The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-04-08
Cambria Freeman.
EBEKsBURG, PA.
THURSDAY, ! F; APRIL 8, 1869.
Now and Then.


The facility with which some politicians
and newspaper editors can change their
views 10 reference to a question Of great
public movement is as remarkable as it is
instructive. This class Of politicians took
their rise in England about two hundred
years ago. under the leadership of cele
brated statesman, and in that time were
known AZ "Trimners." The race is not
extinct, but exists plentifully in our OVID
country. and especially amongst the editors
Of Republican newspapers. The editor of
the Johnstown Tribune is conspicuous ex-
ample. At the last Presidential election,
November Sd. the question of negro suffrage
was substituted to vote of the people of
Iowa and Minnesota, and by each was
adopted The editor of the Tribune. in his
paper Of November 18th, ten days after the
election. spoke of the result as follows:
Iowa and Minnesota on the day Of the
Presidential election adopted an amendment
TO the ir- Constitutions in favor CT impartial suf
frage. This is the right way to settle that
question-each State for itselt.'
The editor of the Tribune is a gentleman
Of ability and of long experience in his pro
fetsion, and at that time he doubtless ex
pressed the honest conviction Of his own
mind. 1t was in full accord with the Chi
cago platform on which he had embarked
in the last Presidential campaign. Antici-
pating. as we did, that the platform would
he shamelessly violated and thrown to the
dogs by the radicals in Congress, we were
pleased to see the editor main tain his poiti-
cal integrity and to recognize the well set
tied Constitutional view of this question:
Judge then Of our utter surprise when we
read in the last number of the Tribune the
following singular paragraph:
"The Fiftieth Amendment to tte Federal
Constitution passed the House of Representa-
tives of this State on Thursday of last week,
by vote Of 6l to 80. 1t had previously pass
ed the senate by party vote In ratifying
the proposed Amendment making suffrage i'm
partial in free America. the Pennsylva ia Leg
islature has done its share tow I'd taking the
negro out of our politics, and for this thank
III
Here is plain case Of editorial tclo de Sc.
II 1t was the fright way" in the opinion of
the editor Of the Tribune last November,
that this question should be settled "each
State for ITSELF" is it right now that the leg
islature, which was not elected on this issue,
should usurp the power and take away that
tight from the people. If it is not how can
the editor thank tie legislature in April for
doing what he rightfully claimed last No
vember the people alone had the right to
dol If the people Of Pennsylvania had the
clear and indisputable right last year to set
tie this question "for ITSELF" when and how
die she loose that right7 If she has not
lest it how in the name Of all honesty can
the Tribune claim that Vermont, Massachu
sets, Michigan, Kansas and Nevada shall
"Settle that question" for her If the edi-
tor Of the Tribune had maEfully adhered to
his original position there would have been
some hope for him but as lie has seen prop
er deliberately to kick his own platform
from beneath him we leave him to struggle
amidst its ruins.