Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1868-07-29

ana lnnrmltles OF mankind. They are still
politicians, as much SO as Senators and Rep
,esentatiVes, though not progressive They
he'd TO whatever was uppermost when they
were lifted out of politics to the bench. You
| can tell the politics of Judge by the date
| OF his commission, and the date of his COM
mission By bis politics.
They crystalize in the sentiments Of their
day and are changeless ever after Some of
them cannot even now realize that there has
been great war; and are trying to decide
that a constable and grand jury were equal
to the late political disorder" Some can
not realize that the slave power has been le-
gally dethroned; and are trying to retain in
the legislation OF the country at least few
memorial shreds of the odious institution. |
have the best authority for saying that ma
Jority of tbese judges have made up their
minds that the legal l-tender'' law is uncon.
stltutional, and will so decide in the cases
now pending In their court. mention this
fact, not for, present criticism, but as an IL
lustration of the vast power of these nine
men over the fortunes of the people. Is a
law that requires the agreement of one or
two more Judges before they make decision
that will ruin all the debtors of the country
by requiring them to pay their debts in gold
despOtic? Every debtor in the country who
now thinks such law would be despotic
VIII have reason to change his mind before
he Is two years older.
Again, it is said that our legislation tends
to centralization of power in the General
Government, and that Capitalization tends
to despotism. l denyit. We have endeav-
ored to preserve the Union of the States.
because individual liberty can be best secur-
ed in single Republic. The Republic was
divided before we came to power. On the
4th OF March, 1861, Alr. Buchanan surren-
dered to Mr.. Lincoln the northern half,
having surrendered the southern half to Jef
ferson Davis nearly month hefare. We
found it with slavery, the chisK jpcentive
to disunion, and we broke the chains of
four million of bondmen We found an
hundred kinds of money that would not pass
rs many miles from home, and we have re-
duced them to one uniform system of equal
value all over the land. We found the Pa
cihc States separated from the East by
vast unoccupied country, and growing up
into isolated nationality, and We have stretch
ed out great lines of railway to secure their
commerce and hold their interests and affec-
tions in the Union. We found commerce
between the States everywhere burdened
and obstructed by local and illlberal State
legislation, and We have undertaken some
measures of relief These enterprises, un-
dertaken to preserve the harmony of the
States and secure the growth and develop
ment OF the whole country, are mistaken by
small politicians for acts of Capitalization.
In addition to carrying on a four-years
war for the suppression of the rebellion all
these benefcent and permanent reforms
nave been secured during the ebert life OF
the Republican party. Take as many years
OF Democratic administration prior to that
and tell me what record you have left to
awaken the gratitude or pride of the people.
There stands the gallows upon which they
inundated old John Brown, brave but err
ing enthusiast of human freedom but its
victim is more honured to-day than its cruel
architects. Jus. beyond is the Dred Scott
decision. rendered in violation of precedent
law, and Constitution, for the EQUALIZATION
of four millions Christian people. 1t has no
friends now. Further on you behold the
Missouri compromise -oIr fathers bond of
Union-the peace offering of its day, repu-
dated broken, and trampled under foot that
the inhumanity of the hour might be with
out restraint. Standing around it, as fit
witnesses of the wrong, are the border ruff
fan war, the ''Iecompton villainy, and
the small tyrannies of Pierce and Buchanan.
Still further down this dreary history stands
the fugitive slave law, to which every
Democratic knee was wont to bow. Its man
acles are broken. Its bloodhounds no longer
bay upon the track of its victims. No gar
lands crown its ugly brow. 1t has no wor-
shippers, no admirers, no defenders, no apol
ogists even All have sneaked away. These
are the monuments of their administrations.
During all these weary years nothing was
done by the predominant party to elevate
and honor labor, to educate the poor, to lift
up the fallen, to endow the landlesS, or to
soften the cruelties of bondage You can
not point to single act that any body will
celebrate, that any body will honor, that any
body will remember, even, except with re-
gret or shame.
This doctrine of political equality forms
the great divide" between parties now, as
heretofore. The conservative, or anti-pro-
gressive element, always beaten, except when
allied with the slave power, takes heart from
the complication of public affairs and enters
the arena with new DISCUSSES. The remnant
ofthe slave aristocracy rallies to Its standard.
The foied secessionists extend their crimson
hands both to aid and to be aided. A great
church, believing that the mass of mankind
should be guided rather than educuted, leads
its vast flock where otherwise we would least
expect it into the support of anti republican
distinctions Many submit to the theory
which degrades them because il degrades
| others more than themselves. And many
mistake license to the vicious for liberty to
mankind. 1t Is the OLD combination so often
beaten. There may be few recruits some
few who have obtained senatorial and judi
cial honors by the advocacy of equal rights,
| through the natural selfishness of the hu-
man heart, have come to believe in rank
since they have reached the highest. A few
descendants of eminent men, unable by per-
| sonal merit to command the position of their
| fathers, reject their fathers doctrine. John
| Quincy Adams was a progressive Republi
can, and his grand son is conservative.
The descendant claims by law what the an
cestor acquired by desert. To these add
| few natural grumbers, and you have the
present Democratic conservative sorehead-
| rebel party.
| Such elements can be held together in a
party of opposition, because minority par
| ty need have no affirmative policy. They
| bring forward no measures of their own. 1t
| is their business to hold back, to oppose, to
criticise, to denounce, to threaten not to
| originate, to propose, to decide, or to act.
/ To avoid present accountability for the past
| they even condemn their own history and
| acouiesce in the defeat of their own mea-
sures They were opposed to the "Lecomp-
. ton fraud and "border rufian war; after
| Kansas became free State. They approx
| ed the homestead law after it was enacted.
| They do not worship the fugitive slave law