Bedford inquirer and chronicle. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1854-1857, 1857-08-21
POLITICAL CoWARDIcE.


The political coward excites as much
contempt as aay other coward A poltroon
is adespieable object, no matter on what
field he displays the white feather. Hence
we are not surprised to learn that the pusil-
lanllniiy shown by Gen4 Packer, through
the locofoco State Committee, in refusing to
accept Wilnot's challenge to stump the
State, has much mortified the rank and file
Of the party, and excited their ire to think
that they have to be led by ono who at the
very outset turned tail upon the enemy -
Among them be it. Certainly his own par
ty cannot despise the bastard any more
than his opponents do. This cock who
won't tight had better have bis spurs taken
off and be sents.to the 'dunghiIl at once.
The democratic party processes TO be a
national party, permanent party, an old
party--a party, in facts with settled creed
and well established principles, Upon which
it relies for success. Why, then, is 1t
afraid to discuss those principles before the
people2 Is it because its professions ure
hollow an'. its creed a lie, that it slsfinks
from chaEletgo to defend thetia Does it
fear the revelations which such discussion
would bring to the ears 6f the peoplea 1t
would seem so. Either 1t is weak party
devoid of ability to sustain its creed in dis
cussion, or it is hollow hearted, hypocriti-
cal, canting party, depending alone upon
trick and chieanery for success, and hence
cannot bear to huge its policy and measures
made the subject Of popular inquiry.
But, the committee says, the challenge,
if accepted, would lead to discussion of
the slavery question. And what if it did:
Is not the slavery question proper oae for
discussion? If it is not, why does the par
ty in Its presses make it the rhain staple of
their political diatribesl And if the SQUAT
ter sovereignty doctrine is so impregnable
aud unanswerable as they pretend, wi,
should they dread discussion of it, and
put in that plea as conclusive one for not
going into the fghi2 Either the party
should cease harping upon the slavery qucs-
ton or discuss it when challenged to.
But the committee could not get along,
in giving an answer, without violating the
the truth of history. 1t says:
ga joint canvass by candidates for the
Gubernatorial office has never been con-
Quoted IN this State, nor, believe, in any
other Northern ono, and may well be ones
toned on grounds of pubic policy"
TITS is not true. Indiana was canvassed
last year in this way. aud frequently be-
fore. Ohio and other western States have
also frequently been eanyassed in this way
Even in Pennsylvania the Democratic and
Wing candidates in 1851 and 1851 canvas
sed the State separately; and it will re-
quire a very nice degree of hair-splitiing to
show The difference. in principle, between
candidates eanysssing State separately
and Jointly. II it was right for a demo-
cratic candidate to canvass the State in
1851 and 1854, how can it be wrong to do
So in 1857
The Committee, speaking of the PRACTICE
of stunping, says:
"a rule Of party action which would
prevent such men MS Benjamin Frauklih,
Simon Snyder, and FraEcis r. Skunk froai
filling the Executive chair of this State
must be bad one, and to be denounced |
rather than adopted"
This is a libel upon both Franklin ana
Skunk. Franklin vas not dumb states /
man. If he was not yolurninous speaker
ne was always ready to give reason for
his political faith, and it is we'll known
that he was not merely capable Of public
speaking, but that Le did, more than once,
make public speeches. The same is true of
Skunk. In ls44 he was frequently upon
the stump, and the files Of the Gazette con-
tain the record of some Of bis speeches.
If Gen. Packer is incapable (as we sup
pose be isl of meeting Judge Wilmot on
the stump, and shrinks from it in sheer
sowardice, let bis party confess his incapa-
,ity, at once, ard put forward some substi-
tute for him. let them say, il they Will,
Ior the purpose Of eludins their followers,