The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-10-20
THE PENNSYLVANIA ELECTION. AND THE
CAUSE or ITS RESULT.
70 he Editors Of dc Uai9n


Various apostate-democrac aud black republican Jour
las, as well rs the Press of Philadelphia assert that
the recent vote in Pennsylvania is not only rebuke OF
the Lecompton policy of the administration but also of
the general principles Of Mr.. Buchanan cabinet But
this assertion bellies the facts and Is only made To dis
tract the democratic party and keep alive dead issue
All who conyersan with the facts attending the cleo
ton kaow none better than those who make the sser-
tom that it is untrue All who have read the Pcnnsy-
wanna papers during the canvass mingled with the
electors, know that IL is higher aud nghtier motive
than mere sectional issue that has led to the ts,s
trous defeat OF the democratic candidates Ii the ac
ton OF power always potent daily becoming more po
tent-which has controlled elections in Pcnnsy l,,nia
hitherto, which viii continue to control them as long
as her soil yields 10 the hardy workers its rich treasures
of coal and iron. IL is in fact DE iron interest exaspea-
ted by the misrepresentation touching the Washington
Aqueduct iron contract which has now routed the de-
moccy The infamous statements relative to the So
called Scotch pipe contract have undoubtedly influenced
ten voters where the '.kansas policy has affected one
The national administration has been falsely held respon-
sibc for the late commercial crisis The sixty thousand
men thrown out OF employment in that State have been
studonsly taught that the general government was the
cause OF their loss of work and that it possessed the
power and refused to it, 10 restore prosperity and give
them employment, Acting under this false impression
they have voted for party without platform, and
against the democracy.
The men who furnished the capital by which 439 1876
tons of iron produced in Pennsylvania in 1856 have
had their Indignation excited to the highest pitch by the
artu misrepresentation of opposition dcmagogues
corning the tariff and this large contract for iron pipes
and IL has incidentally reused their sumberng zeal for
discriminating duties in favor of iron. 1t is apparent
that the defeat of the democracy Pennsyv has been
effected by combination of the great iron interests in
stead OF the taitorous efforts of such journals as Forvs
Press.
BY reference to the past political history of the country
viii be that whenever State national elections
have been held in Pennsylvania, under depression OF
the iron interests they have either gone adversely to the
democracy or been barely carried by largely reduced ma
jorites The like result has been obtained when the
iron men have combined for protection as in 1910 and
1913. AS Gen. jackson did not disturb the high tariff of
"a and 2S during his first administration IL was not an
issue in his reelection in 1882 And as the iron manu-
LECTURERS themselves parties to Mr. Clays compro-
mise tarii OF ~, (Which contemplated prospective
ducton oil dutcs,) the question excluded from the
canvass of 1885, In all these national contests Pennsyl-
yania gave her vote for democracy.
But the financial crisis of 1887 which frustrated all
the indus trial interests of the country combined the iron
and other manufacturers for the restoration of the high
tariff and in 1910 Pennsylvania went with the opposi-
ton.
As an impression prevailed in Pennsylvania in 1914
That Mr. Polk was favorable to the tariff of AZ he
ceved Its VOTE but the act of 46 more banded the
IRON men for tariff and in lS4S Gen Taylor was elect
cd President by The casting vote OF Pennsylvania
Alter this 1t ceased To be vital issue in American pol
tc until the financial crisis of 1857 revived the ques
ton OF protection in sape-that Of the use of
American iron, under the contract system for the public
works This is clearly eynced by the result Of this cleo
ton, IL is demonstabe that the rise and fall Of the
democratic vote in Pennsylvania is pui yassu with tho
rise and fall in the price of iron IL is proven by the
record, and by the ''inexorabc logic OF events
It will not do for Mr.. Forney and his compeers to clay
the ilatering JUNCTION to their sons that this election is
an endorsement of their titoros On the con
trnry 1t is signal rebuke TO their selfish views for il
stamps as wildly the record of current events as
written with pen of fire the heavens that the
American people are alive to American interests
The Pennsylvania democracy, though now deceived
will surely rally under the banner of democracy when
they are fully aware of the American policy of the pres
ent administration. They will vindcste their right to
be heard in the national councils and the selfish dena
gogues who have betrayed them will be swept away by
the torrent of their strength
When the iron interest of Pennsylvania is informed rs
it surely will be, that the policy OF using American iron
for American works was inangumted by the preceding
and continued by the present democratic administration
and that the extensive experiments embracing the whole
country instituted to test the relative value native
ores and their respective adaptabity to the various uses
of government, now being continued and perfected
the true strength of the administration will be known
and these selfish aspnnts for place and power will be
hurled to mcrted oscurity by the overwhelming popular
vote OF the industrial democracy A.
PHLaDELpuIA, Oct. 18th, 1858.
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