Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-05-15
Alnrastrr t.,telliQenrer.
moNDAY EVENING, MAY IS, 1851.
MItchell,S Defiance.

MitchelPS Defiance.
The position taken by Senator Mitchell
and the support which it receives from
tie Independent Republicans make it
reasonably certain that the convention
of the oath instant will put an Indepen-
dent Republican ticket in the field. The
undertaking of Senator Cameron to
emasculate the independent movement
by conceding to it all the sounding
declarations it demanded will then have
failed and straightout fight will be
inaugurated upon the issue that distracts
the Republican party in the state, which
is simply whether it shall continue to be
administered by the men who have SO
long had il under control, and who now
have to aid them the influence and
patronage of the national administra-
tiOn.
Senator Mitchell WAS elected to the
Senate after a fierce and prolonged con-
test in the Legislature upon this issue,
and it has until now been uncertain as to
which side had secured the substantial
victory in that engagement. 1t was
thought by very many that the new SELL
atOr was too amiable, inert and weak to
be u thorn in his fellow senator's side,
and this view has been persistently main
tanned by the Philadelphia Times. Others,
who thought that there was better
stuff in Mitchell, had had their faith
weakened by his long submission to the
domination in Pennsylvania affairs
which Cameron has steadily maintained.
The bold and decided stand now taken
by Senator Mitchell however, has demon
str;ted that his quietude was not caused
by weakness of character, but has been
the fruit of his strength and moderation.
He has endeavOred to persuade his
brother senator to act fairly toward
him and the element in the Republican
party in the state whose fight against
machine rule caused his presence in the
senate. He has pursued this object
with great patience and self control, un
til he has fully satisfied himself that it is
not to he obtained by persuasion. Real
izing at last that his fellow senator was
only to be induced by fOrcibie means to
refrain from seizing ali the power and
patronage that he could lay his hands
upon, Senator Mitchell now throws down
the gauntlet and says $50 let it be-
There is no mistaking lis attitude. If the
machine leaders, with the administra-
tion behind them, choose to ignore the
Republican element which does not
yield them obedience, then these leaders
and the administration backing them,
must learn that they cannot command
the Independent Republican, votes.
1t is simple issue, and it seems to he
made up. The Independents cannot
yield without being slaves, and Came
ron and his friends cannot surrender
without losing the grasp upon the Re,
publican throat, which it Is; TIE aim OF
all their devices and tie sum of all theiI
hopes to maintain. The consequence, OF
course, is a division of the Republican
vote and the probable election of the
Democratic ticket. Senator Mitchell
and the Independents see this result ol
their action. 1t is but question for
them rs To whether they will help tu
elect men who will kick and despi,efulIy
use them, their enemies in their own
party, rather than risk the success of
their opponents Of another party. They
have been trying the endurance Of the
first evil for a long while, and it has be-
come unbearable. Naturally they pre-
fer now Democratic success to longer
abuse by their political associates, wh'
may be taught by adversely what canno!
apparently be knocked into them in any
gentle way-the necessity cf decent
treatment Of political allies.