The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1869-02-05
NU UMBER II
Pennsylvania.

However much American citizens may
have differed upon the question of State
| Rights, there has never been q controversy
on the subject of State Pride. Detesting as
we do, the proslavery polititions view of
thh State Rights doctrine, we are willing to
go to the extreme with the EXTREMIST of
them, in the matter of State Pride. And
fortunately for this proposition. PeLnsylya-
MA is q state that gives ample material upon
which her proudest son may expatiate, with
out fear that any equally faithful son of
any other old commonwealth may be able to
make him blush. Governor Geary's message
may be taken as furnishing text for the few
remarks here TO be offered
The debt of the State Of Pennsylvania ac-
| cording to the Governors statements, was,
on the lst day OF last December, S33, 1885,
| GAG. Deducting from this the estimated val
ne of the Railroad bonds owned by the
State; which the Governor advises should be
sold. the actual net debt of the State would
be about twenty-five millions of dollars
| The actual population Of the State is about
four millions. The whole debt, therefore,
| would average about six dollars and quar-
ter to each inhabitanJ of the State, and it
might be liquidaied by an assessment Of that
amout, if it were desirable or fair TO make
such. As an Indebtedness of Common
wealth so rich and prosperous as Pennsylya-
MIA, with population and resources steadily
gaining this sum of twenty-five millions, is
really insignificant. 1t seems more nsgnifi-
cant when it is compared with the debt Of
the State in former times, when the popula-
ton and the sources of, wealth were much
lower.
The State debt Of pennsylvania reached its
maximum in 1854, the last year of that
model Democratic Governor William Big
Ter. In his best message to tbs Legislature,
he reported the State debt to he, on the 1st
of December, 1854, $4l, Cos, 595 In the
following year, under change of admins
tration Governor Pollock was able to report
a reduction of over six hundred thousand
dollars. The reduction went on steadily af-
ter this, accelerated by the sale in 1867 of
State Canals, which had afforded, for seri
Gus of years, rich spoils in the Democracy,
while impoverishing the treasury. The needs
Of State during the rebellion, brought on by
the Democracy Of the South, stimulated by
the Democracy Of the North, caused a tenn
porary increase of the State debt during part
of Governor Curtins administration; but
this was extingulshed before he retired from
office, and when he left the Executive chair
the State was much freer from debt, and
much richer in honor and glory, as well as in
material resources than it was when he was
first elected. A faithful Governor, repre-
senting truly loyal Redubican population,
was able to bring about this happy result,
even in time Of civil war, which caused
general pecuuiary distress.
Governor Geary, chosen by the same con-
sttuency and representing the same Repub-
llcau principles has hnen able TO report
diminution of the State debt in each OF his
annual messages. 1t now amounts to $780,
28G 946, or deducting the value of the rail-
road bonds owned by the State about $685.
600, coo. The same rate of diminution, car
ried on for few years, will totally extinguish
the State debt Accelerated as it may be,
if the wise and earnest council of the Gov
ernor in regard to economy, be followed by
the Legislature, the people may, in very
little while, see themselves freed from all di-
rect general taxation for the purposes of the
Commonwealth. The revenue from taxes on
corporations, from licenses, &c, will be quite
equal to the expenses of carrying on the gov
ernment
By the way of showing how much better
off Pennsylvania is in 1869, under Republi-
can rule than it was in 1854, under Demo-
cratic rule, we may state that in 1854, the
population being about 2,500, 600, the State
debt was, in round numbers, Sal, 700, 000.-
in 1869, the population being about 4,000,-
coo, the net State debt is only about $685.
600, coo, This simple statement is sufficient
to Justify the ride we have expressed in our
noble Commonwealth - Phia. Bulletin.