The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-04-27
The Republican Opportunity.
philadelphia Press.)

The Republican party of Pennsylva-
MIA has for months stood OH the brink
of division and disaster. The oppor-
tunity las now come, with wise coun-
sells and patriotic spirit, to save it from
this imminent peril. A path way is
opened of honorable escape from its
threatening dangers, and of just agree.
ment which will unite all elements of
the party and advance it upon fresh
career of power and glory. If the Re-
publican leaders of all shades will
really rise to the occasion, they can
make new destiny. If not, so much
the worse for them and so much the
more depiorable for the great organi.
zation which they would thus prove
themselves incapable of wisely direct
ing.
The most pronounced Independent
Republicans of the State, in response
to distinct overtures from the other
side, have expressed their Willingness
for q conference of the contending
forces with view to union and har-
mony. A strong committee, appoint
ed by Senator Mitchell and under the
leadership of Mr.. Wolfe, stands ready
as their representatives to confer with
the regular leaders. This honorable
and patriotic movement toward the
union and salvation of the party must
be met in the most liberal spirit, and
in the same good faith which prompted
it. The party managers will have 10
excuse, as we believe they will have
no desire, to evade it. The Republi-
cans of the State will expect them to
accept promptly and cordially the OPP
portunity which has been profered
They will expect the conference to
embrace the strongest leaders of the
party organization, aud those who
are most directly interested Let Sena-
tor Cameron aud Mr. Quay participate;
let General Beaver, as the proposed
candidate for e Governor, join the
council; let Governor Hoyt he invited;
let Senator Mitchell be present. and
every element which can give it weight,
authority and representative character
he included.
The whole movement must be Of the
most open and public nature. The
conference must be held in the broad
daylight. The whole RepuJl ,an
patty OF the Safe must be taken into
confidence. 1t i essential to the sue
sess Of any adjustment that it shall
command the hearty approval of the
Rep Iblican masses, and in orle. to &C
comp:ish this OBJECT all just grounds
@: complaint must be removed. In
express .ng their Willingness to confer
me Independent Republicans have
not proposed to surrender any priuci-
PIE for which they lave contended.
Let the party leaders hear their repre-
sentations and let them concede everv
Just demand. Ifthey are not prepared
to do this, the conference might Just
as well never be held. The only war
rant for the movement is a realization
of the dangers which threaten the
party, and an honest aud earnest dis
position to reach an honorable agree
ment which shall avert them. The
very effort for harmony requires that
there shall be no humiliation of either
side; but at the same time there can
be no sacrifice of principle. The only
basis of union is platform upon
which all Republicans can stand with
out any surrender-a platform which
places all upon an equal footing; which
abandons abuses that have excited dis
content; which treats public Offices as
public trusts which demands that the
power Of the party shall be used for
the common welfare aud not for the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of any faction; aud
which, conceding equal rights and
claims to all, shall prescribe no Re
publican because he is an Independent
or because he is Stalwart.
We do not uuderrate the difficulties
and embarrassments in the way of an
adjustment We know that the tenn
per of the Independent Republican in
the ranks will not tolerate any sacri-
flee of the principles for which they
have fought. We know that their
leaders who have acted in this move
ment will not yield any of the ground
they have firmly held. Any settle
ment which may he made will have
to be put in such clear form and accom-
panied by such unmstakable guaran-
tees that it will not be open to doubt.
But the opportunity is offered, and the
sentiment of the party will demand
that it shall be improved.