New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-09-11
WILL GENERAL BEAVER BETTREl

WILL GENERAL BEAVER RETIRE?
There is nothing improbable in the rumor
which comes from Pennsylvania that General
Beaver is likely to retire from the head of the
Cameron ticket If he has not actually reached
that determination, there is certainly abundant
reason why he should be rejecting seriously
upon the advisabiity of such step. 1t must
he apparent to him that he cannot hope to be
elected, and that so long rs he remains III the
field there can be no Republican success. lie
is. as he has been from the outset, the chief ob-
stacle to Republican harmony. The moment
he steps aside Republican success with united
Republican ticket will become possible. 1t Is
folly for him to pretend longer to close his eyes
to the facts of the situation. He and Chairman
Cooper continue to boast that they are absolutely
certain of success, but they find no other
Stalwarts who share their confidence. The most
competent observers of all parties in the state
agree that the inevitable result in November, II
Beaver remains in the field. will be Pattisons
election General Beaver with all bis pre-
tended confidence, must see tbs, and can
believe readily that lie Is sufficiently loyal
Republican to hesitate about forcing his party
to a disastrous and needless defeat.
The Cameron faction have based their hopes
of success upon two conditions One was
large falling of in the Democratic vote on
account of Democratic lukewarmness toward
Pattison. The other was an Independent vote
of less than 10000. There is ample evidence
that both conditions will fail them. The DEM
ocratic dissatisfaction with Pattson has been
| overestmated from the start, but whatever
there was of it has been dissipated 10y recent
events in Philadelphia which have done much
to strengthen him with his party. 1t is evident
now that he will poll practically the full Dem
ocratlc vote. AS for the size of the lndepcn-
dent vote, the Cameron estimates OF that have
been worse than foolish they have been simply
| stupid The Cameron managers have claimed
! that the vote for Stewart would not be'mOre than
half as large as that cast for Wolfe last year,
and have persisted in the estimate in the face
of all evidence to the contrary. There is
nothing but stupidity in a policy like that.
Wolfe polled $4,000 votes without any organ
ization TO help mm or anybody to speak for him
except himself. This year the party Wolfe
represented has grown strong enough to hold
one of the largest and most impressive State
conventions ever assembled in Pennsylvania,
has put complete and admirable State ticket
in the field has or will have a thorough organ
ization in every county, and will send able
speakers into all parts of the State. Nobody
but n baby or a blind Stalwart would limit the
vote of such party to 10000.
But aside from the evidences of strength thus
afforded, there are other signs Of popular
strength which are even more difficult to ig-
nOre In every part of the State where the
people have had an opportunity to express
themselves they have shown surprising hos
tility to the Cameron machine. We have
already cited the case in Congressman BayneS
| district. Our correspondent, whose letter from
Meadgie we publish in another column, gives
many others equally striking. The situation in
the strong Republican counties along the West
ern border as depicted i'll this letter is enough
to convince General Beaver that he ought to
withdraw at once He cannot call in question
the facts therein set forth. any more than he can
deny the weight of the names of the eminent
Republicans who are there quoted as being hard
ut work for his defeat. Why, in those West
ern counties alone there are independents
enough to make his election impossible.
Wherever an estimate is made of the probable
Independent vote, instead OF beng half the size
of WOte's the figures are from three to seven
times the size of his. Everywhere, too, the
character of the Independents is the same.
They are invariably the leading citizens Of
their respective lOcalites-men of high char
actcr, often of large wealth, and always devoid
of partisan aims. These are not the kind Of
men to be alarmed by either threats or buga-
boos Both the Camerons know that now after
their experiments on the tariff question.
For General Beaver as a true Republican there
seems to be only one course open. That is to with
draw in favor of a new ticket made up of men
acceptable to both factions and free from all
faint of bOsssm. This is the proposition that
the independents made to him several weeks
ago. and it has always been the only way out of
the difficulty. If he will make the offer now,
the Independents will doubtless accept 1t by
withdrawing their ticket, and while BOSslsm Will
20 down the Republican party will be saved from
defeat. Is General Beaver man enough for the
emergency That is the question. Senator
Cameron is said to be opposed TO his with
drawal, and he may well be, for it means his
own downfall. But that downfall is certain to
come in November, and General Beaver will