TEE BEAVER RADICAL.
SMITH CORTIS, Bdjtob.
BEAVER, PA..
Friday moraine* May 30, 1873.
CONTROLLING NOMINATIONS. ~~
At the time for holding primary
meetings there is always more or
less talk.about controlling nomina
tions ; but we are happy to be able
to say that there has been very little
of such talk during this canvass.
Our nominating system makes it
possible lor a few, well- organized,
to rule the party and select its nan
didates. It is the most anti-Repub
lican system that could be used. A
ring composed of five, or even three
hundred voters, could manage by in
creasing the number of candidates,
to nominate their man every time;
or a large borough by concentrating
on the home candidate all its votes,
when there'are a number of other
candidates in the field for the same
office, could easily control the nom*
ination. We do not say that the
system has been intentionally abus
ed, but courtesy, which gives to a
candidate a solid home vote* is an
element of the system that works
decidedly in favor of jhose candi
dates, who fortunately reside in the
large districts, and renders the plu
, rklity system, not only unjust, bat a
means of engendering dissatisfac
tion and bitterness of feeling. While
the candidates nominated may be
unexceptionable, and with ns so far
have been, yet nominations under
* the present system might frequently
be determined, in a large, degree by
the strength which their location
gave candidates. When residence
enters into the contest and beats an
aspirant he will not submit so grace
fully as when he is beaten by other
more worthy considerations. The
idea of controlling nominations by a
few belongs very appropriately to
' the plurality system, under which
the thing is easily done if desired,
x *
and that it has not been done, here
tofore, is owing to the fact that the
leaders of the party have not so de
sired to do. Courtesy and not pre
meditation has to some extent de
cide the result.
THE FRENCH CRISIS.
3J“W ifer^effc^-A-siemEl/,
to resign the presidency of the pro
visional government of France, and
Marshal MacMahon has been elected
to succeed him. M. Thiers has re
turned to the Assembly, occupying
a seat with the Hepublicahs. The'
result was unexpected outside of
France, and indicates a condition of
things unfavorable to the perma
nency of the Republic, and danger
ous to peace. The late elec
tions, which have been held in
France, have developed a growing
sentiment in favor of the Repub
lic, and demonstrated that in the
cities ajid centres of population Re
publicans are-in, the majority, M,
Thiers, in recognition of this fact,
partly reorganized his cabinet,
and selected a few Republicans as
his counselors, and indicated that it
was time to end the provisional
regime and establish a permanent
Republic. M. Thiers thus inter
preted French public opinion, and
hence the crisis in the As
semby. The contest seems to
be between the Republicans and
Monarchists or anti-Republiancs.
The first act in the drama has been
the deposition of M. Thiers by the
Monarch jets in the Assembly, the
the next act is likely to be revolu
tion, »and the restoration of M.
Thiers by the people. In the As-
sembly the Monarchists are in a ma.
jbrity, but it is believed that the
Assembly does not fairly represent
the will of the majority of the
French nation, and therefore the
startling boldness of the Monar
chists in the Assembly is remarka
ble, and doubtless unwise, an act of
desperation. If a majority of the
French people condemn it, and as
we believe are earnestly in favor of
the Republic, the strife between the
two parties has only begun, and we
may look for startling news. The
Republicans will not cowardly sub
mit and allow the -Republic to go
down without a struggle to save it.
Marshal MacMabon is a Monarch
ist, a soldier, but as an executive
heretofore unsuccessful and in intel-
Uectgreatly inferior to M. Thiers. He
.lias a difficult place to stormy
/limes to enoounter } many interests
to conciliate, and factions to har
monize. It is doubtful if his brain
contains that precious and rare wis
dom which is neicessary to meet the
demands of his position and rule
the excitable French people at
time, when M. Thiers, with his far
reaching intellect and large experi
ence, could not manage to keep the
lead. France does not need a mili
tary ruler, and the monarchists, by
feting such as MacMahon, reveal
tile weakness of their cause, and
the uncertainty of their supremacy.
