The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-09-13
The Pennsylvania Canvass.

The following is from the Elmira
Advertiser and it should be carefully
read by every Republican, as it con-
tains much solid truth:
The Pennsylvania canvass contin-
ues to attract the attention of the
whole country, although the matter
is not So generally discussed by the
press now as it was few weeks ago.
The several stages of politics
through which the state has passed
the last six months have been the
theme OF earnest comment .on one
side or the other by the papers of
every state and territory in the ul10n.
The question as TO a new conversion
was perhaps more widely debated
than almost any state issue which
has arisen in years. But, despite all
the hopes and admonitions touching
that exigent question, the opportune
moment came and went, and no such
compromise was effected. There now
seems no likelihood that any adjust
ment of Republican difficulties as
to a new convention will now be
reached before the election. With
this strong probability in view the
Republicans of Pennsylvania will be
called upon to pass judgement upon
very important issue-whether the
state is to keep Republican or turn
ed over to the Democracy. There
can be no halfway ground in the
case. The election next November
will decide positively and radically
one way or the other. Not only will
there be no halfway about the case,
the officers elected will serve out
their term and no change can come
except in the due course of time. If
/ Pennsylvania goes Democratic, the
Democrats will run the state on the
methods SO well known 10 their par
ty, and the expectation, if any such
exists that MIR. Pattison, if elected
would be better than his party is
vain and deiusive The next Cover
nor will come into office just in time
to bring his moral and political iniiu-
ence to bear upon the presidential
campaign of 1884. In the hands Of
his party. if chosed to the guberna-
torial office, Mr.. Pattison would be
as clay in the hands of the potter,
and whatever his party wanted done
to corrupt the politics of the state,
to prostitute the patronage OF the
commonwealth to partisan and DEM
ocratic ends would be done, and
everybody knows it. IL would seem
as though it would be impossible to
wrench the old Keystone State from
its time-honored place in the Re-
publican arch, in presidential year,
bat that tremendous effort would
be made to do so, if the Republicans
permit it to fall into Democratic
hands this fall, it were useless to de-
ny. In 1876 powerful effort was
made in Vermont to reduce the Re-
publican majority, simply for the
moral effect il would have. Now, if
Mr.. Pattison is elected, the chances
are that the Democrats would carry
the legislature, make important
gains OF congressman and finally
captured United States Senator
To suppose, then, that with the
vantage ground of the state govern
ment on their side and the other
gains to which we have alluded. the
Democrats would not begin the work
of trying to carry the state in 'S4,
and push it with ali their reckless
and unscrupulous vigor is to suppose
very unnatural thing, and one
which the record of the Democratic
party does not warrant.
But the best interests OF the peo-
pie and of the taxpayers OF Pennsvl-
vania, we believe, require the con
tinuance of Republican administra-
ton. We are confident and positive
that, on the sole question, if lett to
all tie voters, whether q change
should be made from Republican
to Democratic administration, there
would be a very large majority in
favor OF the former This being So
and We doubt whether any intelli-
gent man would dispute 1.-THE wish
of the and the good of the people,
they themselves being judges, are on
the side OF the Republican ticket.
And the Democrats do not hope for
success because the people desire
such a change, but simply because
they think IN irrSparable breach has
occurred in the Republican ranks
Now. will the Republicans ofPer
sylvania permit The Democrats to
steal into large and long-continued
power in this way? We trust not.