The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-04-07
OPPOSITION TO CAMERON.

The Wilkes Barre Record, q Repub-
lican organ, makes the following vigor-
Gus protest against continuing Senator
Don Cameron in power The Record
has heretofore been a supporter of
Cameron and its present attitude is re
markable. 1t remains to be seen
whether it will maintain its position or
fall in with the rest of the ringsters at
the last moment "Mr. Hoyt never had
the gubernatoral bee in his ear as most
aspirants for that position have.
Against his personal protest his friends
urged his nomination and he reluctant
ly consented. In earlier years Senator
Simon Cameron had been his warm
friend and had given evidence of his
kindly regard entirely disconnected
with any political trade In after years
when Senator j. d. Cameron succeeded
to the political inheritance of his father,
he assented, through the solicitation of
mutual friends, to the nomination of
Henry Nj. Hoyt for governor, though,
at the last moment, and very short
time preceding the convention after the
canvass had been made, he desired to
sacrifice Hoyt to the advancement of
his own personal ends, and would have
done so but for the determined inter-
position of Quay who was stronger
than he. For various reasons, all of
which are entirely honorable, Cover
nor Hoyt has recognized an obligation
to Cameron. He owed him no personal
strength, but was constrained to this
course by the regard he had for the
elder Cameron and Quay. Herein he
made an error, but, like all of his
blunders, it was attributable to his
great heart and answering friendship.
He has never exhibited a disposition to
sacrifice himself in the service of friends.
Few men are so utterly regardless of
their own personal welfare-honors or
emolument-as he. Whatever of blum
ders are chargeable to the administra-
ton, may be traced directly to the source
from which come ali the ills which the
Republican party of this State is suffer
ing to-day; ever since the younger
Cameron assumed the reins of direction
the party in this State has been thrown
upon the defensive, and it has been
obliged to 60 into each campaign with
an apology as an argument That it
has been successful does not prove that
it has been right. Its victories have
frequently been, by every measure of
cost, much more expensive than one
good thorough defeat would have been.
Last year with Cameron candidate,
the peer of any man in the State-an
excellent soldier and spotless citizen
triumph was snatched from certain de-
feat through divided opposition and
Democratic votes This year there is
promise of similar campaign with its
doubtful results. How long can the
Republican party survive such mar
ipulation? Can it be traded and pur-
chased into power forever? And if so,
arc the results worth the trouble and
expense?
Now there is another scheme on the
programme, and again the willing ser
vices of Governor Hoyt are sought to
pull the chestnuts from the fire. The
same Senator Cameron who has been
the author of so much mischief to the
party seeks new lease of power. He
is doubtful about the political complex
ion of the next legislature, and Dem.
ocratic victory might make such an
appointment as would ruin every polti-
cal aspiration of the son of his father.
In this uncertainty Governor Hoyt is
urged to call special session, and if
Governor Hoyt yields in this last de
mand against his better judgement he
will do himself and the public a great
wrong and not even accomplish the re.
suit anticipated. We do not believe
the present Legislature can be depended
upon to carry out such scheme, while
the attempt would almost certainly
lead to defeat this fall. Is the mod
ern Cameronism so attractive-so in
valuable-that party prestige and
personal honor must forever be sacri
feed to its maintenance? Will the
time never come when ordinary self.
respect will cry out "hold enough?"