Our sympathies are with the JRe
public, and we cannot believe that
French Republicans will now sub
mit to have any other form of govern
ment. The election of MacMahon
can only be a temporary reaction,
that will result in a greater advance
towards freedom. Should a disso
lution of the Assembly follow, and
an appeal to the country be taken,
the Republicans would undoubtedly
gain the day not only, but estab
lish the Republic, the very things
which the Conservatives dread.
The election of MacMahon was in
tended to prevent this, and thus
checkmate the Republicans, but the
will of the people will, in the end,
conquer and overcome all obstacles,
and hence we are constrained to
think that MacMahon will not occu
py his seat longw
GOD IN THE CONSTITUTION.
On Friday the Constitutional
Convention adopted a preamble to
the new constitution, that mildly
recognizes the religious demand lor
a ‘‘Christian amendment,” but does
not go so far as to establish
creed. The present constitution ig
nores the subject, and starts off in
a business-like manner: “we, the
people of Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, do ordain and estab
lish this constitution for its govern
ment but the new one will read :
“we, the people of the Common
wealth of Pennsylvania, grateful to
Almighty God for the blessings ol
civil and religious liberty, and hum
bly invoking His guidance, do or
dain and establish this constitution
for its government.” The new pre
amble embodies a distinct recogni
tion ol a supreme and Almighty
- r id me I
Tl •
bestower of civil and religions lib
erty, and the guide of nations. The
committee to which this matter was
referred, recommended the insertion
of the words, “recognizing the sov
reignty of God, and invoking His
guidance in our future destiny,”
which elicited considerable discus
sion and gave rise to a variety of
opinions, the result of which was the
adoption of the new preamble as
given above. So long as the words
are understood to be a simple ex
pression of gratitude for blessings
enjoyed we do not see how any one
can strongly object to them. They
may not be of much usg—and they
certainly are not very harmful to
any class. True, they imply more
than they define, but they are not*
intended to establish any definite
creed or to commit the government
to the establishment or protection
of any particular religion. The
language is very general, and
may mean more or less, according
to the disposition of the per
son who reads them. Those
who are clamoring for a “Christian
Amendment” will not be satisfied
with the preamble,for there is in it no
recognition of the Christian religion
more than any other, and those who
are opposed to all religious Amend
ments to the Constitution will also'
be opposed to it, and we think
under the circumstances.- that
since the convention would not go
far enough to recognize the Chris
tian’s God, it had better retained
the old preamble and said nothing
whatever on the subject. The peo
ple are thoroughly opposed to any
religious Amendment that is defi
nite enough in meaning to be the
expression of any particular faith
for fear that such Amendment might
lead to religious legislation and per-
secution, and any expression that
embodies the general sentiment or
belief, must be so general as to be
hardly of more value than a high
sounding phrase as far as religion is
concerned. We can not, therefore,
fee the wisdom of the Amendment,
since it will not,satisfy the Christian
demand, and ko other class of com
munity asks for any change.
tEI IHE PEOPLE NOMINATE*
Next Saturday is the day on
which our. primary meeting* are
held. The candidates are nomioa
ted by a plurality ’ vote, and the
one who gets the most votes of all
his competitors will be the lucky
nominee of ttye party. A party
should be not only strong inr its
platform of principles, but also in
its candidates J and W 6 hope that;
the Republicans of the county wlif
select for each office the very best
man, all things considered, that can;
be obtained. The candidates for!
nomination, who are before the peo
ple, are all good men, and were we
asked to select the most popular or
the most worthy, or the fittest for
the several places on our ticket, we
could not do it, and would be com
pelled to say that in our estimation
they are all worthy of the-positions
to which they aspire, yet doubtless
there are differences in the claims of
the candidates, which probably
have been carefully considered by
the people. The canvass has been
a quiet one, and the vote, Is likely
to be light. Whoever is nom|n ated
will be so fairly by the people, and
there will be no ground for com
plaint unless it is against the unfair
system that permits a plurality to
nominate. So far as The Radical
is concerned, all the candidates
have had an equal chance, and the
result of next Saturday will be the
free, unbiased decision of the sov
eregn people and should be, as we
have no doubt will be, acquiesced in
cheerfully, even by those who have
suffered a temporary defeat. We
hope all Republicans will go to the
polls, for the primary meetings are
important, and when there, vote
according to what they consider is
tor the best interests of the party.
