Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-09-08
Asa Packer.


pendent paper-gives this history, political
and otherwise, of the Democratic nominee
for Governor:
For the high and responsible office Of
Governor of the Commonwealth of Penn
sylvania, the Democratic party has nomina-
ted man who is not native of the State,
nor distinguished for eminent ability of any
kind in connection with public affairs. Asa
Packer has been member of the Legisla-
ture and also of Congress, but in both cases
he was silent member, without ability or
Influence, and the record of his public ser
vices is limited to votes in the affirmative
or negative. If he ever drafted bill OF
any importance we have never read of it.
If he ever offered substitute for any bill
we cannot find the record of it. If he ev-
er offered amendments of any cons equence to
any pending measures, his party friends
have not yet shown the act, and we doubt
if they can do so. If he ever expire ,sed his
views on any questions of moment in Ian
guage worthy Of quotation, or to which his
constituents could refer with pleasure or
pride, it has yet to be shown. IF he ever
exercised any potential influence with his
party in the LEGISLATURE or Congress the
public is in blissful ignorance of it.
How, then, does it happen that such
man has obtained nomination for Govern
or Of State containing four millions of in
teligeut and prosperous people, and untold
resources? How does it happen that all
the bold, able, thoughtful leaders of the
Democratic party. whose restless exertions,
and commanding ability have maintained
their party strength under all the disastrous
discouragements of the past ten years, have
been thrust aside 10 make room for this 81
lent member? How does it hapre en- that
Pennsylvania is asked to disregard the con
spicuous public services of her own native
born sons, and to elevate to the chief magis-
tracy a man of no ability at all, from anoth-
er section Of the Union? Before answer
ing these queries we desire to ask especial
attention to the imprudent assumption of
intellectual superiority necessarily paraded
before the country by emigrant Yankees on
behalf of the New England States whence
they come. We are constantly told by them
that New England supplies the progressive
power and intelligence of the republic, and
no matter how much of that movement is
furnished by the Middle States We never
get any credit for it. Thus while Pennxyl-
vania emigrants outnuuRber those from all
New England, ten TO one in Kansas we are
constantly told that the Kansas struggles
were carried on by Yankees. In the same
way these emigrant Yankees claim the cred
it of all that is progressive in the west, while
the fact is that the emigration from the
Middle States. in the west overshadows all
else
We do not raise this issue against Asa
Packer for any personal dislike of New Eng
land men, whom, as a general thing, We
ike, but the Democratic party itself raised
the issue all over the South against every
Northern man, and in the election of 1867 it
raised the same issue precisely in Pennsyl-
vania. We insist that if New Englanders
are to be elected to high Offices in Pennsyl-
vania they shall at least be men of ability.
But here is man whose career asa legiS-
lator is one of unyarying imbecility, and
whose advancement rests entirely upon the
fact of his being worth twenty millions OF
dollars. He was presented on that basis
as a candidate for President of the United
States, and the Democratic National Con
vention fairly laughed at the idea of such a
nomination. These men had some sense
and some principle. They had statesmen
and soldiers in their ranks, and they spurn
ed the idea of nominating money bag.
A great deal has been said about the lib
erality of Packer in giving half million OF
dollars to endow college But Ezra Cor
nell has done as much in New York anC
nobody proposes to elect him Governor OF
President for it. And what shall be said o
Packer when compared with Peabody
There are citizens of Philadelphia who have
given away ostentatiouslv ten times the a
mount that Packer makes such flourish on
And what shall be thought of Packers lib
eraity in view oc the fact that he fed tt
Philadelphia from his residence in Maucl
Chunk to avoid the local tax assessed OIL
him to defray soldiers bounties? This ia,
he never yet paid, while the poor propert!
holders of Mauch Chunk all had to pay it.
This is the New England emigrant W,
are now asked to make Governor of. Th
truth is, we have here money getting ant
money boarding monopolist, typical mai
from among those who have amassed suci
tremendous fortunes by running up tn
price of coal so heavily. We have all OF u
paid our share of the cest of making u
these enormous fortunes. Ii We admire
! this sort Of enterprise and want to incit
others to help themselves at our expense
all we have to do is 10 elect Asa Packe
Governor of Pennsylvania, and the force
the example viii soon produce large erol
| OF iniitators If the extortionate price
coal is desirable thing, then Asa Packe
! is lust the man for Governor lie repre-
sents fairly the influences whereby the Goa
| trade has been so mismanaged. We invi;
our readers TO examine the subject dispaS
| s;o,.taIy for themselves and We are quit