The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-03-22
"QUITE. QUITE DOWN"

"QUITE, QUITE DOWN"
TINE was when the paper found
ed by Horace Greeley" was leader
OF Republican sentiment, the whole
sale and vigorous disseminator of
party doctrines, the sturdy defender
of party discipline, and the success
ful, fearless and honest exponent of
party principles. 1t atall times
strove to be just and truthful, and
never knowingly circulated SLAM
der even against its political oppo.
nents, much less could it be induc-
ed to assail, vilify and SANDER those
of its own political faith and house
hold. This acas the character of the
Tribune. What it is now, and what
it has been of late years, very many
Republicans know with regret. Its
no longer the safe counsellor and
conscientious guide, conducted upon
the high plane of truth and honesty
in dealing with political affairs. 1t
is run in the narrow groove of fac
ton, caters to the meanest of all
passions and perversions-personal
rancor, individual vindictiveness
and selfish ambitions. 1t lies like
an auctioneer on the slightest pre-
text, a notable instance being its at
tempt to hold Stalwarts responsible
for the direct assaults which the
Democrats, and the indirect assaults
which the faction to which it be.
longs, have made upon the memory
of Garfield in connection with the
Chase letter. Again, when it med
dies in the politics of this State, it
is only to SANDER the party with
which it claims to affiliate, and to
indulge in forebodings of defeat.
Here is a sample
There is said to be much ankle
ty felt by Pennsylvania Republicans
concerning the outlook for their
party. 1t all springs from the evil
dent determination of the machine
to nominate General Beaver for Gov
ernor whether the party favors the
choice or not. With a free express
sion in the convention there would
be little chance of General Beavers
nomination. While he is popular
man, his blunder in misrepresent-
ing his district at Chicago by voting
first. last and all the time for the
third term, made him many politi-
cal enemies who refuse to approve
his treachery by giving him the
highest office in the State. This is
his chief cause of weakness. Anoth-
er is the choice of him by the ma
chine as its candidate months be-
fore the State Convention was to be |
held. He is put forward as the man |
to be nominated whether the party |
likes him or not. More than this,
he is not only put forward, but the
convention is appointed at such
date that the election of delegates by
the people is impossible in certain
districts, and they will be appointed
by local committees in the interest
of the machine Thus the candi.
date is picked out in advance, and
his nomination is made sure by
sitting opposition to it"
The voice of the Tribune used to
be potent in aiding Republican sue
cess in Pennsylvania. Then it |
could not be induced to lie in the |
interest of faction, and had high
er and nobler aims to subserye than
spending its energies in giving aid
and comfort to the common enemy.
Now it takes up the stale and explo-
ded stories set afoat by those who |
had no higher motive than to COM
pass the defeat of General Beavers |
nomination, or to pave the way for
a bolt in case he was nominated, |
which seemed then, as it seems
now, almost foregone conclusion.
Where are the complaints that san
election of delegates by the people
is impossible ?" In one district, and
one only (Lancaster), has it been al !
legged that the time was insufficient,
and even here it was only necessary
for the County Committee to make |
a slight alteration in the rules to
give the peopleall the time required, |
and much more. The time for
holding the State Convention was
fixed in January, for May 10th, and
more than three months were given
in which to prepare for the prima-
ries. We affirm that in no district
in the State have the people been
forestalled in this matter. and in no
district was the election of delegates
impossible, (" fthe people had chos-
en- to elect them. In Allegheny |
county, by almost unanimous voice.
it was agreed to elect delegates not
only through primary conventions,
but to confine the choice of delegates |
to Senatorial and Representative
districts exclusively. There is no
comp.eins anywhere in the Stats,
fror, the necpie. thet they bavel /