The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1882-07-22
THE CLOUD THREATENING THE
ROggEE

BOSSES,
A special dispatch from Washington
dated the 22d inst. sums up the situation
of the Bosses as follows. This is bad
year for the political bosses. They fully
perceive the actual and the coming dam
gers that threaten the overthrow of vul-
gar and venal ascendancy. The very
citadel of bossism is now menaced with
capture.
Any striking defeat of the one-man
power in great State heretofore Repub-
lican will end the rule of that party, which
for twelve years past has held the reins
of government by force, by fraud, and by
corruption. 1t has not only outlived all
usefulness, but the present machine or
ganization glories in the shame of having
abandoned the principles and dishonor-
ed the good name which once made Re-
publicanism proud title of distinction.
The crisis in the career of Boss Gam
eron can neither be postponed nor quail
fed. Even If some of the Independent
leaders were willing to betray their cause
for price, or to entertain propositions
of compromise, the result would not be
seriously affected. They might sell them
selves, but they could not deliver the
votes under contract of treachery.
The long-deferred day of settlement
~ l,o II ha
homes, the Blaines, the Creswells, and
other self-appointed leaders, who owe
their positions to machine management,
aud to the abuses of patronage, is at last
near at hand They have plnndered the
Treasury, debauched the public morals,
aud degraded the republic in the eyes of
the civilized world. Think of a clan who
has been controlling the second State in
the Union for quarter of century,
without a single quality to challenge the
public respect, or one recorded act to re-
deem the deep disgrace of that fallen
Commonwealth.
The vote of Pennsylvania has been
huckstered at conventions and trafficked d
at Washington for Office and for jobs as a
personal chattel, almost without protest
against the degradation. The audaci y
of power intimidated the weak, who were
inclined to resist this despicable domina-
ton, and alarmed selfish interests by q
threat Of war on the tariff.
After long suffering and unworthy sub.
mission, au open and formidable revolt
against the Boss of Pennsylvania has
been proclaimed in form that admits Of
no retraction, without blasting shame to
all engaged in it. They must go forward.
They can make no truce or terms They
can accept no composition, because any
change of front would carry with it the
suspicion of q bargain and sale.
In this perplexing dilemma Boss Cam
eron resorts to the trickery which stand'
with him for the intellect and the wortt
that distinguished the leaders in Penn
sylvania of better day. He knows, will
the party lines drawn, and the nomina
tions as they now stand before the pub
lie, a crushing defeat stares him in th
face, without hope of recovery.
The Democrats were wise in their nom
nations. Robert E. Pattison, as thei
candidate for Governor, represents th
sentiment ami the fact of reform in hi
own person. Whoever believes in it hor
estly must vote for him, without regar
: to party, because he has proveH by bi
good work as Comptroller of Philade
, phia that he deserves the confidence an
D the support of the people. Thousands {
: upright Republicans, whose votes woul
=, be thrown away on the Independent ticl
Z, ct, can make them most effective by SUI
: porting Pattison.