The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1898-08-24
jerks Was Too General.
Especial cOrrespOnaeneel

George A. jerks speech at Bedford,
accepting the Democratic nomination
for governor. has decidedly fallen In
distinctly fiat.
As a keynote of an aggressive cam
paign, it is a note that has already gone
to protest. OF course everybody
knows that Republican defeat in Penn
sylvania cannot be accomplished by
Democratic votes. None but Republic
cans can defeat Republican candidates
in this state, and a Democratic candi-
date, at the beginning of hopeful can
didacy, must somehow appeal to GER
tain element of the dominant party.
This Pattison was cunning enough to
do in 1882 and in 1890, and this Mr..
jerks, with all his skill and experience
in pleading before a jury. has con-
spieuously failed TO do in 1898.
The dissatisfied element among Re-
publlcans here, so far as it exists,
which represents the disappointed am
bitions of men to whom the very name
of any successful Republican leader Is
as a red rag to a bull, hailed the speech
with instant resentment, because II
was simply a reiteration in general
terms of old charges which had been
threshed over and forgotten, and said
nothing specific. and nothing PERSONAL
ly offensive against Senator Quay
While they were sore and disappointed,
straight backed Republicans were
pleased that even SO slSillful an advo-
cate could make no better case against
them. A prominent public man from
the northwestern part of the state put
In ha nj
lowing words;
Il have read Mr.. jerks speech OF ac-
ceptance with much interest naturally.
Even If it had no relation to the cam
paign, 1 shouldeh have been interested,
because his reputation as an adroit and
skillful lawyer, cunning before jury
in making the best possible plea In the
face of adverse evidence, is celebrated
wherever he is known. His Bedford
speech is worthy of his reputation.
1t skillfully avoids specific statements.
The word Democratic does not ap-
pear in it at all. and the word 'Repub-
lican' only once, and to one who reads
1t without thinking the impression
might be conveyed that both these par
ties had in some miraculous manner
been swept beyond the borders of the
state.
"The fatal weakness of his speech is
not in the pleader, but in the case. He
| probably put it as shrewdly as any
| body could. But when even the most
cunning master of language is forced
to appear as the hopeless spokesman
Of a party which has no record in pub
lie affairs to point to, and a record in
national affairs which it is compelled
to point away from, he is at a great
disadvantage.
"The gist of Mr.. jerks speech is the
special plea that II is quite consistent
for anybody to vote for him and his as
sociate Democratic candidates upon the
state ticket and at the same time to
vote for Republicans for congress. II
this were so it would include, of course
in the list of candidates eligible for
Democratic votes the two Republican
candidates for congressman at large
and the Republican state senators and
members of the legislature, who will
elect United States senator.
1T would be absurd to vote one way
for members of the one branch of con-
gress and vote the opposite way for
members of the other, especially when
the United States senate is as cl Sc as
it is now.
This theory, that the record and
purposes of the Republican and Demo
cratic parties can be conveniently
hung up behind the door, the mean
ing of the vote this year forgotten, and
the campaign narrowed down to q
promiscuous guerrilla conflict, will not
1 think, commend itself to the Demo-
cratic party any more than to the Re-
publicans. 1t would mean disaster to
any organization. One cannot follow
one flag on one wing of the battle and
carry a hostile banner on the other
any more than he can serve in the
American army and the Spanish navy
at the same time. The line must be
kept consistent and intact. The man
who attempts to ride two horses GO
ing in opposite directions will go no
where but to fall, and he who tries
to belong to two churches of different
creeds will probably lose his stand
ing in both. 1t is before all things the
party creeds which are at issue in this
campaign. Aside from their personal
friends, the greater part of the people
of Pennsylvania do not, much care
which of them, Mr.. jerks or Colonel
Stone, is elected governor, so far as
either of them is individually concern
ed. But the people of Pennsylvania are
deeply interested and determined, II
we can judge the present by the past,
to see to it that the principles and pur-
poses of the Republican party shall not
be repudiated and set aside to give
place to those which Mr.. jerks can
didacy undeniably represents before the
state and the country, however cum
ningly he may seek to disguise the
fact. Like good lawyer, he has made
the best of a bad case, but the jury In
this trial has time to think before the
verdict, and 1 have no notion that II
will be misled."
Until October 1st tho w. n. Y. 81 p
Ry. will run regular Sunday train be
tween Oil City and Tionesta, under thu
following time schedule: Leave Oil CITY