New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-05
Union IN PENNSYLVANIA.


There are cheering signs of reunion of the
Republican factions in Pennsylvania. The Re-
publican voters on both sides are eager for
united action against the Democrats this year
in order to be in position for the Presidential
contest of next year. A similar disposition Is
manifested by the leaders, and II the generous
spirit evinced at present is maintained the re-
union will be an accomplished fact before the
campaign opens. A great deal must be con-
coded on both sides, but most depends upon
the Willingness of the Cameron faction 10 put
in force the reform principles which, IN opedi-
ence to the demands of the independents they
adopted at their State Convention last year.
Chairman Cooper's call for the next convention,
on July -. contains one gratifying evidence OF
n disposition to adhere to these principles. AT
the Continental Hotel Conference, year ago.
a plan of union was drawn up, and one OF lts
declarations WAS that the State Convention, e1-
cept in Presidential years, should be held on
the second Wednesday in July and at least
sixty DAYS notice of its date should be given III
advance. The Cameron Convention pretended
70 INCORPORATE this declaration in its platform,
but, among other important changes, II cut
down the sixty days notice to ten days. Now
We are pleased to observe, Chairman Cooper
cites the declaration in his call and speciiies
sixty days as the time required. That Is a
graceful concession which shows the proper
spirit.
There is nothing in the call which recognizes
in any way the trouble of last year. The date
is fixed at July II, the business of nominating
candidates for Auditor and General Treasurer
is specified, and the remainder of the call is de-
voted to the declaration We have already no.
ticed, and to two others even more Important
One of them specifies that the delegates to the
convention shall be chosen by nominating
conventions, thus doing away with the machine
practice of appointing them by county commit
tees. and the other recommends to local I" or
examinations that in their rules they allow the
"largest freedom in the general participation
- in the primaries consistent with the preserva-
q ton of the party organization" This recon-
mendation, it is true, was originally made more
definite in its terms and broader in its scope.
Tie Conference prefaced it with declaration
that every person who voted the Republican
ticket at the last Presidential election next
preceding any State Convention should be per-
united to vote in the primaries, but this was
stricken out by the Cameron Convention. Still,
what remains is sufficient to give the lndepend-
ents representation in the primaries, provided
il is obeyed in generous spirit by tho local
organizations. The least the Independents
can do ia to give it fair trial. 1t is said that
the Cameron managers are in favor OF allowing
the Presidential vote TO bo the test of Repub-
lican standing, and if they are, no more can be
asked.
We are unable to see how the Independents
can be asked to abandon any of the important
principles which they insisted upon as neces-
sity of Republican reform last year. These are
mainly the ones We have cited above. Ihey
were aimed to give the whole party free voice
in the nominating conventions, and TO break up
the system OF subordinating the party to the will
of one man. Chairman Cooper's call indicates q
Willingness on the part Ut the Cameron portion
of the party to accept these requirements and TO
carry them out in good faith. If this is done,
the Independents should be, and doubtless are,
willing to waive all minor issues. The main
thing they have been contending for is a free
marty. That they will have if these principles
are allowed TO prevail The thing for the In
dependents to do is to meet all advances In a
generous spirit, aud make thorough test OF
their sincerity by going to the primaries and in
sisting upon participating in their work. If
they are denied admission they will have n
right to make further complaints, but otherwise
not. They are all eager for reunion, and their
eagerness is stimulated daily by the wretched
failure of Governor Pattson's administration.
Both factions are COZ WINGED that there arc
enough Republicans in the State for one party,
.but not enough for two. Both are also satisfied
that it is poor policy to keep the party divided
when the only result is to put the Democracy
in power. The desire for reunion being
mutual, we trust that the means of attaining 1t
will not be wanting. The sooner the reunion
is effected, the bigger will be the Republican
majority both this year and next.