The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1885-07-23

The political condition of the State of Penn
sylvania comes near being a reproach to RepuD-
lican institutions. Here is II community blessed
hy the hand of nature as are few communities III
the world With genial climate, Il fertile soil,
a wealth under the soil which is marvellous in
its richness an seacoast which is unsurpassed
in the facilities it furnishes for foreign commerce.
it has advantages which may well make II tue
envy OF some OF the most favored oi the
sister States |, WAS originally settled by God
fearing population, and there would seem To be
every reason, both in its origin and its develop
meni, for its becoming in intelligence ana IN
conscientious morality a model commonwealth.
Its early designation WIS that OF the keystone
in the arch of American States. Yet lis poilll-
cal position has long been SIMPLY deploraDie,
and It's latest state is wel-nigh its worst
PENNSYLVANIA has been ruled by two men, the
father and son in one family, tor a period oil
nearly thirty wears. They have controlled her
as completely as it she IA German duchy, t"
the possession Of which they were born. These
men are not conspicuous in intellect, they are
not noble in aspiration, they have never been
great in achievement Their power mas Oceh
expressed in two wOrds-mOney and manage
u,tnt 1t is more than thirty years since SIMON
Cameron first bought his way into the United
States Senate by the purchase OF members OF us
LEGISLATURE He served six years in seat thus
ACQUIRED, and wen he lost il attempted second
purchase, in which he was thwarted only Dy
The threat ot killing The men who should again
sell out to him. A political revolution gave
him another opportunity soon after. THIS 'ime
he established himself permanently. Here com
menced his ownership of the State, an owner
ship which has been 30 absolute as to carry WIN
il the power of transmission OF his own once
and his proprietary possession TO his son. ne
control OF the people have been nominal only
whenever it confiicted with the Cameron pur-
poses during pracii' ally ali this Tune;
frhis 10 NJ .XHQgerAtlOn. Henl8ylVNnlA ms
been State simply 10 register the edicts OF the
| Cameron family Such legislation as they per
| m,tled passed, and such legislation only, WIN
few brief and unmpOrtant exceptions through,
out the whole OF it. Such men as they inuorse'
for Office were elected such men as they tabhe'
were defeated. There were now anu then u 10
Cal rebellion: once or twice the Democrats 90
ta;ned Temporary possession. These were bu
the executions 10 prove the rule. The neares
attempt at successful selfgovcrnment was seer
| in The revolt of three years ago Then IL wa
exnI,in1lv proclaimed that The Cameron yok
was thrown off Vain deiusion ! In an"ihe
wear the Camerons rallied their force ana hxe'
their grip upon the Stale more nrmiy thah ever
The senator whom men had announced over
| ,hrown gave out his orders, and q L,gislatur
was elected which placed him In the oenau
with majority al ten 10 one The alleged III
| dcnendent movement which had risen IN Tes's
lance to him vanished absolutely. leaving no.
yes,ipe behind. Cameron was once more unois
puted ruler. =
We have said that this rule was not RUE o
right of intellect. This IL truer III the man
,h. second generation Than in the nrst In III
thirty wears OF the Camerons, neither one
,hem has ever contributed a WORT oi counsel
vaue m the nation. or been identined with a
| ar, OF Importance in legislation ahe secon
Cameron came into public lie % act9suy u
known man. His seat was transmitted 70 ~