Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1864-07-27
very very existence of free government in the
United States '''
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.


me evil OF uncontrolled party domino
'ioh IN government will be greater or le,
according to the character and objects o
Inc party in power. The Democrati
party, which ordinarily has administers,
lne Government of the United States
even IN The utmost plentiude of Il
: power, did not fall into gross abuse o,
threaten ihe liberties Of the county. All
thouSh II required TO be checked unor
OCCASION and tl'at its policy and conduc
shou!" be subjected TO rigid scrutiny by
an active opposition, there was great
security against It's abuse of its powers in
the principles and doctrines TO which il
held ; for Its creed was established for il
ny men OF the most sterling virtue and
profound wisdom, who Justly compreben-
oed the nature OF free governments and
the dangers to which they are exposed.
strict construction Of the Constitution n
sparing use Of the powers Of Govern
ment, moderate expenditures ard ooual
laws, became the articles Of q political
creed which preserved the Government I
from abuse and degeherauy, Kent the
states IN harmony ard secured the Growth
ana development Of material prosperity
une%8mr.ed in the history of nations. It's
great mert was that it was Il constitution
al party, lin the true sense OF the term
suGYecting itself cheerfully, thoroughly,
ana constantly, to all the rules and limit
asiohs OF the fundamental law. Its prin-
ciries themselves checked ii and kent i.
within bounds As its contests for power
were upon the very ground that there
should be no oyer-action of Government.
odt only due exertion of its authorized
powers, there was the less necessity TO
confront 1t with powerful opposition.
Yet such opposition always existed, and
was no doubt necessary 10 the safe and
successful action of the Government under
its management.
THE rARTY OF THE ADMINISTRATION.
But with the party now in power the
case Is widely different. Its main strength
lies III States which voted against Mr..
Jefferson in 1900, against Mr.. Madison in
1917, against Andrew jackson IN 1898
ana against air. Polk in 1874; and il en-
Braces that school Of opinion in this coun-
try which has always held 10 extreme
action by the Federal Government, favor
itlsm to particular interests, usurpation of
State powers, large public expenditures,
and, generally speaking, to constructions
81 tho CuHs'ItutIUu uIiLh rurvl V-y,iuIUt
authority and extend its pretensions.
Besides, it is essentially sectional and az
gresslve-lbe very embodiment OF that
disunlon partyism foreseen and deno"nc-
ed 10y Washington and jackson in those
Farewell addresses which they left on
record for the instruction of their coun-
trymen, ard by Henry Clay in a memora- }
bic address to the Legislature of Ken
lucky. That it could not be safely in
trusted with the powers of the Federal |
Government is conclusion which newt |
ably results from this statement of its .
composition and character. But the |
question Is no longer one Of mere opinion !
or conjecture. Having been tried by the |
actual possession of Government powers
and been permitted to exhibit fully its
true nature, it has completely justified the
theory which condemns it as will plainly
appear from considering particular meas
ures of policy pursued by it. From among
these we shall select several FOR particular
in order that our general
statement Of Republican unftness for the
possession Of Government powers may be
established, and made good
against any possible contradiction.
MILITARY INTERFERENCE WITH ELECTIONS.
This has taken place in two ways:
First. BY the selection of soldiers Of
the army to be sent home temporarily to
participate in State elections.
This practice, in connection with send
ing home on such occasions large num-
bers OF Government officers and employ
oes in the civil service, has changed the
result OF many State elections, aad given
10 the party in power an unjust adyant-
lge. With the large powers possessed by
The Administration for the purposes of
war with the large increase Of appoint {
nents to civil Office and the employment
Of vast numbers of persons in all parts Of
.he country in the business of the Gov ,
arnment. the administration and its party {
nave been enabled TO influence elections I
% an alarming extent. The powers con- 9
erred by tho whole people upon the {
Government, and the revenues derived by
axation from the whole people, or de- I
'ived from loans which became ,charg- '
I'd upon the whole mass of individ- O
lal property, have been used in an nin-
to number of ways for party purposes 8
'hu " oSNuiS iiS lA~IubllCdu luleIGAt III ] !
.he Federal and State Governments, the Y
continued possession Of power. The in t
ustice and cOrruptive tendency Of this |
ystem cannot De denied, and alone should !
% held sufficient to condemn the party 1
If the Administration. 1t is notorious |
hat time after time, on the eve of doubt S
ul elections, thousands Of voters have t
,een s1nt home from the army TO turn
he scales between parties and TO secure 5
IN Administration triumph And alis
las been done, not upou the principle Of @
ending home citizen soldiers indiscrimi- a
lately and without reference to their po- S
itical opinions and attachments, (which v
Would have been just but upon the prin- L
iple of selecting Republican soldiers. or il
# granting furloughs upon the condition II
# promise from the persons favored w
hat they would support Administration d
andidates. We mention elections in n
'ew Hampshire, Connecticut and Penn
yIvanls, as Instances of such base and Il
must proceeding, by which unsorupulous b