The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-08-28
TOday's Convention.

BY one of those swift mutations COM
mon in politics. a convention of the Re
publicans of Pennsylvania which. four
months ago. would have excited no in
terest whatever. beyond the friends of
the few candidates for state office. Is to-
day transformed into an epochal event
In the history of the commonwealth.
Whatever its immediate outcome, II
will pass into history as the culminat-
ing point in a factional war as bitter
and disgraceful as it was utterly
gratuitous. In saying this we take
careful measure of our words; and con-
fidently appeal to the impartial decision
of the future to support our character
ization.
Here was a party that. less than nine
months previously, had polled the un-
exampled plurality of 100000 votes. the
very highest point ever marked in the
record of tidal wave majorities. 1t
had by this unprecedented vote re-
placed Democratic by Republican
governor: turned comparatively close
legislature into a shining example of
Democratic absence: and seated in the
various minor elective offices in the
executive departments a harmonious
handful of contented Republicans.
Never before had Republican prospects
looked more roseate. Never before had
the partisan sky seemed clearer of po-
til ,,II
through no fault of the party masses.
Mr.. Quay's mad attempt to Delamater
the mayors office in Philadelphia, in
defiance both of popular protest and
of the admonition of his lifelong friends.
This was rebuked. as it deserved to be.
and many hoped, that the incident
would close with Mr.. Warwck's elec-
ton. But the deceptive lull, which en-
Quay, after asserting to a fair pro-
gramme of long-postponed reappor-
t!onment, abruptly raised the standard
Of resistance and by plot and trick and
secret alliance nominally succeeded in
overriding the state constitution. Yet
a third time after an interval of out
ward calm, this eccentric senator, for
reasons not yet disclosed, leaped into
the lists against State Chairman Gilke-
son, during whose two terms of execu-
tive service the partys majority had
multiplied itself almost by five; and
coolly asked the party to follow, with
its eyes blindfolded.
1t was at this opportune point in the
curious sequence of surprises that our
long-patient but not cowardly governor
decided to stand up for party manhood,
with consequences already known, and
with victory fairly in sight. The war
was not Of his choosing. 1t was a war
he repeatedly tried to pacify and to ad-
just. 1t was war absolutely unpro-
voked by any cause other than Mr..
Quay's inordinate ambition. and sus-
tained through its various stages by no
other motive than Mr.. Quay's desire to
humiliate every conspicuous Republl-
can In the state not willing to part with
MS birthright In exchange for the sena-
tors uncertain smile For the starting
and the waging of it Mr.. Quay alone is
responsible; and for the personal cnse-
quences which will today be incurred
by its decision In his adversary's favor.
he can have nothing but his own insen-
safe egotism to thank.
1t Is. from any standpoint, a painful
hour in the party's history; but the de-
feat Of Quay will surely prove the
wholesome victory OF justice and COM
mon. sense.