,
not SO much because of its dra-
matte interest, but because of the
principle it involved. The Independent
Republicans of the Pennsylvania Legislature
have fought long battle for popular
rights within political parties and the
real victory remains with them. In
this respect their action is in the line
of the destruction of the unit rule at Chicago,
and deserves to be counted among the
mportant proofs of a growing popular
restiyeness under the undue authority
of political machines Machines are
as necessary in politics as in rail-
roads; but there arc proper limits to
their use, and there is an increased dis
pos,tion to ser that these shall be prescribed.
Let rs 90 back a little. Previous to the meet
ing of the Legislature large number of con-
stituencies throughout the State instructed
their representatives to vote for Galusha A.
tJTOW lot OcudlOls Ahho "'No NN'iS ~ 49,"
lar form through the local organizations
and by other official methods, so that there
was no doubt of the authenticity of the senti-
ment for Mr.. Grow. His long and faithful SER
vice to the Republican party, his devotion to the
prlncipe of Protection TO American industry,
and his many useful achievements III Congress,
sucb as the adoption of the Homestead law
had given him a claim upon the regard OF his
marty which it was quick to honor When the
LEGISLATURE assembled, it was found that this
popular choice was to be stifled and
frustrated by the act of few ma
chine managers. The representatives Of
the nopu!ar candidate demanded that the
| wishes of their constituents should have
expression, and to that end they signed, to
the number of fifty, paper declaring that they
were of the opinion " that it was not for
the best interest of the Republican party or
"of the welfare of the Staten that
| they should go into caucus They resolved
tn exercise their right to go into the Legisa-
! rive ballot without passing through pre-
Iiminary cacus, and exercised it.
| The rest Of the story is familiar
enoueb. From that day. the 18th of
January, to the 9th of February. and
| through twenty-one ballots, the supporters
Of Mr.. Grow stood firmly by him, showing
that he stood on real and not fictitious
sentiment. On the latter date, Mr.. Oliver,
tile machine candidate, withdrew in letter
addressed to Mr.. Grow, who thereupon
withdrew his own name. Many of the
Independents, including Mr.. Grow himself,
then supposed that their battle had been fought.
But it was perfOrce renewed when they
found new candidate-General Beaver,
against whom personally no one had word
to utter-chOsen for them and conferred upon
| them in the same way in which the machine had
chosen, and had tried to confer, Mr. Oliver
| The new candidate was antagonzed with
| Congressman Bayne, aud the contest was
continued for nearly a fortnight more.
| The adjustment now made is unquestionably
satisfactory to all sections of the party. But
it should not be forgotten that the indie
pendents have recorded their protest and,
| what is more, have made it eflectual.
|
| YESTERDzR,S COMMENOR4TJONS