Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-01
1852 AND 1890.

ticeable in the politics of this State by the
work of the Independents in 1882, in putting
themselves in evidence. This element has
manifested itself in two ways. Mr.. Garrett,
of Philadelphia, has represented one class
in an effort to show why the participants of
the former revolt can now support Delama-
ter. The other class, with some reinforce
ments in the shape of Republicans who did
not openly join the other movement, met at
Altoona to consult as to what they are going
to do, and will undoubtedly be heard from
at future stage of the campaign.
Mr.. CARROTS argument to reconcile Inde-
pendent opinion to the support of Della
mater is principally significant as showing
the effort which it requires to accomplish
that task. 1t consists of two branches,
which may be summarized as declaring O
that the control of the party has changed
since 1882, and (2) that if it is still ruled by
a boss it is of no use to try TO overthrow
him, because he will only be succeeded by
another boss. That any of the Independents
can satisfy their consciences with such rea-
soning is an illustration of the marked dit
ference it makes whether a man is on the
inside or the outside. Of course, we do not
intend to assert that any OF the gentlemen
who kicked over the traces in 1882 and are
now supporting Delamater are consciously
swayed by selfish considerations; but it is
an illustration of the difference which it
makes to a man whether he is conciliated
and made much of by the politicians, that
Mr.. Garrett and his associates are able to
quiet their independence with arguments
that they utterly rejected eight years ago.
No better illustration of this can be
found than Mr.. CARROTS claim that if one
boss is overthrown another will take his
place. Exactly that plea was the one most
heard in 1882, and all the changes were
rung on it to prevent Republicans from
straying away. The only truth in it exists
because Independents like Mr.. Garrett have
not the stamina to maintain steadily and
rily to personal leadership, but to political
domination for personal advantage and by
corrupt methods.
The fact is that nearly all the reasons for
the revolt of 1882 exist to-day, with the ad-
ditlon of some motives for independence
that were not present in that year. The In
dependent movement of 1882 was not based
on any personal shortcomings of Beaver.
There were no such grave charges against
his integrity as are heard in this campaign
agsinst Delamater. Nor was that move
ment any mere fight for personal promi-
renee in party affairs. 1t was q protest,
and the most effective protest possible
against the prevalence of corrupt political
methods in State affairs; and the most i'm
mediate provocation to it was furnished
by the riot bribery scandals, with the prac-
tical declaration that a prominent politician
convicted of bribery should not be punished.
The party control may have changed since
then, but the men who were prominent in
that scandal are still more prominent in the
present Republican management; the old
methods are as rife as ever at Harrisburg,
and they will continue to be so until voters
of Independent minds and honest mo-
tiyes learn to stick to their guns.
The reasons for disregarding party lines
which exist now and did not exist in 1882,
are, first, the clearly drawn issue whether
constitutional requirements shall be re-
spected by the corporations; and, second, the
proof that has been gained by experience of
the ability, vigor and cleanliness Of Cover
nor Pattison's administration. The corpor-
alton question had hardly taken definite
shape in the campaign of 1882. Since then
the lines have been clearly drawn and the
issue could hardly be put more
strongly than by the choice between Pat
tison and Delamater. Governor Pattson's
steps to make the corporations respect the
law were SO vigorous as to put them tempor-
arily on their good behavior. 1t has taken
only four years of Republican administra-
tion to bring out some Of the most astound-
ing assertions of their supremacy to the law
that have been known. One corporation,
which. by its violation Of the Constitution,
had its coal lands escheated to the State, Sc
cured a free gift of the lands from the Legis-
lature which refused to carry out the Re-
publican pledge of railroad regulation. An
other violates the constitutional provision
against purchasing a competing telegraph
line, and has successfully ignored the statute
prescribing the forfeiture of such lines to the
State. A third. and the greatest of all, after
having been checked by the action of Patti
sons administration in its absorption of the
South Penn road, now hardly takes the
trouble to conceal the fact that it has kept
the control of that line, in defiance alike of
the general prohibition of the Constitution
and the specific injunction of the courts.
With these additions to the motives which
produced the Independent vote Of 1882, men
who have maintained their belief in the
value of independent action, to check polit-
ical abuses, will be apt to repeat their action
of that year, with the amendment of making
it more effective by voting directly for Pat
tison, instead of for third nominee.
AN APPALLING TOTAL.