New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-08-24
FAITHFULLY SOLICITUDE.

A pathetic cry of distress comes from the
Cameron camp in Pennsylvania. The veneer
able Simon Cameron, father ut once Of Don
and the machine, sends forth n dcspalring wall
to Che Republicans to spare both from de-
struction. This is us natural as IT Is touching.
The senior Cameron spent the greater part OF
his lite in building up perfect machine and
in educating his son in the secrets OF Its man
agcment At last he brought his work sc neal
perfection that he ceased his own labors and
put his son in charge. The machine was so
finely constructed that even under the son
unskiful and often reckless control it con-
tlnucd 10 do its work acceptably for many
years. But rough usage has told upon 1t at
last, and with many a crcak it is now nearing
the end of its service. When the machine goes
down its driver must go with ii, and how could
the inventor and builder be expected to view
this double catastrophe otherwise than in sor-
row. The tone of the fathers cry is the
strongest testimony of the depths of his grief
He says his son is opposed by movement
which originated with the opponents OF pro-
lection. lie can trace the origin OF the hide
pendent revolt directly 70 the free-traders, and
he is sure they are cOnsprlng not only to gam
control of Pennsylvania but of the whole conn
try. Ergo, the only way to save projection to
American industry is to perpetuatc Don and his
machine We do not envy the heart of the
man who cannot detect the echo of despair in
that cry. Simon Cameron in his time has
been accounted an uncommonly shrewd poll
tician, and has rejoiced in that reputation. In
his anxiety for the safety of his son lie delib-
eratey sacrifices this cherished reputation and
.. 4. liz, ! I,o fl,,rN
a roorback which is so absurd that the most
despiscd scratcher" would refuse TO credit It,
This is true fatherly devotion. 1t shows how
fondly the old gentleman loves his headstrong
son, and it shows also the formidable proper
tions of the rumOred panic in the Cameron
camp. We doubt if even the most sanguine
independents expected so moving signal OF
distress as this.
The cry is not even original. 1t is a second
edition of DOn's famous toothache threat,
though it is put in more polite form. Surely
the father has not forgotten that threat. 1t has
never been denied by the son and is i'll the
nature of political history. 1t was made to
meeting of manufacturers and business men,
and was substantially as follows: The sue
"cess of the Republican Cameron ticket rests
with the great Agricultural mining and COM
"mcrcial interests of the State. ! have fought
"for a protective tariff in the Senate. rs my
father fought before me- bat If those who
have heretofore supported tho Republican
"nckot want TO stab me- am ready to receive
St" the Low, and will oppose tariff in the Senate
as heartily as | have upheld it. If you want
"to kill the party, We will 90 to destruction
together, and | don't care if this is repeated
" to the world This remarkable threat If we
remember rightly, did not have favorable
influence upon the prospects OF the Cameron
ticket. AS we have said its authenticity has
never been denied by Senator Cameron, but an
official statement has been published that he
was suffering from violent toothachc at the
time.
Putting the fathers assertion by the side Of
the sons threat, it at once appears that the
former is decidedly the more polite. 1t is
nevertheless purely a work OF the Imagination.
The Independents of Pennsylvania are as de-
voted prOtcctiOnists as can be found in 4 State
where all parties are IN favor of protection,
and their platform contains hearty decara-
ton in favor Of the maintenance of protection.
Their fight is against B0ssism and nothing
else, and they do not, like Senator Cameron
threaten to turn irce-tradcrs if they are de-
feated Everybody in Pennsylvania knows
What the trouble is about, and if the father of
his son were not so alarmed by the size of the
revolt he would be the first 10 see the folly of
trying to head it of with a roorback. Still,