Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-07-28
Democratic Hypocrisy.

Gazette, We animadverted upon the dupli'
city resorted to by the Democrats OF this
Commonwealth in the Platform of Doctrines
adopted by the late Harrisburg Convention,
especially in reference to the universally
and inalienability of political rights. 1t now
devulves upon US to show that the deception
is not confined to the three resolutions
which we then reviewed, but Is as freely
used in the others.
The first resolution sets forth sundry stale
platitudes about the limitations of federal
authority; against the exercise OF powers
concerning the constitutionality of which
there is reasonable doubt ; of the dangers
in the stability of the government resulting
from the assumption of undelegated control;
and the like. These platitudes are all well
enough though by constant repetition, III
season and out of season, they have lost all
the force they originally possessed. 1t the
Democrats had been mindful OF these max
mcnt was in their hands, their present ap-
parent solicitude for their observance would
be entitled to some degree of respect. In
! power, when they had an end to gain, either
| for their party or the nation, they never ac-
| counted these maxims of the slightest va
! lidity or importance, but constantly dis
carded the whole of them. Whatever they
saw fit 10 do they did, reducing the Consti-
tuition to most wonderful ductility. For
more than generation their control of the
Government was practically supreme, and
all its tendencies to ceutraliSm they now
profess to dcplore, and impute to the reck
| lessness and obstinancy Of their opponents,
were started and stimulated into vigorous
life by them. When centralism ceased,
through the development among the north
ern masses of anti-slavery opinions, TO suit
their ends, and power was certainly slipping
/ from their. grasp, they rushed to the other
extreme, resolving all substantive authority
into the possession of the State respectively,
coherent and vigyress league, with only
/ advisory powers, and totally destitute of the
means of seli-defence and perpetuatlon.
| This lasted so long as the rebellion endured,
and, then, they resumed the repetition of
| the old saws against centralism, in order, if
possible, to deliver the States that revolted
from the necessity of executing proper sure
ties for the non-recurrence of civil strife.
So, too, the fourth resolution demands
reform in the administration of the federal
and State governments. The ''outs" al
ways imagine there is special need of re
FORM" by which they mean they have
special desire to get Sin. >" Did the Demo
Gratis manage affairs wisely when they were
in power? The bankrupt condition of the
national treasury when the Republicans
took it in hand, in 1861, does not confirm
the assumption by the Democrats of superior
intelligence or honesty. Nor does the forty
million debt they contrived to saddle upon
Pennsyly ania, and which the Republicans
are gradually but surely extinguishing
Doubtless, the men who now preside over
the affairs of the State and Nation are not
inlallible. II is not in human nature to be-
But it would be an infatuation amounting
almost to insanity, to suppose that they
could not be better continued where they
are than to have the places they occupy
filled by the men who either engineered the
rebellion, or sympathized with those who
| did.
The seventh resolution deals lovingly with
the regulations of ''the soldiers and sailors
who carried the flag OF the country to VIC
tory. Alas we all remember when these
same Democrats bitterly denounced the men
LII,
The victories won by the gallant soldiers and
sailors extorted from unwilling lips this com
pliment. Had they failed, those very lips
would have oyerhowed upon them with gall
and wormwoOd.
The last resolution pronounces the inter
nal revenue and taxation system grossly un-
just" No specifications are vouchsafed
and that is prudent. Last year the Delnoc
racy were not SO discreet They descended
to particulars. They vaunted what they
would DO, item by item, if only lease Of
authority should be given them. AIT was
laid under contribution to symbolic their
projects so plainly that the dulest head
could comprehend them and be delighted
Herewith In November, after the most
searching discussion, the people voted, and
the Democrats and their plans were reject
ed. Humiliation taught them the value O
: caution, and they no more come down tc
specifications. But what do their generali
: ties amount to? Just this that hopeless
+ y cast in the issue that was joined and triet
= last year, they wish to Withdraw their speci
5 tications, and have new trial on statement
made as vague as ingenuity can.invent.
: will not do. Under President johnson tn
= Democrats had the revenue department
e precisely where they wanted it; that is
r pretty much in their own hands. The,
/! managed to steal good deal more than al
! hundred millions annually. At all events
h President Grant is getting that much NOR
r revenue into the Treasury, through tn
0 operation of the same laws, than they did
o With the overplus he is canceiing the pub
/ lie debt. Every man of common intelligenc
: knows that What better way can be con
|, trived to make the burdens of the peopl
~ II .