The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-04-26

one W uciiy VI atlciDpt W ConCcdi IL.
The Philadelphia Press, that has
shilly-shallied for months past, and
given currency to all the ill-natured
things that could be urged against
General Beaver, has at last thrown
up the sponge, and not only con-
cedes his nomination. but manfully,
though somewhat c--,dgingly, falls
into line, while it saves its wounds
by indulging in a harmless fling at
the machine The change of
front is not gracefully made, but it
will do. From 4 couple Of editorial
articles that appeared in its columns
last week, we give the following ex-
tracts:
So far as General Beaver is con-
cerned, the action of the Convention
is clearly foreshadowed. 1t is APP
parent to every intelligent and can
did observer that he is Enthusiastically
the choice of a large majority of the
party. The Press has been in no
haste to anticipate the public judg-
ment, or to treat the nomination for
Governor as settled. 1t has prefer
red that the sentiment of the party
should freely express Itself, that it's
honest and independent choice
should be made manifest, and that
the verdict thus pronounced should
be frankly accepted.
This sentiment has now been
plainly indicated, and there is no
mistaking where it points. The in
telligent and earnest Republican
papers of the State are in the main
a fair index of the public feeling,
and the poll which the Pres has
made of their choice shows a very
emphatic majority for General Bea-
yer. The same result appears in
the election of delegates. Among q
hundred and forty delegates already
named, he can probably muster a
hundred and twenty. The progress
Of the canvass has clearly demon
strated that he is accepted by the
body of the party as the coming
candidate, and whatever opposition
developes itself will come outside OF
the party organization.
The best way to deal with the
nomination of General Beaver for
Governor is the frank and fair way.
His own attitude has been manly
and honorable; the canvass has
been open and direct; and the facts
are easily understood by all who
want 10 know the truth.
1t is not true that General Beaver
has been forced upon the party by
Senator Cameron or the machine.
He is unquestionably Mr. Cameron s
friend. and Mr.. Cam, ron is his
friend; and Mr.. Cameron is aiding
him in this canvass as he aided Mr..
Cameron at Chicago. At the same
time General Beaver is stronger
than the macl6ne, and the machine
adopted him and determined to
help him for the very reason that he
conld SO well help himself. If the
machine ha6 felt able to proceed
without regard to public sentiment,
it is very doubtful whether it would
have chosen so good Il favorite.
General Beaver has for four years
been regarded as coming candi-
date; he is strong with the soldiers !;
strcng with the religious element ;
strong with the active Republicans,
to whom his eloquent voice and
more eloquent crutch have appealed
in many campaigns; and with his
advantages he forced the machine to
come to him moro than he went TO
the machine.
Then again. so far as there has
been 4 popular expression, it has, in
the main, been favorable to General
Beaver. True, there has been no
such active canvass rs there ought
to be in the selection of Governor.
The Convention was summoned too
early; it was purpusely called ahead
of the usual time of the county pri-
marles and conventions most of
the delegates are named by the
County Committees, and there has
been no adequate opportunity for
free popular action. At the same
time if there had been any deep ani
general antagonism it would ha,e
manifested itself in one form or :.n-
other. In some localities, like Ches-
ter and Lancaster. there is a strong
and IN earnest preference
for a different candidate; but in
most of the counties the prevailing
sentiment has been in favor of Gem
eral Beaver, and it cannot reasona-
bly, be doubted that he is the honest
choice of a majority of the party.
If this choice shall in the end he
ratified by the Convention, the Re.
publicans who recognized the au-
thority of party action will accept
it. Ii they could show that the
was personally unworthy,
or that the nomination had been
consummated by force or fraud, or
that it did not represent the will of
the party, they would be justified in
it; but they cannot. While.
however. the Republicans who will
to labor for reform within
he party hold this attitude; while
hey feel that they have accomplish
ID much in forcing the machine to
AXE up n good man like General
Beaver; while they regard the risks
If Republican defeat as too great To
,e lightly incurred, there is another
'lement which holds very different
position. The Republicans who
an independent ticket last
rear announce their purpose to pre-
ent another this year. They are
lot patient with wrongs of manage
nent, and proclaim that they see no
'ope of disenthralling the party ex-
ept in the complete reputation of
verything which savors of boss
ule.