Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-01-26

crime, aud offer 20 the world an evidence
most conclusive, that self government Is
fai lure.
Owing to the many efforts made on the
part Of free traders Tor the adjustment OF
the natural aud wholesome Protection now
Afforded to our home industry and TO labor.
| consider it subject which claims por-
tion OF our time and attentloo. 1t our na
tional industry and natural productions, rep
resented BY thousands of factories. mines
and other sources of labor, are TO be pre-
served, there shoald be no reduction OF du-
ties which shall enable the underpaid nnd
overworked population of the Old World TO
food our States with the product OF their
mines and workshops at the cost OF our de-
struction. The articles thus admitted would
undersell the products OF our artiZans at our
very doors, and our factories would be closed
as heretofore, by similar causes. This will
throw out of employment thousands of in
dustr;ous men, and entail ruin upon them
and their families, merely for the benefit OF
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of foreign manufacturers
and capitalists. As soon as onr industrial
arms are paraiyZcd and competition is de
stroyed, the monopoliSt can command his
own price, and it is thus clear that the pol
ley OF free trade can never permanently ben
eft any country that will sanction its adop-
ton. Impclled by every feeling Of interest,
humanity and justice for our artizans and
laborers We should unhesitatngly set our
faces against this heresy. We should,
therefore, not only earnestly legislate for
the benefit of capital, but for the toiling
sons and daughters of our country. 1t
should be our constant effort to improve
their social condition, to advance their in
tellectual status. and above all to shield
them from the destitution which is threat
ened by the enemies of protection to our
industrial pursuits.
In my several messages to the Legislature
| have taken occasion TO refer to subject
which regard as of paramount importance
to the prosperity and even the stability of
our government. No nation can long exist
that attempts to violate any of It's obga-
tons. The most prominent among these is
the faithful payment of all its Indebtedness.
No good reason can be given for the le
radia ion of single farthing | said in my
message OF January, 1868, The people Of
PENNSYLVANIA. ever true TO the Union, and
answering in their determination to pre-
serve Its honor. integrity and pcrpetuity.
are proud and free to assert the sacredness
of the national debt. and that its ultimate
payment in fuil must be secured" In my
message of 1869, called attention to the
same subject in these words: The voice of
Pennsylvania, as we'll as that of majority
OF the States, has at the ballot box pro
claimed to the world that all our national
Indebtedness, no matter how heavy the bur
den, will be paid according to the letter and
spirit of the agreements made and entered
into at the time the debt was contracted
and that in this, as in all other respects,
our individual and national honor must and
shall be preserved" These sentiments, SO
clearly expressed, [ have taken frequent oc.
casion To rcterate, and ii affords me great
satisfaction to observe that many who have
heretofore been hostile to, or silent on this
most important subie:t, are becoming warm
in their advocacy vi the principles here
enuncated.
Those who saved this government from
the destruction designed by treason, are
they who VIII perpetuate 1t a. Il blessing Tor.
future generations. Ali that Is asked OF the
people is TO steDet then ard VI hold the
randi of the men who have been called to
do the work of reconstruction and when
that work is finished IN the spirit in which
it has been begun by the present National
Administration, we will have government
and country mighty III their muniicence,
glorious III rher prosperity.
The preservation uf the peace and quiet
ct our country, maintaining unsuilied our
national honor, and the harmony of the
Union are among ouI highest duties Let
us encourage every branch of home industry,
advance the true interests of moral, physic
al and intellectual labor. and reaching for
ward to the prize Of the manifest destiny #
our glorious Commonwealth. we may hope
for her increasing prosperity, and, above all
for the smiles of an approving Providence
| earnestly invoke continuance Of the
blessings and favors which We, as a people
have long enjoyed, that Pennsylvania may
be ever ready to extend her sympathies to
those struggling for liberty, to succor the
helpless exile, and be an asylum to the per
secuted and oppressed; and thus for ever
identity herself with the cause of equal
rights and with tie inte. ests of universal
reedom, justice and humanity Then can
we with truth proclaim, Long live the
Common wealth, whose guiding PRINCIPLES
are found in the motto of our State. "TIR
TUE. LIBERTY AND INDEPENDENCE