American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-08-07
What is Inyo,yed.

@@S~NN
one; but new order of things has come
about. While the election is exceeding
ly important, and grave questions are to
be decided BY the result of it, still it will
furnish no criterion by which to Judge of
the result of the approaching Presiden-
tial contest. The day has not yet come,
however, when small things can be safe
ly disregarded. Although the October
election of this year in Pennsylvania may
have little to do with the result of the
November election of 1868, it will un-
doubtediy effect greatly the State issues
of that year, Republicans then may
not fold their hands complacently in this
contest, hoping for all things to be corr
rected in the next, through the prestige
coming from past success and the inhu-
ence of the powerful candidates who
viii carry the banner and lead the vic,
torious party of progress in 1868. The
enemy has prestige too,-although now
almost forgotten-and the hero of Rich
mond, is but human. Time, lis said,
will correct all things, but times has
enough to do to correct the errors which
human foresight could not forestall let
US not put any unnecessary burdens
upon the old veteran There are Ger /.
tain issues involved in this contest, some
local others of national Importance. In
the dark days of the war for the Union,
when the nation was on the verge of
bankruptcy, and the life of the Repub.
lie depended upon the confidence OF the
people in its solvency, the opposition, in
the interest of the rebels, did all in It's
power to shake tha at confidence, by dc
claring the paper currency unconstitu-
tional and by questioning the ability of
the government to redeem it. What
detriment the Republic sustained by this
action ON the part Of the croakers, no one
can tell we only know it was very great;
Row much longer the war was protracted
on this account we cannot say, we only
know that it would have terminated much
sooner but for the difficulty of procuring
the means to push it vigorously. The
determination aud persistence of the
friends of liberty and the nation conquer
ed the foe and it's abettors; time and sue.
cess has vindicated the financial policy of
| the government its ability to redeem
the paper currency is no longer questions
ed; everywhere throughout the land the
legality Of the tender in payment of
debts is accepted. Shall we honor those
who strovo nightly to prevent this grand
result? Will you who-with faith in
the stability of the government-accept-
ed its credit now give yoar suffrages to
one who did all in his power to destroy
that credit? Will you eleyate to place
and power him who stabbed the nation
when weak and well'nigh exhausted p
The party that clapped its hands in ex-
ultation at Judge Sharwood's decision
against the national currency, asks you
to do all this. Verify assurance is not a
quality peculiar to tho individual. The
fact is, this party believing that consis-
tency is jewel of the first water, is de
termined to be consistent, cost what il
may. Gen. Mcclellan, "The Unready," "
proving himself either an enemy to the
Republic or n miserable imbecile, was
relieved from command for one or the
other and forthwith the opposition nom
mated him for the Presidency. A Judge
of the Supreme Court of the State made
decision DISTINGUISHING the soldiers in
service, and he is at once nominated by
this party for the highest Office in the
gift of the State Clymer defended the
decision of Woodward, voted against the
proposition to arm ihe State, &c. For
these acts he is pitted against a gallant
soldier for the gubernatoral office, and
now they offer to you Judge Sharswood
and ask you to Civ, him place in the
court of last resort, because, forsooth, he
is an able iurist and christian gentle
man. But has he not shown that his
views are antrgonistic to the best interests
of the State and the nation. He may
rival Blackstone in ability aud Sir Mat.
thew Hale in probity What OF that
When the decisions of our judges effect
the interests of the nation, will probity
and ability alone answer! When the
law and precedent are to direct, such
qualities are all that are essential, but
when new issues are to be decided upon
along with probity and ability must be
found perfect freedom from all partizan'
ship and prejudice We know that j Judge
Sharswood permitted his prejudices and
his penchant for worn out issues to move
him to decide against the popular will
is it so denominated in the bond that he
will not do so again Can we have con-
fidence in him who has once proved falsei
Reconstruction is now the all absorbing
| question in the country There is not O
true patriot in the land who does not wish
to see it as speedily accomplished as is
consistent with the good of the nation
Congress has its plan for bringing about
the much desired result, And Andrew
Johuson has his "policy" professeily
aimed at the same end. The great ma,
Jority of those who have any say at all in
the matter, viz, the great body of the
loyal people, sustain the measures OF
Congress The South. and-of course,
u -