American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-06-26
The Doings of the Rip Van
wrinkles at Harrisburg.

When "Trip" awaked from his score
of.ye nap among the Kaatskills, he
was still true to King George and merry
England, and consistently SO, for the
soporiic whiskey Of the jolly bowling
Dutchman had made him oblivious to
the political changes which had taken
place meanwhile. But whet excuse will
those who assembled in Convention at
Harrisburg, on the 18th inst, give for
the adoption of resolutions in behalf of
dead issues.Y True, many of the party
have the weakness which brought Mr..
Van Winkle to grief, but unfortunately,
the vile stuff they imbibe has not the
sleep inducing givirtue of the article which
the Dutchman quaffed True, 1t might
be alleged that the enemy which so many
of the members Of this party of medi>
,eval principles put in their mouths, had
stolen away their brains, but tn account
for theiraction in this way would require
an unwarrantable assumption These
resurreetionists of defnnct issues could
probably give reasons for their conduct,
but undoubtedly they would be like those
Of Gratiano, 8. as two grains of wheat hid
in two bushels of chaff."
These Pharisees stand up in the high
places Of the capital, and after thanking
God-with their lips-that they are not
as the lRe)publicans and other sinners,
proceed to say, j." We, the delegates OF
the Democratic party of Pennsylvania"
are profoundly grateful to the Supreme
Ruler Of the universe for the return OF
peace" We cannot exactly see how
these delegates can be profoundly CRATE
full for the return of peace, when they
took such strong exceptions to the Su,
preme Rulers manner OF bringing 1t
about This profundity of gratefulness
comes with rather bad grace from those
who opposed the war at every stage. If
the South, instead of the North, had con.
quered the Peace, the representatives. Of
the g dead past" would have been pro>
foundly grateful, not only for the return
of peace, but also for the instrumentality
by which peace was attained.
1t is evident that the " delegates of the
Democratic. party" are but novices in
prayers of thanksgiving. They have not
cultivated very close communion with
the Supreme Ruler, nor studded the
manner in which he would be addressed,
or assuredly they would not approach
him with "buts" and "ifs.,' They are
profoundly grateful" for one thing,
but deeply anxious" on account OF
many Others, particularly on account OF
the trials and delays which impede the
complete restoration and reunion Of all
the States" 1t is great pity that these
malcontents did not go to the South at
the commencement of the rebellion, and
join in the fight upon the side with which
they sympathizcd. They would then
have progressed with the progress Of
events, instead of now standing in the
way of progressoand battling feebly for
" dead issues J" they would stand shoul-
der to shoulder with James Lougstreet
in the manyly effort to,secure,equa rights
to all and permanent union upon that
basis, the only one upon which it can be
attained. ..
The first resolution adopted at this
convention is worthy of the Chinese, who
cling not only to g the principles of civil
government, f" but to everything else
which their ancestors of two thousand
years ago established. 1t is wonder
these fossils aid not resolve " steadfastly
to adhere" orthe principles of civil gov
ernment in vogue before King John
and Magma Charta. We find in the
preamble no profound gratefulness ex-
pressed for the overthrow of slavery. Is
this one of the principles which they are
resolved to adhere to steadfastly?
The second resolution is in advance of
their position during and before the war
For this progressive step zoe are "pro,
foundly grateful" 1t is a sort of oasis
in desert of platitudes and nothings.
Let them act in accordance with their
resolution.
The sixth resolution is neat non
committal piece of composition. Is the
Democratic party in favor of free trade
or protection? Where is the Daniel to
interpret this writing on the wall ?
tuClI uuS0 vi
the Supreme Court is sgenerally conceded
to be well ftted-so far as legal ability
is concerned=-for the position, and is
their strongest man, but if "evil
communications corrupt good manners" /"
there will be grand falling off in Judge
Sharswood's fitness by election day.
Their candidate, we believe, has nothing
but legal record, nothing can be urged
against him except that he keeps bad
company, and if the proverb be true that
every man is known by the company he
keeps, Judge Sharswood is not fit for that
or any other Office IF his political prin>
ciples are embodied in the Harrisburg
resolutions, then it is the duty of every
voter to use his utmost effort to defeat
him. The party in it's resolutions has
ignored the soldier, let the soldiers ignore
the party.-Franstin Repository.
DEMOCRATIC CApIroL-The Copper,
head press insist upon it, that if they