The Waynesburg Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 1867-18??, 1867-09-25
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PRINCIPLES, NOT MEN.

No canvass in Pennsylvania for sev-
eral years past pas possessed more real
Importance than the one in which we
are now engaged, whether we regard
the national interests at stake, and
which will be affected for good or for
evil by what may occur here, or the
influence upon our own affairs of a
decision at this time in favor of the
Democratic party. However design
ing copperheads may cndeavor to per-
suade Independent men that the con-
test has no national significance, there
can be no shadow of doubt that they
are earnestly striving now to compass
the defeat of the Republican ticket in
Pennsylvania, for the express purpose
of making people believe that a great
reaction has set in against the princi-
piles and policy of the Republican
party. But, whether this be so or not,
a Republican defeat in Pennsylvania
will be at once triumphed abroad
throughout the length and breadth of
the land as a verdict against the poll
cy of Congress and in favor of the
violent course pursued by President
johnson.
Yet we find, observes the North
American, the most artful appeals made
to Republicans to throw aside party
considerations, on the ground that the
contest is not national one. There
is hardly an office of any prominence
to be now filled that is not made the
subject Of these appeals. BEGINNING
with the Judge of the Supreme Court,
We are asked to support Judge Shars-
wood, the Democratic nominee, because
he was twice elested President Judge
of the District Court of Philadelphia
by his political opponents, although we
all know that ON that bench, where he
was i'll political minority, he deliv-
cred a written opinion against the con-
stitutionality of the United States
legal tender notes.
If we turn to the Legislature, we
are asked to elect Democrats in prefer
encc to Republicans on all sorts of
issues. The cry there is against our
financial embarrassmcnts, though no
one can show how the election of Dem
ocrats is to reduce them. 1t is of
small account, according to those rea-
soners, that the Republican Legislature
has managed our State finances so we'll
as to enable the State to dispense with
the tax on real estate, at the same time
that we have largely reduced our State
debt.
Democratic success is the panacea
prescribed for everything, on the prin-
ciple of the physician whose patient
did not know what was the matter
with him, as he had a capital appetite,
slept well, felt well, and yet wanted
medicine. The doctor promised to
give him something to change all that,
and the Democratic offer in the present
instance is about similar. We are
getting along prospcrously. Our finan-
ces are well administered. Our inter-
ests are admirably cared for. The
popular liberties are extended and
guarded. Elect Democrats, and they
will change all that. M
If any independent man thinks we
exaggerate, let him sit down and try
to make up ticket such as these
disinterested advisers would be satisfied
with. He would find on it no Repub-
lican names. From beginning to end
all would be coppcrheads. 1t has
therefore become a question, simply
and purely, whether man means to
vote the Republican or Democratic
ticket-not as to who shall be scratched
on either Of these tickets. The attack
is. made upon us at all points, and with
the same vigor and the same arguments
upon each. Those who may feel in
clined to listen to the arguments of
these men will find the issue to be as
we state it, not whether independent
men shall vote for Sharswood, but
whether they shall vote the Republican
or Democratic ticket.
The most remarkable feature about
this crusade is that there is really
nothing in the character or public
services Of the Democratic candidates
to warrant the extravagaut laudation
of them that is now indulged in, and
.ourreaders can Judge for themselves