The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-09-24


publis life not by my own wish but at a
sacrifice of personal interests, in order
to crafty my very partial friends, and
in obedience to what conceive to be
the demands of my fellOw.citizens and
the public. For these reasons 1 must
confess myself not fully prepared to
discuss the general issues involved in
national politics, but such opinions as
hold you and the public are welcome TO.
DIDN'T WANT THE NOMINATION.
REPoRTER-Do understand you to
say, Judge Packer, that you did not as
pire to the Gubernatorial nomination?
JUDGE PAcKER-Distinctly so, 1 new
er have changed the position i took in
my Chambersburg letter, which was
that, while had no aspirations for the
office of Governor, yet If the nomina-
ton should be voluntarily rendered me
by my fellow citizens, would feel it
my duty to accept, although al the sa-
crifce of my personal interests. have
always held that the State and my
country have claims paramount to mere
personal considera tions.
THE BITTERNESS OF THE CANVASS.
REPoRTER-Arey you devoting much
| of your time to the canvass? ~.
| JUDGE PACKER-But very little. The
question Of my election now rests with
my fcllow-citizens. suppose that tho
party that has placed mo in nomination
will make all my merits known If have
any, while the party opposing me will
certainly not fail to make my dement's
known. l am somewhat welded to the
antiquatcd notion that the Office should
seek tho man, not the man the office.
REPORTER-I observe that the can
vass opens with something of personal
| bitterness in it.
JUDGE PACKER-If so, it must be
wholly on the other side. SO far rs / am
concerned, or my friends who may be
influenced by my wishes, everything of
II personal nature is and will be rigo.
ously avoided. We have no desire to
assail the character of the chief execu-
tive of the Commonwealth, much less
the reputation of a soldier. But the Of
fetal acts of an administration are le-
gitimate subjects of criticism.
THE GROUNDWORK OF THE FIGHT.
REPoRTER-What are the leading
features of Governor Geary's admins
tration with which you take issue?
JUDGE PACKER-The financial policy
of that administration has not tended to
strengthen the credit of the State to the
extent it might have done, as the re-
ports of the State Treasurer during the
last three years, in the item of receipts,
show that at least twice the amount of
public debt might have been liquidate ted
that has been. The large balance re-
naming in the Treasury from year TO
year, amounting to about two millions
Of dollars, should have been appropria-
ted to the payment of so much of the
public debt All well-conducted and
successful private corporations, as for
instance, the railroad with which am
identified, make 1t a matter of economy
to appropriate promptly all their avail
able surplus funds TO the eXtinguish-
ment Of their Indebtedness, thus saving
large sums in interest money; or if that
is not needed, they use their means in
the Improvement of their facilities for
business. In my opinion the financial
affairs OF the Commonwealth should be
administered by those to whom they
are intrusted upon the same principle
that they should govern these private
affairs. No individual possessed of large
means would be considered wise or
sagacious did he allow any considerable
portion of his money to lie idle in his
hands. Such policy is not merely
open to censure upon business principles,
but is contrary to the injunctions of the
Scripture, that we should make diligent
use of the means instrusted to us.
REPoRTER-- understand you to mean,
Judge Packer, that the same rule that
has governed you through life in your
private affairs and ministered to your
success, you would apply to the man
agement of the affairs of the State We're
they intrusted to you?
JUDGE PACKER-Most certainly do.
l manage my railroad affairs precisely
the same as If they were wholly my
own. l would manage the State affairs
upon the same principles. The same
rule that has given me personal success
in life has made my railroad n success,
and would undoubtedly make the ad-
| i.a.. ..Tt I,.C tn.N.
DIsTRIRuTE THE SPoII.S WITH RIGID
| ECONOMY.
REPORTER-I5ut,J Judge, you have no
party favOritcs TO reward, or party pau
pers to provide for, in the management
of your own affairs, or those of your
railroad.
JUDGE PACKER-The public service
requires numerous officers. 1t is per-
fectly proper, in filling those offices, for
the appointing power to select its own
friends and supporters. But in SO doing
there should be no greater number ap-
pointed than is absolutely necessary.
Why the State should be called upon to
afford sinecures to political drones more
than Il mere corporation surpasses my
comprehension. As l said in my letter
of acceptance, the expenses of the State
government should be reduced to the
lowest practicable point, thereby lessen
ing the burdens and taxation of the
people.
THE PARDoNING PowER--cLAss LEGIs.
LATION.
REPoRTER-Are these the only ques-
tions involved in this canvass?
JUDGE PAcKER-No. There are two
others, which | regard us of paramount
importance to the safety Of the citizen
and the virtue of the State. | refer To
the indiscriminate use Of the paidoning