Within the past three or four years
the political wheel, in this county, has!
nut always tamed up first class men. Ju
fact it has given us several Court House
officers, who are not only and
boorish, but who are untrustworthy be
sides. We are afraid that strangers will
look upon these men as fair representa
tives of the people of the county. That
they do not represent the intelligence,
integrity and good breeding of our people,
we unhesitatingly aver. They were cbo
sen thoughtlaßely,—Tu4»yitf. : ;i ~
tv- «»vove indecent and coarse
slauvlci we reprint An tiro - pufpOSe
not only to show the animus, of
that sheet, but to expose its. incon
sistenoy. Within the past four
years we have had the plurality
system ol nominating candidates
and according to the Argus it is
the best system for the Republican
party (not the Democratic) that
can be adopted, and yet in illustrat*
ing its good effects, it drools from
its uncleanly lips the above asser
tion. i '
Our opposition to the system is
based on principle, and because we
believe a change is required to give
equal and exact justice to all sec
tions of the county. We do not
complain that the system has given
us incompetent or unworthy candi
dates, for it has not; the Republi
can officers are all men of upright
ness, of intelligence and good busi
ness capacity, and we point to their
records with pride and challenge
the tongue of envy to say ought barm
ful against them; nor do we believe
they were chosen thoughtlessly, ah
though moat of them were nominat
ed by a plurality vote, bn t by those
persons who knew them best and
could vouch for their fittness; they
were elected by a majority, and the
slander of the Argus is an insult to
every Republican who voted for them;
but we complain that the system is
frhught with mischief and injustice,
and tends to weaken >ather than
strengthen our party. The coun-
try districts may not agree with
us now; in this opinion they may
require a more bitter experience
to open their eyes; but the change,
we think, if it is not made at the
present, is only a question of time.
The Argus is not in favor of it
because the Argus is run in the
interests of the Democratic party,
and naturally opposes, in its way,
any measure that benefits the Re-
publican ; but its arguments are
so inconsistent, and made up of
such a string of assertions of no
foundation whatever, that to at
tempt a reply to its emptiness
would be a useless task. In regard
to the amendment we are perfectly
willing to abide by the decision Of
the party, whether against the
change or for it. Our convictions
are strong that the amendment is
a wise one, and, if adopted, will
tend to strengthen the power of the
party and create harmony in > its
ranks.
The company chartered by the
last Legislature, and empowered
to build a bridge over the Alleghe
ny river, have organized by com
plying with the provision requiring
$50,000 of sidok to be taken to ef
fect an organization. The capital
sto.ck is fixed at $300,000, with
power to increase, and the compa
ny authorized to charge the same
tolls and fares as are now collected
at the Suspension bridge at Sixth
Street. The men who are interested
in this bridge are men of capital
and ability, who will push it through
and guarantee success. The citi-
zens of Pittsburgh and Allegheny
are subcribing liberally to the stock,
and the directors of the company
are, it is said, quite sanguine of the
success of the enterprise. The
bridge when constructed will be of
great advantage and convenience,
and add much to the permanent val
ue of real estate within its vicinity.
The New York Legislature has
passed a bill providing for a ship
canal between Lake Champlain and
Albany, which will cost a million
of dollars this year and another
next. This will be a much needed
improvement, and places New York
among the most enterprising of the
States of the Union.
POLITICAL .
—Georgia has not a political news'
paper.
—The Snyder county Republican pri
mary meetings will be held on June 7lh.
—The Toledo Blade and the Cincinnati
Chronicle favor General Joseph R. Haw
lew, of Connecticut, for next President.
—Every Democratic politician in
Schuylkill county is said to be a candi
date for Congress.
—Ex Governor Coburn, of Maine, has
given ss*ooo to the State Industrial School
for girls.
—Butler’s candidacy for the Governor
ship of Massachusetts is stirring up the
newspapers of that State to a frightful
extent.
The Republican County Committee
of Washington county have fixed the
*'^^Convention
on Monday, the 16th of Jane.
