Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-07-20
Maneuvring for Position.

MuHUufTlnS IOE IOSltIOus
The correspondence that has lately
passed between the Republican Bosses
and the Independents exhibits every
phase of superb political strategy. Both
sides have been maneuvring for posi-.
ton. Both know that there is vital
point of disagreement between them
that the Bosses can't accept and that
the Independents can't surrender; that
after diplomacy shall have played its
part death-struggle must follow; and
both are seeking to man9uvre each 9th.
er into as vulnerable position as posi-
BILE for the desperate final attack.
The strategy of the Bosses was as well
conceived and as brilliantly executed as
their unfortunate position admitted. il
they had been dealing with the loose
Independents of the past, they would
have captured the whole Independent
army, bag and baggage but the strate.
gy that has manouvred the lndepen-
dents into the fatal embrace of the
BOSSES many times during the decade,
has each year created bolder and more
aggressive Independents, and the Boss
strategists were, for the first time, con.
| fronted with Independent strategists
who know a hawk from handsaw.
When Bosses Cameron, Quay aud Coop
er threw out their strategy to capture
John Stewart, they missed their man,
and the superb strategy with which he
maneuvred on the field, was immensely
supported by the unspiked and unspi-
| kable M Michael battery that commands
| the kew of the Boss nosition
The strategic Bosses offered the Inde-
pendents everything that the lndepend-
ents don't want, and reserved the one
thing that they not only want but must
have. The offer was couched in the
taultless employment of words to con-
ceal ideas and purposes; but lndepend-
ent Stewart cut abruptly across lots to
get at Just what the Bosses don't want
to surrender and what they can't afford
to refuse. Boss Cameron's strategy
thinly disguises his one purpose to make
Beaver Governor to perpetuate the
power of Cameron and the machine /;
Independent Stewards strategy disguis-
es nothing; declares in favor of Re.
publican ticket that shall be the hon
est choice of honest Republicans, and
sinks all personal ambition on the altar
Of honest Republican unity. This strikes
tbs Bosses in the one penetrable point
of the Boss armor, and Stewart can be
content, as the machine must surren.
der Beaver and the spoils system or it
must die on the field.
| Cunning as was the Boss strategy, it
has been surpassed by the more direct
and no less wise strategy of the lnde'
pendents. The Bosses greatly surpass
the Independents in skilful political
strategy, as strategy has been their stu
dy and practice for years but it re.
quired no great skill for an Independ.
ent leader like John Stewart to 20 right
down TO bedrock truth and counter on
the bosses by cutting squsrely through
their platitudes and uncovering the ope
vital point in the Bosses line that the
Republican people are ready To attack.
And when Stewart had done his part
with consummate generalship, to meet
one of the cunning expedients which
often confront politicians, Colonel Nc
Michael put in supplement to the In
dependent Strategy, telling all that was
forbidden to be told in political diplo'
macy. McMichaers letter, telling the
truth for the truths sake, and refusing
TO subordinate the right to any conside-
rations OF expediency, is the feature OF
the strategic movements for position
that will be ever fresh in the public
mind. Grant, the commander, had to
manpuvre at times, but Sheridan, the
lieutenant, could strike from the Val.
ley to Appomattox.
The strategy of the disputing Bosses
and independents is now practically en-
ded, and the results of their mannuvres
| for position are visible to all. They
have ended just where they started and
! Just where both knew from the begin.
ming they must end. Cameron won't
abdicate his Boss domination and he
can't surrender Beaver: the lndepend-
ents won't assent to Cameron's AFRO
CANT and despotic leadership, and they
can't accept Beaver, Cameron's chosen
candidate for Governor. Cameron meant
it all from the start the Independents
knew his irrevocable purpose when they
organized revolution, and now both
sides have exhausted strategy and
maneuvres for position, and the shock
of battle must come. Whether Stewart
or Pattison shall win, it will be equally
fatal defeat for the Bosses, and as one
of them must win, the victory will be
for the right.-PhiLa. Times.