New-York tribune., 1882-04-11


REPUBLICAN PERIL IN PENNSYLVANIA.
The Republican situation in Pennsylvania
does not improve as time goes on. A growing
feeling of bitterness toward the regular party
management is perceptible in many directions.
In spite of all protests and appeals for free
convention which will represent the will of the
party, the determination to make General
Beaver the candidate is steadily pressed by
the machine. In Philadelphia, where the
people are animated with an unusual spirit OF
Independence, due to their recent successful
uprising against Boss rule, the independent
Republicans are openly declaring for revolt
Mr.. Wharton Barker writes to Senator
MITCHELL any fears have been fully realized,
" and the Republican party. in the hands OF the
@present leaders, is dead in Pennsylvania, be-
/" cause of the revulsiOn of feeling in Philadel-
"phia." To this Senator Mitchell replied in
the long letter of rather melancholy acquies-
cence which has been published in The
TRIBUNE.
Whether these gloomy forebodings will be
realized, 1t is not possible to decide now. They
seem to us to be more gloomy than the facts
warrant, but they are expressed by men who
have studied the situation with care and concern.
They and the men for whom they speak are dis
posed to claim that the only way possible for Sc
curing a more just and liberal representation of
Republican sentiment in the councils and
leadership of the party is to revolt and take
the risk of giving the State into the control of
the Democrats. They claim that the present
leaders will only abandon their autOcratic
methods when they are shown that to continue
them is to invite defeat. They declare that
under the present system OF representation in
the State Convention the vast body of Republi
can voters have practically voice, but are
completely at the mercy of the few who control
the machine. In support of this they claim
that at the convention, which is to be held in
MAY. the delegates from only ten of the sixty
seven counties of the State will be chosen by
tho people on the issues now before them.
The convention, they believe, was purposely
put at so early date as to make free and
accurate expression by the people impossible.
This is a serious charge, and though it was
made long time ago we have never seen any
refutation of it. 1t is charged also, that the
candidate for Governor was selected by the
machine, even before the convention was
called, and that his nomination is to be forced
upon the party whether it wishes him or not.
To this charge there has been no reply except
confession.
These are some Of the elements of discord.
Senator Mitchell, in conversation with Wash
ington correspondent of The TRIBUNE, has
mentioned others which are not peculiar to
PENNSYLVANIA. He said concerning Federal
appointments in the State They have been,
L" like those in New York, pretty much all one
sway" What he meant by that was explained
by Pennsylvania Congressman, who said he
believed Senator Cameron proposed to secure
from the President by degrees the removal of
"every anti-CamerOn Republican holding a
Federal Office in Pennsylvania" This reveals
one cause of all the .trouble in the State.
An attempt is being made by the use of
patronage to Stalwartze the Republican
party-to convert its majority against its
will fro,n Garfield to Stalwart Republican
ism. General Beaver, the predetermined can
didate for Governor, is first OF all a Stall
wart. He voted thirty-six times for a third
term at Chicago, knowing all the time that he
was misrepresenting the sentiment both of his
district and his State. He was picked out for
Governor because Of this service. His selection
was an afrOnt to vast majority of Pennsyl |
vania Republicans, who objected to him On
account of his Third Termism, his subserviency
to the machine, and the manner of his selection
for the office.
The Independents, in view of all these griev-
ances, and the most loyal Republican must |
confess that they give cause for discomfort, say |
they think the time has come for revolt. Many of |
them hope that the gravity of the situation will |
so impress itself upon the leaders of the party
by the time the convention meets that General
Beaver will be withdrawn. We sincerely hope
this will be the case. Neither President
Arthur nor Senator Cameron can fail to see the
damaging blow it would be TO both of them to
have Pennsylvania go Democratic. That GER
tainly would not help on a Stalwart revival.
Senator Cameron has often shown that he pos
sesses more sagacity than the other Stalwart
leaders. Unlike Mr.. Conkling, he has been
able to recognize the necessity of occasionally
He cannot do better now than
ponder upon the efforts of Mr.. Conkling to
show himself a bigger man than the whole Re-
publican party of New-YOrk.