Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-08-19
The Weekly Intelligencer
bte Cai,faster 1ntelliqenter.
LANCASTER. AUGUST 10. 1856.
The Convention and Its work.

The Convention and Its Work.
It il needless for us to say that the IN
rELL1eENCER is well satisfied with the
work Of its party in Harrisburg on We'd
peslay. In the event of the nomination of
either Of the leading candidates for COVER.
nor before that body, the party was bound
to have the advantage Of strong and capa- |
ble leadership, the candidacy of man of
vigorous and well ascertained political
ideas, and the altogether likely election of
q governor fit to adorn the executive chair
of great state. Had Mr.. Wallace been
the choice of majority of the convention,
be would have had the hearty support of
united party the same is due and will be
given to his successful competitor. Mr..
Black is younger man, of more re-
cent experience, but of no less bril-
liant and faithful service to the
Democracy of Pennsylvania. A good deal
has been said and written Of his Demo-
cratic lineage, and sometimes to his
attempted disparagement. 1t is no re-
proach in Democratic circles to have been
the grandson of Chauncey Forward, the
granddaughter of Walter Forward, the son
of jeremiah s. Black and the son-in-law of
John L. Dawson--a quartette of great
and good men, of blessed memory in the
party of this commonwealth. But Chauncey
F. Black, ,:.by himself and for himself,
stands in the front rank of Pennsylvania
Democrats and in the esteem of his party
here and all over the country, as a student
Of politics, leader of popular sentiment,
q man Of all public affairs, real states
man in the ripeness of his powers, an ag-
gressive leader in all that the term proper
ly implies-he is the peer of any man in his
party. His integrity and purity of private
character, his sympathy with labor, with
the agricultural interests, his quick appre.
citation Of our industrial affairs and his per-
sonal graces and accomplishments make
him representative Pennsylvania. If we
may be suspected Of writing with partiality,
surely the judgment of so disinterested an
authority as the Philadelphia Ledger will
be accepted as just estimate of the man
who heads the Democratic state ticket.
That conservative journal, after regret
ting the constitutional inability of Gov.
Pattison to succeed himself, says:
'That being out of the question, the con-
vention has done the next best thing by
naming for the succession Lieutenant Gov
ernor Black, an unquestionably able, fit and
experienced man. But few men have been
30 thoroughly trained in politics of the
broad-gauge pattern as Chauncey F. Black.
Theoretically and by close observation he
has been In the atmosphere of public affairs
since his infancy, having as his preceptor in
that branch of human knowledge his very
learned and distinguished father. Later on
he has had direct and close contact with the
public affairs Of his own state, and is far
better qualified and equipped in those re-
spects than most nominees for the guber-
material chair"
In striking contrast with this sober and
intelligent appreciation Of a citizen of the
commonwealth, is the vulgar declaration
of the Philadelphia Record that he is sim
ply " an amiable, easy going, lubberly gen.
tleman without one attribute of leadership
in his composition" But when it is re.
membered that four years ago this same
journal denounced Mr.. Pattison in far
more decided language than this and that
in anticipation of Mr.. Manning's appoint.
ment as secretary of the treasury it visited
upon him most scurrilous abuse-in view
of these previous serious mistakes it is easy
to calculate how far even an intelligent
and often well regulated journal can err in
its Judgment of public men.
In its selection of candidate for second
place the convention was again placed in
dilemma by an embarrassment of riches.
Between that gallant soldier upon whom
its final choice fell and such an admirable
and we'll equipped young Democrat,
high position and wide influence, as. Robert
Z. Wright, no mistake could lave been
made. The disposition to recognize the
soldier element unquestionably had much
TO do with the determination, and the
added fact that Mr.. Ricketts, was strongly
pressed by Eckley B. Coke and other dis
tinguished gentlemen from his section who
had been disappointed in the choice of a
candidate for governor. That no error was
committed there the strong words of the
Ledger again attest:
His name is familiar enough to every
man who served in the Army of the Poto-
mac or who has been an attentive reader OF
the history Of the war. Ricketts Battery
was one OF the most famous field batterie,
IN the army. In many memorable battle.
y won distinction, and at Gettysburg it wa
the point of attack for one of the most des
Ierate of the rebel charges. Since the wa
Colonel Ricketts, has managed his larg
lumber estate in Sullivan county. He wa
such brave and skilful soldier that il 4
safe to assume that he is qualified To sery
the people as lieutenant governor
The other candidates are not unknow
men. Mr.. Africa has been again and agai
designated by the people of this state ,
the preeminently proper man for the ofii,
TO which he was named. As its chief de
uty from 1876 to 1873; the candidate f
u in 1878, running far ahead of his ticket
elsctsd in 1852 and now renominated, he
proved alike At and strong. Mr.. Steve
son has been canyassed for some time