—A Washington special intimates that
the President may make Attorney General
Williamson Chief Justice, and appoint
Judge Pierreponl his successor.
—The Williamsport Cassette and Bulletin
states that Dr. J. W. Potter, of Karthaus,
s a candidate for the Legislature, subject
to the decision of the Democratic Con
vention.
—Politically the press of Luzerne coun
ty is divided as follows: Republican
seven. Democratic eight, neutral seven,
Liberal one.
—There are eleven Democratic aspirants
for nomination for Sheriff in Erie county.
—An election held in Easton on
Friday for municipal officers. The Dem
ocrats were successful! in five wards and
tbe Republicans in two.
Candidates for the Ceief-Justiceship
are multiplying rapidly. Tbe most re
cent are Caleb Cushing, Judge Black,
Win. S’ Groesbeck, Edward Pierrepont
and Lyman Trumbull'
—The Union county Democracy have
elected Dr. Samuel Blair, of Lewisburg,
Senatorial, and Mr. J. T. Smith, of New
Berlin, Representative delegate to the
State Convention.
—Goverpor Hartranft on Saturday ap
pointed J. C. E. Moore, Esq, of York
borough. Associate Judge of York county,
to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death
of Hon. Peter Ah 1.
—Governor Austin, of Minnesota, has
discreetly changed his mind and decided
to obey the summons to appear before
the Grand Jury to testify concerning the
defalcations of ex-Treasuror Seeger,
—The official canvass shows that at the
April election in Michigan, Chief Justice
Christiancy received 140,784 votes for re •
election ; there being against him only
eighty-six votes, one of which was for a
woman.
—Judge Bingham’s friends indignantly
withdraw bis name from the standing
candidacy for anything, being satisfied
that the President intends to give the
offices abroad to men above suspicion, as
such can be found.
—The Butler Herald indorses the sug
gestion of the the Doylestown Democrat ,
that General Cass should receive the Dem
ocratic nomination for State Treasurer.
The Carion Democrat , however, opposes
this, on the ground that the General is
«not an available candidate.
1 —Senator Cameron denies his reported
efforts to remove Commissioner Douglass,
and Urn-President says no effort has been
made with him, and none could succeed,
as Douglass lathe most honestand efflcient
Revenue Co Heeler the Government has
ever had.
—Clarkson N. Potter; of New York,
has not returned bis back pay to the
Treasury,but merely notified the Sergeant
at-Arms of the House that he dbes not id*
tend to draw it. This leaves the money
where he can call for it, and obtain it
whenever he chooses.
-rAccording totbeKenebec (Me.) Jour
nal t the. Republican pre& of that State
stands as follows on the question of candi
dates for the nomination for Governor by
the Republican counties : For Nelson
Dingley, Jr., 15; for ex-Judge Kent, 3;
for James M. Stone, 1; for Davis Tilson, 1.
—The Bellefonte Watchman of May 16
has this: “'The Democratic State Central
Committee will meet on Wednesday, June
4th, at the Merchant’s Hotel, Philadelphia
for the purpose, of fixing the time and
place of bolding ttye Democratic State
Convention.”
—The Republican Executive Commit
tee, of Jefferson county, unanimously
selected Hon. David Maclav, of Clarion,
Senatorial delegate, and Captain A. J.
Monks, of Jefferson counjty, Representa
tive Delegate to the State Convention.
They were instructed to use all honorable
me4ns to secure the nomination of Hon.
I. G. Gordon for Supreme Judge.
—Tbe Boston Journal thinks the Presi
dent is only carrying out his declaration
that he should have no policy to enforce
against the will of the people in deferring
the appointment of Chief Justice till af
ter the meeting of Congress, meantime
consulting the popular will as expressed
through tbe papers, ignoring purely par
tisan considerations.
—The New York Tribune mentions
Lyman Trumbull as a candidate for the
vacant Chief Justiceship, and its name
sake of Chicago will doubtless re-echo tbe
cry unceasingly. Mr. Trumbull's legal
experience in the McArdle and Illinois
Central cases certainly fits him for an
elevated position—either upon the bench,
or something else.
