Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1867-08-14
Men VS.. Measures.

Il was present, says a correspond ent of
the Charleston Courier, when Gen. Wash
ington gave his last vote. 1t was in the
spring of 1899, in the town of Alexandria.
He died the 1lth of December following.
The court house of Fairfax county ~as then
over the market house, and Immediately
fronting Gadsby tavern. The entrance in
to it was by a flight of crazy steps on the
outside. The election was progressing, sew
eral thousands of persons in the court house
yard and immediate neighboring streets, and
| was standing on Gadsby' steps, when the
Father of his Country drove up, and imme
diately approached the court house, and
when within a yard or two of them, [ saw
eight or ten good looking men, from differ
ent directs, certainly without the least con-
cert, spring simultaneously and place them
selves In positions to uphold and support
the steps should they fall in the Generals
ascent of them. | was Immediately at his
back. and in that position entered the court
room-followed in his wake, through dense
crowd, to the polls-heard him vote-return-
ed with him to the outward crowd-heard
him cheered by more than two thousand
persons as he entered his carriage, and saw
his departure. There were five or six can
didates en- the bench sitting and as the Gen
approached them, they arose in body and
bowed smiingly; and, the salutation having
been returned very gracefully, the General
Immediately cast his eyes towards the reg
istry of the polls, when Col. Densald, |
think it was, said: Well. General how do
you vote? The General looked at the can
didates and said Gentlemen, | vote for
measures, not for men, and turning to the
recording table, audibly pronounced his vote
saw it entered-made graceful bow and
retired
That plain, heroic magnitude of mind,
which distinguished Washington above all
other men OF his time, was evident in all
his actions. There is a vast amount of prac-
teal wisdom in the remark, 'sGentlemen n. |
vote tor measures, not for men, which
those who are called to vote upon the great
issues now agitating the country would do
well to consider.
Measures are the grand end to be looked
at in selecting candidate A man may
possess great ability, but if that ability be
directed in a wrong channel, it only increas-
es the possessor's S power for mischief. The
Democratic party have placed on their tick
ct as candidate for the Supreme Bench the
name of a man whose abilities have never
been questioned by either party, with the
hope that his personal popularity may atone
for the criminal platform upon which he
stands. But this clap-trap mode of pro-
ceedlng avalS them nothing The record
of Judge Sharswood is the record of the
Democratic party He is identified with
every plank of its platform. He is pledged
to every article of its creed. His infamous
legal tender decisions are fresh in the minds
of the people, and his utterances in regard
to the construction of our Government are
but the echo of those OF Judge fancy
himself He is member of the States
Rights school, of full standing, and believes,
with Jeremiah Black. that ''the Govern
ment has no power to coerce State, even
though the State may be engaged in open
defiant rebellion. Even conceding all the
superiority which the Democrats claim for
their candidate, we could not support Judge
Sharswood with such record clinging to
him. In the words of the founder of our
republic, we "vote for measures, not for
men," But such concession is not neces-
sary. We have presented to the people
candidate the equal in every personal attri-
butte of his distinguished opponent, while
his political record is all that could be de-
sired-full, complete and satisfactory There
can be no personal issue in this contest
Both candidates are gentlemen of the high
est order. Perpetual union on the one hand,
State sovereignty on the other, are the
questions to be determined Let the people
decide. .-EUening Bulletin