The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-05-05
sTALWARTs AND INDEPENDENTS.

The two branches of the Republican
party, Stalwarts and Independents, each
side represented by committee of five,
met at the Continental Hotel in Phil
adelphia on Saturday and Monday last,
for the purpose of effecting a com
promise and adjustment of their diff
cultes, if possible. The Independents,
headed by Charles S. Wolf, demanded
the withdrawal of General Beavers
name as candidate for Governor, be-
cause he is the machine candidate.
The only thing done by the conference
was the adoption of lot of resolutions
to which nobody will pay any attention.
The Harrisburg Patriot says: Two
things may be learned from the result
of the Observation-Disclosures conference
in Philadelphia l. That the Stalwart
leaders are unwilling to resign their
control of the political power of the
State on any consideration; ,. That
the Independents made a blunder in
comforting with the politicians whose
overthrow is their professed purpose.
The platform of principles recommend
ed to the Stalwart State convention by
the joint conference consists of the
merest glittering generalities which
any political convention might adopt
as bait for unwary voters. If the
Stalwart body which will assemble in
this city on the tenth inst, should ac
cept this platform, as it probably will,
few people will be deceived by the
transparent device. 1t will not be the
first time that wolves have appeared in
sleeps clothing, or that Republican
convention has kept the worG of
promise to the ear to break it to the
hope. Why, if Cameron, Quay and
company deemed it expedient to incor-
porate the Ten Commandments, the
Lords Prayer and the Sermon on the
Mount in their platform they would
not hesitate a moment. They would
do it with as pious an air as that of a
gambler at funeral or bawd at a
christening. Platform forsooth! They
would
"Resolve and re-resolve and die the same. ~
But even if the stalwart leaders would
live up to the pledges they are SO ready
to make they would find means to de
feat the reforms which the indepen
dents profess to seek. Their creatures
occupy the offices and cannot be re
moved. Their lieutenants control the
local organizations through the inhu
ence of official position and cannot b,
dislodged from power The machinery
of the county conventions would there
fore be run in their interest with bu
little less jar than that of the presen
system of electing State delegates by
county committees. Philadelphia, fo
instance, held convention last year
but the voice of the Independents wa
unheard. 1t was smothered by Ga
Trust and other official influences. Th,
pledge that delegates to State conven
tions shall be elected in the manner il
which candidates for seats in the Legis
lature are chosen will not help the In
dependents whit, as the history of Leg
islative nominations clearly proves
There has not been a time during the
whole existence of the Republican or
gazination in this State when the Cam
eron influence could not dictate a large
majority of its candidates for seats in
the Legislature. Even when Thad
deus Stephens and Governor Curtir
united their forces in opposition tC
Cameron the latter was victorious
How idle and foolish it is, therefore
to hope for the defeat of Cameron il
the election of delegates upon this Leg
islative plan now that he has suprem,
control of the machinery of the party
The Independents blundered in con
ferring at all with the elements they
denounce as corrupt and unworthy o
public confidence. They descended tc
the level of the machine politician wher
they consented to parley with him
They blundered in failing to break of
all negotiations upon the refusa
of the Stalwarts to take dowl
their slate and agree to convention tC
be chosen by the people They blum
dered in asserting to platform which
the Stalwarts will claim binds TIT
parties endorsing it to Il support o
the Stalwart ticket Nevertheless III,
Independents may recover their forme
position if at their approaching Stat
convention they declare against thu
Stalwart candi dates on the ground tina
their selection was made by method
opposed to the system and principle
endorsed by the conference. Tha
loop-hole of escape is left them 1t i
true, too, that only the position and in
fluences of those Independents who pal
ticipated personally in the conferenc
are effected by their unfortunate mis-
takes. The body of the following il
unharmed by the efforts of their blur
ders. The war against the bosse
will be prosecuted with greater vigo
than before and if the old leaders ia
the occasion will produce others who wi
profit by the experience of those VIII