Morning journal and courier., 1882-05-24
Wednesday Morning, May 24, 1882.
THE PENNSYLVANIA IAINDEPENDENT,

THE PENNSYLVANIA NIAINDEPENDENTS
 CONVENTION.
 To day the State convention of the Inde- pendent Republicans of Pennsylvania will be held in Philadelphia. It is expected that 251 delegates will be present Arrangements have been made to admit as many who are not delegates as there is room for and part of the space not needed for delegates has been set apart for ladies. Among the dele gates are some of the best political orators of the State, and also many solid business men who have hitherto abstained from politics
 Of course it is impossible to tell what strength there is behind the delegates until the vote is counted, but present 3D. pearances indicate that they have a good backing. Especially is this the case in the northern counties, part of the State which has always been considered a Republican stronghold. It is asserted that in Tioga county, Senator MitckslI's home at least fifty per cent. of the Republicans have gone over to the Independents This county has for years, in every important election, given very steady Republican vote of about 6 1000 against Democratic vote of 5000. The Independent leaders claim a backing of at least POO, OOO votes.
 The convention will probably not mince matters. The Independents appear to be animated by the feeling we'll expressed by Postmaster George W. Merrick, of Wells boro, one of the strongest men among them, in a recent letter. He said |" This autocratic despotism is too much for honorable men to bear. It can be shaken off by defeating Cameron. T. know of no way SO sure to do that as to de feat the State ticket Mr. Cameron has im- posed upon the party. It may not result in the victory of an Independent Republican ticket. It may result in temporary victory for the Democratic party. Very well. The first object should be the defeat of bossism. Nothing can be worse than that, and see no hope for the plan of the Republican party but in this course." The delegates have re- celved some good advice from George Will liam Curtis in letter written to Senator Mitchell and published yesterday. Mir Cur tls thinks that the recent history of Pennsyl- vaaia politics shows plainly that bold and intelligent leadership and plain and prac- ticable principle or issue are all that is need ed to secure the success of the Independent movement. From his point of view 'sboss- ism" and ''the machine" are the inevitable result of the spells system. He says: "Only by destroying that can they be destroyed In themselves they are vague terms because they may be interpreted, as indeed they con- stantly are as simply leadership and organ ism. They can be intelligently defined only as the necessary consequences of using pat. ronage for personal and political ends. It seems to me, therefore, that the only logical and tenable ground on which the Independ- ent Republican movement can stand is a distinct demand for reform, not in general, but in specific way. Practically for the vast mass of places which make up the DOW CT and peril of patronage, there is no middle ground between the present system of ap- polntment by influence and appointment by competition. Reform of the civil service is a change of methods. It is idle to demand that good men only shall be selected and that they shall be removed only for cause. The demand must be for such method of selec- t1on, already approved by experience, as is agreeable to reason, and which of it's own ac- tion would prevent arbitrary removals"
 It cannot yet be told who is to have the honor of leading the Independents to victory or defeat. Among those mentioned as likely to be struck by the lightning of nomina- ton for Governor are Postmaster Merrick, mentioned above, William McNichael, ex- Chief Justice Agnew, and Thomas M. Mar shall, who has disgusted the regulars" by refusing to accept their nomination for Con gressman- at Large.
 The convention can do good thing for Pennsylvania and the country, and it is to be hoped that it will. In order to do this it should make it evident that it's action is in spired by something higher than love of power and greed of office.