The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-07-29
Tho pennsvlvania Republicans.


The following is the answer OF the State
Committee OF the independent Republican
party to the proposition for compromise
which was submitted to them by the State
Committee Of the Cameronitcs or regular
Republican party. II will be seen that tho
Independents will go into no convention
with the Regulars unless all the CAMERON
candidates are ruled out Of such conven'
ton. To accept this counter proposition
would be for Boss CAMERON defeat as bad
as any he IS likely to ial under in Novem-
Der; and OF course he will reject 1t. Inc
letter OF Chairman MCKEE Is good reading
It Is as follows:
=" Thomas Y. Cooper, Esq, Chdir1nd" ne
publican State Commbtee'
| "Dear sir.-I am instructed to advise
vou that the Independent Republican State
;rommitfee have considered the four sug-
cestions contained IN the minutes OF the
Proceedings OF your committee forwarded
10 me bv YOU on the 18th instant. l am d.
rooted to saw that this committee find that
none Of the four are methods by which a
harmonious and honorable unity OF the
Republican voters Of Pennsylvania could
be obtained. All OF them are inadequate
10 that end for the reason that they Afford
no guarantee that, being accepted, the
principles upon which the Independent
Republicans have taken their stand would
he treated with respect or put INTO
action. All OF them contain the probable
ity that an attempt to unite the Repub-
jicans OF the State by their means
would either result in reviving ana
strengthening the political dictatorship
which we condemn, or would permanently
distract the Republican party and secure
the future and continued triumph OF our
common opponent, the Democratic party.
OF the four suggestions, the first, second,
and fourth are so inadequate as to need no
separate discussion; the third, which alone
may demand attention, has the fatal effect
of not including the withdrawal OF that
'slatedr ticket which was made up many
months ago and long in advance OF the
Harrisburg convention, to represent and
TO maintain the very evils OF con-
troll and abuses OF method to which
we stand opposed. This proposition,
like the others, supposing it to have
been sincerely put forward, clearly shows
that YOU misconceive the causes OF the In
dependent Republican movement, as well
as its aims and purposes. You assume that
we desire to measure the respective num-
hers of those who support the Harrisburg
ticket and those who find their principles
expressed BY the Philadelphia Convention.
This is a complete and fatal misapprehen-
sion. We are organized to promote GER
tain reforms and not to abandon them in
pursuit of votes. Our object is the over
throw Of the 'boss system and OF the
sspoils system In behalf OF this we are
willing and anxious to join hands with
YOU, whenever it is assured that the
union will be honestly and earnestly
for that purpose. But we cannot
make alliances or agree to compro-
misses that on their face threaten the
very object Of the movement in which
we have engaged. Whether your ticket
has the support of many or few, OF
a majority or minority of Republican
voters, does not affect in the smallest de-
gree the duty of every citizen to record
himself against the abuses which it re-
presents. Had the gentlemen who COM
posed it been willing to withdraw them
selves from the field, as they were invited
to Join in doing for the common good by
the Independent Republican candidates,
this act would have encouraged the hope
that new convention freely chosen by the
people and unembarrassed by claims Of eX-
isting candidates, might have brought
forth the needed guarantee Of party eman-
cipation and public reform, This service,
however, they have declined TO render
their party; they not only claim and receive
your repeated assurances OF support. but
they permit themselves to be put forwardto
secure the Use OF Independent Republican
votes, at the same time they represent the
'bossism,' the 'spoils methods, and the
machine management, which we are de-
termined no longer to tolerate. The man.
ner i'm which their candidacy was decreed,
the means employed to give it conventional
formality, the obligations which they incur
by ii, the political methods with which
it identifies them, and the political and per-
sonal plans for which their official influence
would be required, all join tomake it the
most imperative public duty not to give
them support at this election under
any circumstances. In closing this note,
this committee must express its re-
greet that, having considered it de-
sirable to make overtures to the indie
pendent Republicans, you should have
so far misapprehend the facts OF the situa-
ton. 1t is our desire to unite the Repub-
lican party on the sure ground OF princi-
pie, in the confidence that we are thus
serving it with the highest fidelity, and
preserving for the future service Of the
Commonwealth that vitality of Republic
canism which has made the party useful in
the past, and which at once confers upon
it now the right Of continued existence.
The only method which promised this re-
suit in the approaching election is that pro-
posed by the Independent Republican can
didltes in their letter of July 10, 1882,
which was positively rejected by your COM
mttee.
"On behalf Of the Independent Repub-
lcan State Committee of Pennsylvania.
81. ID. MCKEE. Chairman
The "only method" referred to was the
proposition to withdraw all the candidates
on both sides and nominate new ones in a
new convention to be constituted accord
ing to rules acceptable to the Indepen-
dents.
If now the Democrats stand firm, they
may carry Pennsylvania next November.
The Hopes of the Straightouts.
The Richmond correspondent Of the Pc
| tersb,lrp AnDe1l writes ne follows.