Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1882-10-11
SENATOR MITCHELL TO
HIS FkIEN DS.
What He Thinks About The
Present. Political situation
i'm PENNSYLVANIA.

tdtor:
/ understand that certain Stalwart
politicians and papers in Pennsylva-
mia have industriously sought to Gre
ate the impression that my absence
from the State evinces a want of inter-
est in the Independent Republican
cause. No one but Stalwart or
political boss would be capable of re-
sorting to so gross means for political
effect 1t has been known publicly for
many months that | intended to visit
my son here at this time.
/ want it distinctly understood, how
ever, that my opinions remain un-
changed, and that l still believe that
the Beaver ticket represents all the
evils of bossism in the Republican
party which have done so much to
bring it into reproach, and that it is the
imperative duty of those Republicans
who would save their party for future
triumphs and for further usefulness to
eradicate these evils thoroughly. and to
do this now. In my judgment the
election of the Beaver ticket would in
tensify and perpetuate them, and there
fore l cannot support it.
/ am as fully convinced that the
Stewart ticket represents the very op-
posite views and purposes, and that It's
triumph would put an end to the evils
against which | stand opposed, with
the Independent Republicans of the
State, and therefore it has my most
hearty and earnest support, and 1t will
have my vote, if live, at the next
election.
1t pains me to be compelled to say
this, for ! love the party into which l
was born politically, and | Eave hoped
that our old party managers and
would-be present and perpetual pollt-
ical bosses would consent to a settle
ment of our party difficulties upon q
basis which would be honorable to all
and efectual for the good and contin-
ued success of the party. But | long
since gave over this hope. Such a
settlement was never possible with the
Beaver ticket in the field, for it stands
plainly and boldly for all the evils in
the party which Independent Republi-
cans are determined to put down, and
in my judgment the offer of the Inde-
pendent candidates to step aside If the
Stalwart candidates woud do the same,
thus leaving the masses of the people
free to select a new ticket composed OF
men of the highest character, who had
not been active participants on either
side, should have been accepted, and
that it proposed the only way iu
which it was possible to unite the par
ty on any ticket this year. No atten-
tion was paid to that offer, and the
bosses are now endeavoring to induce
honest Republicans to elect their ticket,
and to do this in the name of the Re-
publican party.
Against this /, for one, Republican
" no never bolted ticket at any elec-
ton, one born into the Republican party
in boyhood, and ever, still as ever,
devoted to all the great principles it
was raised up to carry out in govern
ment, protest, and against this and all
such wrongs proposed in the name of
nv party l will stand and contend to
the end
The party will not suffer by this.
Never fear. 1t will be the better for
it, or it will not deserve longer lease
of power, and the people will take
care that it does not have it. If it has
no will of its own, if it is, indeed,
composed of underlings and political
slaves who are willing still to do the
voting and let the bosses use the pow
er of the party as they please and not
as the people will it to be used, it is
unworthy of further trust and it's death
is near
Against all the teachings of po-
litical history, against every instinct
of justice, of fairness and party ex-
pediency, the men who have for twenty
years managed the party in Pennsyl-
vania have stood out stolidly and
doggedly and have had their own will
with the party and the State until they
have driven the honest men of the
party-those who want no office, but
who Insist that Office is public
trust to be administered for the
good of the people, and not a
gift bestowed for political or personal
favor-to seek some efectual remedy
for the desesse thus brought upon the
rarty.
l myself have heretofore insisted
that these troubles should be settled
within the party. | did this last year
in opposition to Mr.. Wolfe | then
lived in hope that the managers of the
party would honestly strive to cure it
of the ills which had belalIen it. For
a whole year after [ was chosen to
the Senate | urged reform of party
methods and public administration in
the name of the party which had been
so long perverted to improper uses, but
without success. strove to bring the
two factions together at an early day,
and to secure such reforms as would
satisfy all who had, as | thought,
just cause of complaint | am now
satisfied that there was no honest pur-
pose among the Stalwart managers to
do anything frankly in Difference to
the demands of conscientious, thinking
Republicans. Such men compose the
Independent Republican party of
Pennsylvania, and they cannot be
deferred from carrying out the work
they have undertaken. They demand
true reform of civil service, and they
insist upon radical change in the
management of the Republican party
in Pennsylvania-a change that will
substitute the popular will of the par
ty for the will of their quondam boss
es. l am in hearty sympathy with
these objects, and l firmly believe that
the good of the party and of the
country requires that they be speedily |
wrought out and assured Therefore
| send these few words frou the
prairie to my old friends, with the