Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 May 1882 — PENNSYLVANIA. [ARTICLE]

PENNSYLVANIA.

The Republican Split—Senator Mitchell Declares War Afalnst the Cameron Clan* [Philadelphia dor. Chicago Tribune.] Senator Mitchell goes a step further every day in his opposition to the Gameron regime in Pennsylvania and to the administration of President Arthur. The fullest and most pronounced exposition of his views are given in the Fress in an interview with his old personal friend, H. J. Ramsdell. The tone of this interview leaves no further room for doubt that the most serious warfare against Don Cameron has fairly begun, and that the present breach in the Regublican party in Pennsylvania cannot e healed by anything short of the overthrow of the Cameron dynasty. Following are the chief points of this re - markable interview: Being asked why the Independent Republicans are dissatisfied with the ticket framed at Harrisburg, Senator Mitchell said: “ It is not men that the Independents are contending for; it is principles. The ticket is as strong a ticket as could be selected. Ido not particularly object to the men. The Independents in Pennsylvania are not making war upon persons. They have not even claimed the right to initiate nominations. They asked only that the men whose antecedents and character would make sure the suppression of machine methods, bossism and the spoils system in Pennsylvania should be selected. They demand that works shall be added to the profession of faith to which the stalwart committee said ‘ Amen I’ at the late conference. For bread they ai;e given a stone. Their declaration of principles was laughed to scorn in Cameron’s convention. It was robbed of its practical effect even upon future party control by eliminating the clause which requires the representation at State Conventions to be based upon the Republican vote of each county. “It was also vitally stabbed by leaving the right to vote at primaries to be by county committees at their own will, when they generally have no will but that of the imperial head of the party.”

“ Why were you not at Harrisburg?” “It was Mr. Cameron’s convention, not mine. He could turn the crank of his machine. With the exception of Marshall, the ticket was selected months and months ago. Even Mr. Rawie Bays Cameron gave him his nomination as a Christmas-gift. The gift is one of genuine quality and intrinsic fitness and value, bnt all self-respecting Republicans as well as Independents in Pennsylvania must deny the right of Mr. Cameron to select and make it for them, or they deserve ever after to be political slaves. Under the feudal system certain classes of men were Called “ villians regardant. ” They not only belonged to the lord of the fee, but they wore his collar as a mark of their bondage, and they passed with the land to which they were appurtenant when it was sold. They had no freedom as men, and no choice even of their masters. For myself I propose to stand free from such" restraint in politics.” “ Well, Senator, what does the Independent movemenl mean, anyhow?” “ The Independent movement in Pennsylvania means simply that Republicans are freemen of the party, whose voice shall be respected in party couffcils and whose public servants, placed in power by their votes, shall be servants of the people, and not henchmen of party leaders and slaves of political bosses. It demands the absolute banishment of the spoils system from American politics and Governmental administration at once and forever. “ The spoils system, used even for party advantage, is destructive of true republican government, but when, as now in Pennsylvania and at Washington, it is used to give the mastership to a faction of the party in power, it is a crime against every instinct of patriotism itself. The people will put that thing down, and the Pennsylvania Independents have resolved to give them the chance to blot it out forever. If the Republican party is to live in the State and in the nation it must come up resolutely to this work.”

“But suppose the Republicans are beaten at the polls ? ” “ If the Republican ticket should be defeated in Pennsylvania this year it will not bo because the Republicans love their party less but their country more. The Independents are making principles of improved party and Government administration, and against the use of patronage for the advantage of any person or faction. The ticket just nominated in no sense represents this idea in our politics, and, however honorable and respectable it may be in its personnel, it must be beaten, or bossism, machinism and the spoils system will win. Had the Independents been met half way in the effort to unite with the party on this basis of action, the whole party would have marched on to victory and its continued supremacy m the State and nation might well have been assured. The stalwarts have had a whole year of probation, twice as long as the Methodists give, but they are joined to their idols, and the hope of their regeneration cannot be realized without a miracle. ” “ Does your opposition to what you call the Cameron machine in Pennsylvania go so far as to include the national administration ?” “The national administration appears to be determined to stand by this stalwart use of the spoils system to perpetuate itself. This is a suicidal policy, and it will fail, as it deserves to fail. The President has power, under the existing laws, to inaugurate a true civil-service reform in every great postoffice, custom house and department of the Government. It has been tried in those of New York, and has succeeded admirably. It insures good service on purely business principles, and it has resulted in large savings in expenses wherever it has been tried, whether here or in England. It will save public men from the waste of most of their tune incident to the practices in vogue, and it will leave them •free to devote, their energies to their proper duties. After some experience in public affairs, and after an examination into the practical workings of the system, as a member oftthe Civil Service Committee of the Senate, I am fully satisfied that this system should be promptly adopted and worked out to what I regard as an assured success in this country. It will come, and come in the near future. This force is a balance of power in this country, and it will, as I hope and believe, control the next Presidential election. Had President Arthur seen this, and acted accordingly, he might have been his own successor. There may be time jet, but I fs*r there

is not. I have small hope of his oonver* sion to this view.”