The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-08-30
Hastings After the Battle.

hastings Alter inc bdttie.
There probably are Republicans in
Pennsylvania thoughtless or short
sighted enough to see in the outcome
of this weeks state convention only
defeat and humiliation for Governor
Daniel II. Hastings and his friends.
Defeated they We're. but not humili-
ated. Failure to accomplish rightful
purpose pursued in a rightful way new
er carries humiliation in its wake. The
status of General Hastings as COVER
nor, or as a Republican, or as a man, Is
not in the slightest degree changed or
affected by the victory scored by Sem
ator Quay. Governor Hastings is to-
day as he was at the beginning and
throughout the recent contest, the rep
resentative and leader of the large
body of Republicans who demand bet
ter, cleaner more liberal and more
honorable methods in political party
mana cement. He was above all others
the right man to lead a movement in
that direction. He has not only seen
Tie llll lcICt anu Evil VI Tue
nefarious methods that have prevailed
in this state. but he has himself been
the victim of them. The battle he
fought was not for himself but for the
Republican party of Pennsylvania.
Throughout the long and bitter strug-
gle Governor Hastings has conducted
himself in manner wholly consistent
with his reputation as a courageous.
dignified and honorable man. He has
no cause to regret anything he has
done
His administration up to this time
has been characterized by ability, hon
esty, dignity and mindfulness for the
interest Of the people. He has sur
rounded himself with capable and
faithful men who have conducted the
affairs Of their several offices in such
a way as to command the approval Of
fair-minded Republicans. No one
doubts that to the end Of his term of
ONCE Daniel II. Hastings will main
tain this high standard. Neither will
any one during the next three years
and more express a doubt as to who
is governor Of Pennsylvania. That
question, In any event. has been set
tied beyond a peradventure by the
recent battle. Hastings and his sup
porters were beaten simply because his
opponents were more potent than they
In manipulating the convention. Ten
days ago The Tribune said that only
by successful repetition Of the meth
DDS that were employed five years ago
to nominate Delamater in q conyen-
tion that was opposed to him, could
Hastings be beaten. In the same con-
nection The Tribune predicted that the
methods Of 1880 could not be repeated
with similar success. Events prove
that In the latter prediction The Trib-
une was too confident. The methods
Of five years ago were repeated and
Hastings was defeated, as in the first
named instance. Four years later came
his vindication. Governor Hastings
will not have to walt that long now.
He requires no vindication. For more
than three years he will be chief majes-
trate Of Pennsylvania. He will own
himself and measure up to every ex-
pectation of SO per cent. of the people
who voted for him.
Daniel H. Hastings, in accepting the
battle that was forced upon him, dis
tinctly proved that he Is as courageous
as ne Is honorable. In the hour Of de-
feat he appeared to the best advantage,
for his first care and thought were for
the interests Of the party that had
honored him. Reckless, desperate and
indefensible as were the methods by
which he was beaten, he yielded for the
sake of harmony and unity In the elec-
tion that II to follow. Presently all
thoughtful and fair-minded Republi-
cans will more fully comprehend that
Governor Hastings was willing to make
a personal sacrifice to save the Republi-
can party from a fatal rupture. This
unselfishness will be appreciated at its
real value when the inside history Of
this contest II written, as 1t Inevitably
Will be. Governor Hastings has not
disappointed the supporters who stood
by him so faithfully. He has not dis
appointed the masses OF Pennsylvania
Republicans who elected him by so
grand . majority. He has disappointed
the Democratic hordes who hoped and
expected, to see two rival Republican
conventions. two rival state committees
and possibly two Republican state
ticksts in.ths nesd. thus opening up the