Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-08-25
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FRIDAY EVENING, AUG. rs. 1851.
A FfGht fox q Funeral.

A Fight for . Funeral.
Every day it becomes clearer that the
quarrel between the Republican fac
tions is an irreconcilable conflict. 1t is
a war that cannot be compromised. It is
a contest on the one side for power and
s,oils, and on the other for principles
and political reform. And it is not con
fined to any single state, or any partlcu-
lar section of the country. The lines
were formed during the closing years of
Grants administration, his proscriptive
and brutalizing Southern policy and Sec.
retary Bristow's fight with the whisky
ring thieves, precipitating what was
plainly an inevitable conflict. The issue
was joined in the Republican national
convention at Cincinnati in 1876, but the
reformers were too weak even to
use advantageously the bitter contest
between the Blaine and Grant fa actions.
At Chicago, also, in 1850, the distinct
i've reform element was at first swal
lowed up in the greater faction fight, but
in the end it played conspicuous and
potent il not decisive part. Had Presi-
dent Garfield lived it is quite possible
that the party might have patched up
its internal troubles and tided itself over
another crisis in 1881; but the Arthur
administration, steering straight by the
Stalwart compass, has, in one years
time, left the once united and invincible
Republican party stranded on the rocks
Of hopeless differences and increasing
bitterness, a fact which does not reflect
much credit upon the "practical politi-
clan F" who accidentally fills the presi-
Dental chair, regarding the matter from
his own standpoint, as to the all-powerful
influences of the federal patronage.
1t is, however, doubtful if Mr.. Arthur
could have prevented the party from
tearing itself to pieces. Before Gar
fields death it seemed to be fated, and
after his tragic taking off every thing ap-
peared to conspire against it. The ::ac-
tions rose up glaringly and cl,afed at the
peacemakers. The bosses knew that
their political life blood was demanded,
and the baffled and embittered reform
element knew that they must now fight
more desperately than ever, or submit to
be re enslaved in the bonds of party tyr.
amy indefinitely. The president evi-
dently appreciated tho situation and
concluded that the role of peaccmaker
was not suited to his style of manly
beauty and that he would make sorry
figure in history as a political martyr.
So he clung to his friends, the camp,
divided and the war began in earnest,
and now it is a fight for funeral all
along the line.
In Pennsylvania Mr.. Cameron distinct
ly knows. and his Independent foes are
not disposed to let him forget the solid
fact, that he is fighting for his political
life. The black dag has been raised by
him and against him. He must conquer
or die. And it is the same with his
leading henchmen. with all that dis
reputable combination of political pi-
rates that make up what is known as
"the machine" At least 100000 Re-
publicans in Pennsylvania have deliber-
ately and irrevocably made up their
minds that their party organization shall
be purged of bosses and bossism. The
fact that these Independent voters have
been a long time deciding on this heroic
measure makes their present position all
the stronger. They have patiently
borne with party evils and party disgraces
until forbearance has ceased to be vir-
tue and organized, determined and sue
cessful revolution has become an imper-
alive public duty.
This is the spirit of the Independent
movement. 1t could not be sold out or
turned aside by any leader or any set of
leaders or managers. Should Stewart
and his associates on the Independent
ticket withdraw to-day their places
would he Immediately filled by bolder
men who would carry the flag of indie
pendence and reform over the Stall
wart battlements. And presently the
same battle will be witnessed in New
York. The factions are getting nearer
each other, but to grapple, not to en-
brace. The Stalwarts there, as here, will
rule or ruin, and the Independents mean
to throttle them even if in 50 doing the
party is defeated at the polls. 1t is the
logical and inevitable result of party de-
bauchery and official degradation.
Twenty years ago the Democratic party
was broken upon the slavery issue to-
day the Republican party is rent in
twain over the spoils system. It is
history repeating itself on different
lines of agitation.
IT is high time the Democratic differ
ences in those senatorial districts where
some bitterness has already arisen were
approaching Il settlement. The duty of
the hour calls for self.abnegation and
united efforts. The pathway to victory
is clear; let it not he obstructed any
where by unseemly wrangles. Let us
have peace and not pieces in Fayette and
Cumberland.