—lt has been stated in New Hamsbire
that Mr. Parker, one of the Democratic
Congressmen from that State, who so
bravely voted against the extra salary,
and, after the election, drew the money,
proposes to devote it to the founding of
an orphan’s asylum; but the Nashua
Idegraph says that the only orphan’s asy
lum he is erecting is residence
for bis own use. x
—Mr. Colfax has written to a friend in
Paris a letter containing this emphatic
and sanguine passage: “I never received
a dollar from Ames on any account what
ever—in check, in cash, in stock, or divi
dends, or bonds. I have full faith that
He who knoweth all things will in His
own good time make my entire innocence
of this cruel and wicked charge manifest
to even the bitterest of my enemies.”
—lt is to be regretted that Mr. Pierre
pont finds] himself nnahle to accent the
posT of minister at the Russian Court.
His fitness for the positon has been gen-
erally and cordially conceded. We have
no doubt that the uniform approval of the
nomination by the press of all parties will
strengthen the determination of ‘the
President to name an equally good mao
if Mr. Pierrepom’s decision is a final one.
—Ohio’s Constitutional Convension is
described personally as follows : “Taken
together, it is a fine looking body of men,
a majority of whom one would judge In
be on the shady side of fifty. Half a dozen
of ex Congressmen, an ez-Judge of tbe
Supreme Court, several who have been
judges of Common Pleas, tbe present
Attorney General of the State, and num
erous ex-legislators of the State are among
the members. Gray hairs and spectacles,
and bald heads are frequent.
—The Republican County Convention,
which met in Hoilidaysburg, Pa., May
26tb, nominated the following ticket:
Legislature, Joseph Pilcbner ; Commis
sioner, Max P. Smith ; Poor Director,
Albert Wilson; Auditor, Alex. Knox;
Coroner, Isaac Lykens. A resolution
was passed condemning the extra salary
steal, and the appropriation of $2,500 pay
to the members of the Constitutional
Convention-
—A convention of the Republicans of
Greene county, to be composed of two
delegates from each township, will meet
in Waynesburg on Tuesday, June 10th,
at 1 o’clock, p. m , for the nomination of
candidates for county officers, and dele
gates to the State Convention, and for
the transaction of other business as may
properly come before it. Tbe Republican
voters of the county will meet in their
respective townships f on Saturday, June
7th, between the boars of 2 and 5 p, m ,
and select by ballot two delegates from
each township to the county convention.
—Comodore Kountz, of Pittsburgh,
thus announces himself for Congress;
| will be a candidate for Congress from
the Twenty third District of Pennsylva?
nia, subject to the decision of the Repub-
lican party; conditions as follows, to wit;
I pledge myself, if nominated and elected,
to reirenchmentand reform, opposing eve
ry measure whereby the expenses of Tun
ing the government may be increased,
and will advocate libera) appropriation
for the improvement of the Western riv
ers. I pledge myself to the people to use
all the means in my power to have the
bill repealed which Increased the salaries
of Congressmen and others. I will hon
estly labor for a protective tarifi. I will
ardently advocate making the National
Banking Law a free Banking law, there
by breaking dp, in my opinion, a great
monopoly. I furthermore pledge thatl
will not set up any little jobs for myselt.
—The Washington' Chronicle talks in
this wise of the Louisiana Democrats.
"The Influences which hold together
these armed ruffians are hatred to negroes
hatred to the Federal Government, bad
whisky, and the inflamalory appeals of
beaten and debauched Democratic poim
cians. If in these ingredients of strife
which thd best of the white Democrats’
even in Louisaua, protest against, there
are elements to evoke admiration and
encomium, we fail to appreciate them 1
—Andrew H. Green, the Comptroller
of New York City, is still unearthing tb e
rascalities of the Tweed administration in
that city. His last expose shows the
costs, fees, and expenses paid, or to be
paid, to parties officially connected with
the opening of streets, avenues, and pub.
lie places in that city during the past
five years. These expenses, which include
none of the amounts paid for the purchas
es of land or awards of damages, amount
to $1,586,071.88. Mr. Green expresses
the opinion that three hundred thousand
dollars would have been an adequate
compensation for all the work done, and
adds that the commlssionefships, apprais.
erships, and clerkships were distributed
in moat instances among those who held
at the same time other offices under the
city goverifßrent.,
TERRIFIC TORNADO.
