The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-27

1t Is the first time III the history of the
world that any government has made its whole
revenue system dependent entirely on papers
prepared abroad-and the first, as it is likely
to be the last, that government has been seen
leagued with foreigners for the destruction Of
all It's men Of activity and enterprise
''The Democratic State Central Committee
of Pennsy lvania" assembled on the Dist inst,
under the impression that an honored custom
made it incumbent upon them to put forth few
words on the issues involved in the coming
contest in that State, "and on the general as
pect Of things throughout the country" So. at
least, their address, which we find in the Penn
sylranidii, gives us to understand They start
off by referring to their years experience of
Wing National Administration, and this one
would imagine was the prelude to some discus
sion Of national questions We might have ex-
pected their views in respect to the subject
which for the last nine months has absorbed the
attention of Congress and of the country. But
there is not the dimmest allusion TO it.
The constituents of the State central com
mittee might rest in sweet oblivion that any
such issue had distracted the minds of men,
if they depended for information on that body
In ''the general aspectof things throughout the
country" this would appear to have been
too much in the background to have struck
their vision. There is no appreciation to be
awarded, no censure to be administered.
neither advice nor eXhortaton for any mortal
soul, in this connection. They apparently re-
gard the people Of Pennsylvania as if they
were sheltered in new happy valley, where
the noise and commoton of the outside world
had never disturbed their ears Why should their
innocence be corrupted by having the know.
ledge that evil exists communicated to them?
Why veX their repose, by letting them know
that strife has been going on that has seemed
to those who took part in it TO involve momen-
tous issues, but of which in their retirement the
Pennsylvania Democracy are to be supposed
never to have heardl If such are not the mo-
tives of the committee in retaining from any
allusion to the subject, perhaps they pass it by
on the score that it has no special domestic inn
pOrtance.
But there is another subject in which the
State of Pennsylvania has been thought hereto
fore to have peculiar interest. There are coal
and iron mines within her bounds. and those who
labor in them have in times past been rallied I'M
der a certain "banner with strange device. ," the
memory Of which has not yet died out among men.
Polk, Dallas, Skunk, and the Tariff Of 1912,
once proved potent watchwords. and the last
like lady's postscript, contained what was near
est to the heart. The thoughts Of the miners
are supposed, at the present juncture, when 50
many of them have leisure for reflection. to be
turned TO this subject. In the general aspect Of
things throughout the country, they discern
very clearly that the smoke Of numerous forges
no longer darkens the air, that the din Of ham
mers mo- longer assaults the ear. and suppose
that this fact has some connexiOn with the Tar
if Of 1872 Their general adherence to the
doctrines Of what styles itself the Democratic
party has not prevented their entertaining such
ideas, and asking for remedy. They are right
or wrong, and we might have expected from
the central committee that they would express
an opinion on the point, and even vouchsale
SUCH NNUilNfl dN Alli fdNi NFUldNNS. bUl llf
committee stand mute. not word have they 10
utter upon the topic. The only shy at it 10 be-
found is in the brief and altogether casual state
mcnt that the late Secretary OF the Treasury,
Sin his war upon the system Of his predecessor,
had forgotten the painest rules of political econ
omy."
No, the committee are practical men. II is
not opinions that they seek 10 influence; they
simply want votes. Purely for form sake they
devote column Of their address TO wholesale
depreciation Of the late Cabinet, supported only
by such general statements as that ''our foreign
relations were conducted in manner to cover
the whole country with ridicple''--a statement
doubtless propounded as strong test Of the
faith Of their followers. They invoke support
for their State nominations on the ground Of the
personal capacity and integrity Of the nominees;
and. finally, they give a hint Of what il is that
they regard as the issues involved in the CON
test. In their exhortatron ''tO keep constantly in
view the great importance Of elccting honest
and well-tried men TO represent us in the State
lepislature-mcn lcho ,cH ddrocaic the usages
which have made our glorious principles tri-
umphant; ,cho ,ciH participate IN The regular
party caUcUses; and Uho trW derniy abide By
The nominations made by The majority"
Opinion is free as air; it manifests sundry
diversiiies even in the single political house
hold Of Pennsylvania Democracy. Upon prin-
ciples there might be great difficulty in secur-
ing agreement, but by waving them in favor
Of u,ages which have heretofore proved efec-
tual in smothering the opposition of those who
were impracticable enough to be sticklers for
principle, the committee are saved from EN-
barassment, and from tediousness in trying to
tell people ichy they ought to support their