Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1868-01-16
n,mocrnfic ReconstrMcilom.

Nv A'AfNNfti- tNNfN' 80
an invitation extended to Ex-Goven-
or Bigler, by the Democratic Commit
tee Of the District Of Coumbia,t to par
ticipate in celebrating the Sth Of Jan
uary, expresses the true doctrine. Its
sentiment and principles must be
adopted by majority Of the people
of this country, or our doom will be
that Of Mexico. Read it, and let DEM
agogues and fanatics heed the lesson
CLEARFIELD, PA, Jan. 4, 1868.
Gentlemen 1t would be great
pleasure to me to meet so many true
men on the Sth; an occasion SO well
calculated to call to mind agreeable
recollections of the happier days Of
the Republic, and to awaken some
thing Of the spirit Of the times Of
Andrew Jackson But other engage
ments will deprive me Of that pleas
ure and honor.
But the duties Of the present, rather
than the incidents Of the past, | take
it, gentlemen, are to occupy your
thoughts, on the occasion in view.
The country and its institutions are
imperiled. Ten States, which, since
the war closed, were permitted TO
amend the Constitution, thereby ma
king law for themselves and all the
other States the highest junction that
any State can perform, have since
been denied representation in Con
gress, in fragrant violation Of the let
ter and spirit Of the Constitution, and
have also been placed under military
rule, and Knocked by an invitation to
adopt new forms Of government on
terms odious and oppressive, e,and which
virtually forces the control, in this new
work, into the hands of an ignorant
negro population. Already the indi-
cations developed in this wild expert
ment, are Of the most alarming char
actcr; menacing the future Of these
communities with renewed discord
and strife, if not with relentless war
of races; so much so as to have excl
ted the deepest concern in the minds
of all those who have at heart the
welfare of tho coloTed as well as the
whitc race.
This condition ofthings cannot and
must not be prolonged. The restora-
tion of the absent States to the Union,
with the rights and privileges of the
other States, and with their local gov
ernments in the hands Of the white
population, is work demanded by
honor and sound policy, and, above
al as vindieation of the justice of
the late bloody war for the Union !;
carried on for the Union, and for
nothing else, according to the declared
intentions of all men of all parties.
What the rebels failed to do by insur-
recton, we cannot now permit TO be
accomplished without undying dis.
grace. Besides, the African has in no
age of the world shown himself fit
for government, and ] fear he never
will so show himself Until, therefore.
he be schooled and trained to think
about these duties, it were shere mad
ness to give him the control in States
heretofore governed by white men.
Let him be freed and let him, be
schoolcd in the use Of that freedom
and in industry and in future let him
enjoy all that God and nature may
have in store fore his race.
But, besides all this, other troubles
are upon us. The national debt is
ovcrshadowing-the expenditures of
the government are without par
allel-the burdens Of the people
are MISUNDERSTANDING in its prin-
cipal departments is paralized- cot
ton growing has been given over to
India and its manufacture to England,
and productive labor is greatly at
fault; and what adds to the general
alarm is, that discord, strife and Cor.
ruption seems toabound amongsttho
to whom we must lool, for immediate
relief What God in His wisdom may
have in store for our country, it is not
for man to foresee; but, gentlemen.
from human stand point it would
seem to be tho duty Of all 10 labor TO
rescue the country from the control
Of men who, whatever theirintentions,
are by reason Of their preiudices and
hates rendered incapable OF deyismg
npolicy suited to the whole country. |
Let, then, the true men Of the de-
mocracy address themselves to this
task with singleness ofpurpose. Let
there be no contentious amongst US.
No vain conceits or selfish ends to
gratify-nothng for men or sections
Let our single purpose be the rescue |
Of the country from its presentimper-
lied condition; and let the means to |
the proposed end be boldly proclaim
cd in our National Convention. Lot
there be no trailing of our banner
(the Constitution in the dust-no
running after strange gods-no bow.
ing down TO dumb idols, and no
deceptions upon the people. But
with our purposes and principles en-
blazoned on our ensigns everywhere,
30 plainly that he who runs may read
let us leave the people to choose be.
tween US and those who arc against us.
We must, it is true, think and talk
about men for our candidates; but
this can be done with due Difference to
the preferences ofall, and in spirit of
true devotion TO the cause. No mans
individuality or desires can be of spe-
cial account where the stake is so mo.
mentous. In the selection of candi-
dates we should have "no friends to
reward or enemies to punish;" but if /
there be one man better suited to the
contest aud the difficult duties of the
Presidency than another, or all others,
LET him be nnr lnndnr rn.,n,.lln.n nr Ill |