Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-05-24
INDEPENDENT REPUBLICAN
CONVENTION.
Anti CamerOnism in Pennsylvania.
Temporary Chairman senator
Mitchell Makes q speech.

PHILADELPHIA, May 24.-George
Lear, who presided at the regular Re.
publican convention, occupied a seat
on the platform when the Independ-
ent Republican convention was called
to order. Prayer was offered by Rev.
D. c. Babcock, noted Prohibitionist
and Secretary of the Pennsylvania
State Temperance Association. United
States Senator Mitchell was chosen
temporary chairman By acclamation,
amidst cheers and applause. Senator
Mitchell returned thanks for the hon.
or conferred, aud said the work of the
convention was not to nominate a
ticket that would help the Democratic
party or defeat the Republican
party, but to nominate one that
would secure the respect and
support Of the Republican party. [ Ap-
plause.] This country had been
founded upon principles which secured
equal rights to all men, and on the
spot where these principles were de-
clared the Republican party was
founded, and he trusted the atmos-
phere of this State would be found too
pure to be breathed by any Republican
willing to be the slave, political or
otherwise, Of any man. Applause. ]
There must, in the order of things, be
leaders, but DO bosses" 1t would be
we'll for the Convention to declare
against this system and against "besS
ism" and machinism, and not only to
declare against them, but provide a
remedy that would tear them up, root
and branch. Applause. The only
effective remedy will be found in the
civil service system. Applause The
speaker would be glad to be able to
stand before the Convention and de-
clare, in his desire to support the
administration, that the President
was disposed to enforce this system,
but he was sorry to say there was yet
no indication of such a determination
on the part Of the President. With
the power Of appointment to places oi
minor Importance taken out of the
hands of politicians, and fitness alone
be made the test, there would be fewer
leaders ready to take bread from the
children of some poor but capable man
to make room for some mere politician
Senator Mitchell said he spoke
with sorrowl when lie asserted that
what had been achieved at Chicago
had rot been borne out by the present
administration. Inall that the move
ment meant that placed Garfield in
the Presidents chair the speaker had
sympathized. He trusted the Repuh.
licaDs present were assembled to show
what they could do to the movement
of the Republican party to protest
against method by which it had
been managed, and to say to the people
o! this7country, by the voice of a body
actuated by the desire for good repub-
lie, that the party shall rid itself of its
barnacles and all murkey and corrupt
atmosphere by which she has been
surrounded; [applausel to show that
the Republican party was pro-
gressive party composed Of free
thinking men, and one that
cannot be run as railroad
train and conductors in the political
employment of any man.
The roll of delegates was then called.
When the name of Charles s. Wolfe
was called it elected such cordial and
protracted applause that Senator
Mitchell requested Mr.. Wolfe to come
forward.