The daily gazette., 1882-05-24
ON CONVENTIONS EVE.
GREAT GATHERING OF PENN
SYLVANIA INDEPENDENTS.
MISUNDERSTANDING STATEMENT.
The.Probable Ticket Headed by Agnew for
GOvernor-MarshalI's Tame Letter to
Chairman Lear. .E5f BF.IfE

PHILApELPHIk, May A.-The GAzETTE's
dispatches Yesterday afternoon stated the
position of things In the Independent Re-
publican camp at a late hour In the after
noon The scene in the evening around the
Girard House was quite exciting and lots of
tickets were talked about.
At late hour last night the leaders of
the Independents were still talking Agnew
for Governor, notwithstanding his letter of
refusal. His letter expresses the fullest
sympathy with the objects and purposes of
| the revolt, and his friends among the dele |
gates declare that Rftsf this declaration of
faith he could not, and would not, decline
nomination rendered in the proper spirit.
Next to Agnew, the name most closely
associated with the Gubematorial nomina-
ton is that OF George W. Merrick, the one
legged postmaster Of Wellsboro. He is con-
ceded place on the ticket somewhere, and
| If Agnew Is nominated for Governor, Merrick
will propably be nominated for Lieutenant
| Governor by acclamatiOn. Colonel William
| McMichael of this city, is also conceded
place, and 1t will be either for Governor or
Congressman-at-large with the chances
strongly In favor of the latter position. The
nomination for Secretary of Internal Affairs |
is canvassed very little and will probably go
to Levi Bird Duff of Allegheny. The nomi-
nation for Supreme Court lies between
Judge Thayer of Philadelphia, and Hon.
John Stewart, with the advantages of active
political service in favor Of the latter. The
signs at midnight pointed strongly to the
following ticket:
For Governor-Daniel Agnew
Lieutenant Governor-George W. .Merrick
Secretary of Internal Afairs-Levi Bird
Duff.
Supreme Court-Judge Thayer.
Congressman t-Large-Wm. McMichael.
SENATOR MITcHELL's VIEWS.
Senator Mitchell, in the course of an in
| terview as to the objects of the convention
to-day and its future effects on the politics
of the State, said last night that the indie
pendent movement was contest for the
puriiication of the Republican party and not
contest involving personal considerations.
1t was a movement that drew into II all
classes of citizens. Soldiers who fought
with General Beaver in the war were as
heartily in the Independent cause as any
other citizens. The result of the election
next fall Senator Mitchell thought, would be
the defeat of the whole Stalwart ticket. He
thought so because the people were taking
hold of this Independent fight 1t would
not surprise him If the Independents polled
a majority of the Republican votes next No
| Vember.
Already the Independent leaders are shap-
| hnc
been determined to make the unfinished
"Gariield policy" the independent battle
cry in the campaign. The vindication of
Garfeld's principles Of government will be
made one of the leading issues. A prOmi-
nent Independent from the interior of the
State said yesterday that no more powerful
appeal could be made to the people than in
holding up to their gaze the broken and
shattered remnants of the Garfield policy
| hn 10 oh tb
up where Garfield left off when Guiteau's s
bullet struck him down, and, with the help
of the people, TO finish 1t for him. We
mean to stay in this fight until bossism and
Cameronism are wiped out of the politics of
this State, and this done we mean to keep
them out. Anti-bossism and the vindicatioh
| of the Garfield policy will be our leading
policy. One comprehends the other. II
Garfield were living to-day this movement
would not be in existence. There would be
no need of it. But Garfield is dead and all
his friends and all true friends of the people
are dead, too, so far as the policy of Arthur
and his satellites are concerned. | have
seen statement that Secretary Blaine would
make speeches in this State this fall in favor
of General Beaver That is simply con-
coction of Stalwart falsehood to weaken the
Independents. James g. Blaine is with us
at heart, and there isn't power enough in
him to take the stump in this State in the
cause of the element which is responsible
for the assassination of the best friend we
ever had"
MARsHALL's LETTER.
The following is Thomas NJ. Marshall's
letter declining the nomination as Congress
an-at-large
PITTsBuRa, Pa, May 22.-Hon. George
Ledr.-MY DEAR SIR: The kind and eulo-
CYSTIC language of your letter conveying
official notice of my unanimous nomination
Tor Congressman at-large by the Republican
State Convention can be appreciated as the
exuberant warmth of personal friendship.
1t would have been man of stolid tempera-
ment who could be insensible to the enthusi-
astic reception accorded to the nomination.
1t was the result OF passionate excitement
rather than the calm judgment of delibera-
tive body. The tender of the position, which
would have enabled hle to appear before the
people of the Commonwealth and demand a
literal observance and fulfilment of the let
ter and spirit of the platform adopted by the
convention, was q strong temptation towards
an acceptance of the trust. The profession
of faith therein set forth, in my judgment,
embodies sound political doctrine and prac-
tice and Is in accord with the patriotic
wishes of the people. Itwould have afforded
me satisfaction to enforce and maintain the
proposition that public trusts should be ad-
{ ministered with the same scrupulous fidelity
as private trusts that no diversion from the
original purpose should be permitted 1t is
a mockery of common business sense to dis
place tried and faithful public servants in
order to provide places for hungry applicants
who may prove as unworthy as they are
, voraeious. No sane man so acts In his pri-
vate affairs.
1t is equally repugnant to sound economy
in the administration of public interests. The
use of public patronage to control or direct
the people in their choice of candidates for
office is a grave political crime. 1t subverts
the principles of representative government
! and tends to make the servant master, to
the common debasement of the people. To
have aided in some degree in calling atten-
tion to these vital questions of the hour
would have been my duty as a nominee.
The great moral aud political ideas which
called the Republican party into existence
have become imbedded in the organic law
of the land. If it is the mission of the
present party organization to go forward in
= the spirit of the platform it should succeed.
If 1t fails to come up to the full measure OF
its promise it should perish.
, Mere party obligations sit very lightly on
my shoulders. The call upon me for party
service was a genuine surprise-one not
likely to be repeated in a lifetime 1t came
} unsought and 1t should not be declined with
out adequate and commanding reasons.
| Such pxfst I'm my ease. Personal a nd orivatp