Great Loss of Life—lmmense Destrnc*
Uon ofFjjoperty— Hogges and Baras
Leveled to the Ground.
Washington, lowa, May 28.—A. ter
rific tornado or whirlwind, accompanied
with hail and rain, passed oyer this conn
ty, about sir miles north of Washington,
yesterday- noon. It came up from the
southwest, and passed out of the county
a little south of Yatton. The tornado
was about one half a mile in width, and
tore into fragments everything that came
in Us course. Houses, barns, fences, trees,
cattle and human beings were caught up
and whirled through the air like mere
toys, and then dashed to the ground with
such violence as to produce instant death
with animate beings, the houses'and barns
being torn to fragments and scattered for
miles around, the fields being dotted with
large timbers driven into the ground at
an angle of ninety degrees, and the cattle
were actually driven hpad foremost into
the ground. One can! scarcely conceive
of the devastation, or Realize the force of
the tornado. Already |we have beard of
thirteen farm houses and many barns that
were literally torn to pieces, and many
others badly damaged. The school was
in session at the school house, six miles
north, and the tornado tore the building
to pieces and carried a fourteen year old
daughter of Henry Rathmel about a quar
ter of a mile from the school house, and
when found she was mashed to a jelly.
Miss Smith, the 1 teacher, and six or eight
scholars were hurt—some badly. 'The
rrilo at Honry Walbcro wat killed. A
Miss Gardner and a-son of Abe Gibson lie
at the point of deaths , Jacob Seek was ,
seriously hnrt. Mr. Baker was badly
hurt in the back. Several of the family
of F. Campbell, near Kotas, were wound
ed, and Mrs. McCoy Was , seriously hurt.
A gentlemen who Was near the tornado,
six miles north, when it passed, reports
that it was balloon shaped,, w ith the small
end to the ground, and moved at the rate
of twenty miles an boar. It commenced
its fearful work near Keota, where it de
molished several residences.
We next hear of it about six miles
northeast, where it destroyed two or
three bouses, and as it passed on to the
northeast it scattered to the four winds
the fine residences and barns of Alex.
Gibson, J. A. Babcock and J. C, Culling
ham, and also leveled to the ground the
dwellings of D. Cauece, P. and H. Wal
ters, Mr. Coringer and Mr. Kerr. The
lives of many persons were saved by their
hastily getting into their cellars Sad
havoc was made of all kinds of stock.
Prom the description of an eye witness
it is almost a miracle that .anything in its
track escaped alive. He says that he
could see large pieces of timber hurled
from the cloud, as though shot from a
cannon.,/Hail fell that measured nine in-
ches in diameter. Some were brought to
this city, and four hours after they were
picked up they were still as large as hen’s
eggs. The roaring of the toruado was
fearful, qnd could have been beard easily
ten miles./ Six miles away it was perfect
ly appal ling,surpassing anything we have
heard, except the roar of a terrific battle.
A telegram from Keokuk last even log
says that five persons were killed about
three miles from that place, and one child
was torn to pieces Oar reports are from
only a few points on the line of the terri
ble destroyer, and we cannot estimate the
amount of damage done, bat it must be
many thousand dollars. j
Many more lives were lost, probably,
than thore reported, aind no estimate can
be made of the stock killed. Nothing.
heretofore, so terrible and violent has
ever befallen the country, and we can on-
ly contemplate^its devastation with awe
and wonder that so many yscaped alive.
Kbdla, lowa, Stay 23— The most ter
rific storm ever known in this part of the
State passed through here yesterday about
3 o’clock. It started, as far as heard from.
ten miles southwest in Skunk Bottom,
traveling in a southeasterly direction to
within two and one-half miles of this
city, sweeping everything before it.
to the present time there are reported
four persons killed and eight are sltgtly
hurt. Seven houses, three harps, one
saw mill and several grainuries were
blown down. -Prdin Jwo to tbretf hun
dred head of slot* wire killed; Buildiog