National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-05-12
Pennsylynnin All Right.

Leadership consists very largely in
knowing which way the people are CO.
ing, and moving along at the head of the
procession. They may even be turned
slightly to right or left on the march to
their goal, ifreasons are given them for it,
or their feelings are enlisted to that end.
This is always supposing that the march
is not interrupted or abandoned in u
panic caused by false information or false
alarm.
In this country the general political
movements of the people, organized
under leaders chosen by themselves,
are constantly subjected to the dis
turbing influence of the men who
have not been invited to lead,
and who swear therefore that there
shall be no procession. These vain ego
lists shout at the people from one years
end to the next, demanding to be made
grand marshals, with scarfs and rosettes,
mounted on gaily-caparisoned steeds.
Take the State Of Pennsylvania, for in
stance. Who can remember year of
the last two decades in which the people
have not been told that they were being
cheated into marching against their will
by some superior management? First it
was Simon Cameron, then it was his son
Don upon whom the neglected states
men turned the vials of their wrath. But
the Cameronsneverh have tried to do more
than to ascertain what would be most
likely to meet with popular approval in
the Republican party, and then to coun-
sci their friends to carry it out.
Iu 1872 John II. Hartranft was nomi-
mated for Governor by the Republican
State Convention. At once there went
up such yells and shrieks of rage as
might be heard in pandemonium, but not
often outside of it. If General Hartranft
had been an escaped convict he could
not have been denounced in more scurvy
terms. But mainly upon. the head OF
Simon Cameron fell the curses of the
shameless rabble. 1t was charged that
he had dictated the nomination, and free
government was at an end. The with.
drawal of General Hartranft was vocifer.
ously demanded. The noisy din con
tinued with increasing wrath up to elec
ton day, and then the peoples ballots
silenced it. The opposition had affected
nothing. The result showed that it had
been the spitework Of few, and that the
people had no sympathy with it. Every
year the few self-styled "honest
men" of Pennsylvania come forward to
take charge of the Republican party, and
the party refuses to heed them. Then
they bolt, and doubt not their power to
defeat the party, but they are trodden
under foot, and the usual Republican ma
jority is the result. Last year Mr.. Wolfe
ran independent, and took an equal
number of votes from each party, which
hurt nobody. This year he has had nu.
merous conferences. Great names have
been sounded abroad as being in revolt
against "bossism." What is the result
The Republicans Of Pennsylvania reply
that General Beaver is their choice fol
Governor and that they are entirely sat
isfed with Senator Don Cameron fol
having understood their will, and Joined
heartily as one Of themselves in making
the nomination. Cameron has made nc
attempt to boss the party, lie merely
went along with it. 1t was Wolfe who
undertook the bossing business. lie sci
himselfup as one having the right tc
rule the party, and swore that any mar
who differed with him was favoring the
boss system. The State convention has
nominated General Beaver, noble gen,
tleman, u good citizen, an ardent Repub
lican, and brave soldier. The absurC
Independents were without influence
upon the proceedings. They have side
show which will open ON the oath in
slant, at which bearded women and mon
strous calves will doubtless abound. Blu
the Republican procession will move on
gaining in numbers until election day
Solongas Don Cameron continues to NOV
in harmony with the masses Of the Re
publican party, as he has in fIyorng tn
nomination of General Beaver, no beat
ing of gongs or blowing of horns b.
malcontents will be able to do him an
harm.