Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-02-14
Stop and Think.

stop ana link.
While We must cordially endorse the doc
trine that majority should rule, we are not
wiling to give up the glorious victory we
achieved over The cohorts Of slavery and Free
Trade, on the Gin day of November last. We
entered the last campaign with Lincoln and
usmlin, A. G. Curtin, Free Soil for free
men, Protection to American labor, and
Homestead for every workipg m n ins r bed
upon our banners. For these principles we
wrote, we spoke, and worked with all the
energy and ability We possessed The peo.
ple rallied to our standard, endorsed the Chi
eago platform which contains these glorious
principles, worked witt US, shouted with us,
and better than all. ,oted with US, giving
Gov. A. G.. Curtin over $4,000 and Lincoln
ana Hamlin more than $4,000 majority in
the old Keystone State.
New we do not wish to dictate to any maa,
bat as public journalist we have right to
.hiak and ACT for oursslf which we will most
assuredly do sink or swim, survive or per.
ish." In accordance with these sentiments,
therefore we must call upon the American
Republicans of Centre to stop and think be-
fsrs they make up their minds to apologize
for voting for old Abe Lincoln or Col. A. G.
Curtin, or for endorsing the Chicago platform
before the election. Iron masters, business
men, laboring mes, farmers, mechanics of
CeHtre, let US reason together. Suppose you
say 10 the good end trus Republicans # tae
East aud West, North and South, that yuu
are unwilling TO stand By the Chicago Plat
fern. or The triumphant majority 10 its fa'
vor, declared By the people at the ballotbe1,
or ia ether words. suppose by your actions
you say. that you are willing to compro-
mise with slavery g fer the sake of peace"
thas ignoring the 8!h resolution Of your plat
form, which reads as follows:
THAT the normal condition Of all the
territory of ths United States is that of
Freedom. That as our Republican fathers,
"when they had abolished slavery il all eur
national territory, ordained thar, no per-
son should be deprived Of life, liberty or
property, without due process of law 1t
becomes our duty, by legislation, wbeBev-
ser such legislation Unnecessary, TO main-
tain this provision of the Constitution
"aeainst all attempts to violate 1T and we
dery the authority Of Congress, of a terri-
toriAi legislature or Of any individuals to
reivs legal existence to slavery in any ter
ritory of tbs Uni!ed States"
Suppose esay you are willing TO give up
this plank, this freedom loving doctrine of
your platform, what assurance have you that
the Republicans of the New England States,
Of the middle States, Of the Western and
Northern States, will not refuse to stand up.
on the Tariff plank Of that platform? 1t we
refurs, in Peunsy vGnia, to stand by our
whole Platform aud doctrines what right
have we to expsctthas the Republicans aiore.
said, who are not as desply Interested IN Pro-
tes,on as we are, will stand by us, or vote
for Tariff? Without the Chicago Platform
as cur chart and compass, the American Re
publican party must be scattered to the
winds, OF rather sink in the ocean cI politics
20 rise no rere forever. Gabrials trump
will never rcsurrect H. We knos that ypu
are unwilling to give up The Tariff plank and
will brand any Republican, who will vote
ssainst il, with ea,ernal iIfaEy. We in
seft the resolution:
18th. THAT. while providing revenue iuT
" .ls support Of the General Government hy
"dufies u poa imports, sound policy requires
's.uch an adjustment of these imp rts as 10
I" encourage Tie Development Of the Industrial
interests of the whole country and ws
samm nd that policy of national exchsng
"es which secures 10 The WORKING MEN no
s'ers. wages, 10 AGRIcULTUBE rsmuHerating
. nfises. Ia NEcuAsIcs aud MANUFACTURERS
an adequate reward for thpir skill labor
" and enterprise, and to the nation CONNER
siul prosperity and independence
Wbal sounJ, what glorious doctrine, end
y,u, TO ,ub:. are ready to sag, wcs to the
member Of c C.nsress. Republican CT other
wise. who refuses 10 endorse ii or vote for it.
Business msu OF Centre county, Of Peunsyl-
ysnia remember tkat plank was inserted eS-
9sciatly Tor Pennsylvania la tHTn. Penn
sylvania WAS TO remain steadlast and true to
all the Freedom loving and pati iotic seDti-
nen,s of the Platform. Will yoa'staud FIRM?
Will you fu.i your part Of the agreement?
Remember that the DcmocIat attic party wo'd
have been srrong and powerful to- day, bad
il not been fer the reachery Of Presidents
P;e.ce and Buchanan who violated. aye, ig-
nored .he pledges and platforms Of the party
before they were warm in the Presidential
chair. Will tbe Republican party take warn
ing frem the fate Of these men and the Dem
Ocratic party? Or will we prove more faith
less than they and desert our PRINCIPLES and
Platform before Abraham Lincoln is inaug-