The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1838-07-28
@ From the Pennsylvania.
THE PROCLAMATION-THE GOV.
ERNOR'S LAST TRICK.

LhlNOh - lJftO MUM
The intimation thrown out in our paper
of yesterday was literally correct. Gov
ernor Ritner, perceiveing that his chance of
reelection was desperate one, has endeav-
ored to improve itbya proclamation, which
may be found ia another column, requiring
the Banks to resume specie payments on
the 18th of August. The mere election
eering trickery of this movement is so gar-
ingly manifest that every one laughs at it.
After sitting inerlly for fourteen months ga
zing at what he now calls teertain open in
fIacions of the spirit of TIE laws" and ai-
ter tamely suffering New York to take the
lead in resumption, his anti-masonic excel
lency Suddenly starts up with a haste that
is now actually ludicrous, and under pre-
tence of advancing the public welfare,
makes an almost spasmodic effort to gain
a little popularity for the October election,
putting forth one of the most barelaced, dis
creditable pieces Of partizan scribbling
that was ever issued with an official sane
tlon.+ ~
.a The mere trickery of this matter is the
more evident when it is remembered that
in his Message to the Legislature, issued
on December 9th, 1887, eight months ago,
Ritner took view of the circumstances
which brought about the resumption, and
said--'1 have now little doubt that the Le-
sislesure may with Purfvvs 0pfo.y FIX an oar-
ly date for the resumption of specie pay
ments;" yet the Ritnerites in that BODY
steadily opposed every legislative effort ten
ding that way, and in fact proved clearly
by their acts that all the recommendations in
relation to Banking and Currency of that
message-"a real loco foco document,
worth 10000 votes," as an adherent of
Ritner remarked TO us at the time-were in
tended solely as popularity traps, TO be ut
tered but not to be fulfilled. The under.
standing on this point so far as results could
determine II for none of the currency prop
osltions ofthe message were advocated BY
kltner men was perfect Every tendency
toward RESUMPTION was killed bv some
means, and the Governor remained mute
and still from December 1897, until now,
July, 1898; when, observing that the peo-
plo OF Pennsylvania are going almost en-
mGSSe for David r. Porter he endeayors 10
stem the current by an act that should have
NS"N iOHS HSOJ anu uIUeTS TIE Banks
to resume on the 18th of August, after. be
ltsremembereh AFTER ten of the fourteen
Philadelphia Banks had declared their.vill.
lngness and ability to resume on the Isl of
August: When popular feeling and the
iorce OF circumstances had made it almosta
matter OF impossibility to stave off resump.
ton any longer, then and not till then, does
me Governor Of Pennsylvania issue his
PROCLAMATION commanding that to be done
which scarcely could be prevented even by
the power Of the 'great regulator" and he
and his friends, as if they had Just achieved
a miracle ofpublic virtue, turn smilingly to
the people and ask for reelection
A greater farce than this whole affair was
never enacted before the people of Pennsy-
yanla, and the pitiful assaults upon
the General Government with which
the. Proclamation abounds, are in strict keep
ing with the spirit in which this clap-trap
movement was conceived. The Tick it.
SELL as a trick, was perhaps well enough,
ana worthy of Ritner and Stevens; but
ficky politicians, are frequently too late, this
being case in point.