Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1869-08-13
WHO SHALL RULEt

Whether Geary OF Packer should beGo7-
ernor of Pennsylvania, under ordinary cir
cumstances might be a matter Of little mo
ment though it were a lasting disgrace tc
ignore the sterling integrity and devoted
patriotism of Geary for one who turned his
back upon bis country in the hour of her
peril. But leaving the personal merits Of
the candidates out Of the question, great
principles are at stake, and the respective
standard bearers represent those principles
The very first resolution Of the coppeFhead
platform is rebellious and if carried out sub
versive Of law and order The platform de-
cIares itself opposed to the Constitutional
Amendment and denies the power Of Con
gross to enforce it. The passage of the IF
tecnth amendment is about as certain as
anything can be. Now let US see what
would be the result of the carrying out of
the eopperhead platform in case Packer
should be elected When the amendment
has once been adopted, as it will be during
the coming year, we would at once have the
Governor of Pennsylvania and the whole
copperhead party inaugurating new rebel
lion against the Constitutional power and
authority of Congress. They are the same
men who aided and abetted the rebels In
arms, their candidate was the friend Of the
infamous traitor Vallandigham, their lead
ers, many Of them, fought in the rebel ranks,
and many others were only kept away by
want of courage, their principles are IN
changed, their record is rebellious and trea-
sonabe and they are utterly unfit to be
trusted with power Even with peace firm
" established and all the troubles of the
South quieted, aud the wounds of the war
healed, it would be highly injudicious to en-
trust such party with power, but with the
question Of reconstruction still unsettled and
the South barely yet become safe it would
be suicidal to allow such an organization to
obtain control OF our State. Until every
Southern State is ruled by regular and
stable government and the Constitutional
amendment passed and enforced in spite of
copperhead protests, the work Of the Re
publican party Is unfinished and 1t must not
give up the ship of State. The vital princi-
pies at stake in the rebellion are still at is
sue until such productions as the Harris
burg platform become impossible and the
organization that produced it has ceased to
exist. The people cannot and will not CON
sen; to have anv party to rule over them
that cannot cut zoos, fToul the worn out. ef-
tete and exploded doctrines Of the times be
fore the rebellion, and that Hill not learn that
we have entered upon an era of freedom.
The present is an age Of progress and the
party that ignores every movement for the
elevation and amelioration Of the human
race Is an enemy not only to our own coun
try but to the rae Thus much even the
late rebels Of the South have learned and
accepted. They acknowledge the Constitu-
tion Of the United States and all amend
ments and laws passed in accordance there
With, but their former allies are still cropping
IN the darkness and pittiug themselves
against the inevitable. No amount of
wealth in their candidate can atone for bis
lack OF paigiotism, nor can any amount of
hypocritical profession Of venera,ion for the
Constitution, desire Of economy or love for
the soldier, blind the eyes of the people to
their lack of honesty, humanity or patriot
ism. Governor Geary is the standard bear
er of the party that has stricken the shackles
from the slave, delivered the country from
the tyranny of purseproud arictocracy
and placed her first among the nations oftbe
earth. No true patriot can hesitate as TO his
duty, The destines of our State cannot be
handed over to the fossils of a past age
Geary, the gallant soldier, the upright
Statesman and faithful Governor, must and
will be reelected.