Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1871-05-17
The Dead Lock Explained.

| dead lock to the proceedings of the Leg
islature-has a significance which the peo-
pie at large do not exactly appreciate. 1t
was manifest to close observer early in the
session, that the Democracy having ma
! lority of one in the Senate. obtained through
fraud, would not entertain even PROPOSE
tion to investigate the election in the first
district Of Philadelphia, by which they Sc
cured the mastery, and during the entire
session, this party, historically known as the
impediment of progress and the highest
form of civilization, deliberately and lnten
tionally threw every obstacle they could in
the way of all legislation affecting either
private or public interest, unless it was Of
such character as to lend some additional
political Importance TO their revolutionary
position as public legislators. The Repub
licans began and transacted their private
and public bills in their order in legitimate
manner until they had heapei up and mes
saged over to the Senate for their consider
alton some eleven hundred bills. There
they were and are yet unactd upon, to the
great injury and detriment of the people
| over the State. 1t is naturally asked, why
such q state Of affairs? The response and
explanation are easy. 1t was done simply
to force and impose upon the people an un-
jlst and inequitable apportionHlent of the
State, such as would give to a minority
party, majority representation in both
branches of the legislature. To this mon
Z Il l..
Finally there was bill agreed upon, which
every fair minded man o. either party knows
was liberal so far as the majority party was
concerned. 1t was then thought the Sen
ate would be anxious TO go TO work, espc
cialiy upon some of the most important PUB
lie bills but such was not the case. Among
the most important bills early acted upon
| affecting I he public welfare, by the Republi-
can House and sent TO the Senate, were the
calling of Constitutional Convention; the
much needed reform on the subject of spe
cial legislation, the local option law; the
apportionment bill; the treasury bill, &c.
The people demanded favorable and prompt
legislation upon these matters, but the Dem
ocratic Senate turned with deaf ear to
their urgent appeals Last week developed
the reason why such political and moral re
! forms, slept the sleep that knows no waking,
in the Democratic committees of the Sen
ate; it was no less important one than the
demand for an entire change and modiica
ton of the registry lay of Philadelphia.
| This law was passed to prevent frauds at
| the polls and preserve intact the ballot box
| from the poliuting and contaminating in
| huence of such politicians as Bill McMullen,
! Johnny Ahern, et. al. It has to a consid
| erable egtant accomplished its object be
cause it does approach to fairness and purity
and guards with jealous care the very paila-
dunn of our liberty and free institutions.
| The Democracy hold this revolutionary rod
ever the heads of the Republican House,
and boldly sag they will not legislate for pub.
lie or private interests until it is modified to
such an extent as-to be easily manipulated
by such immaculate political tricksters. In
answer TO such a monstrous proposition, We
are glad to announce the R,pubi were
firm and defiant and utterly refused to abate
| one jot title Of the law, as it now exists,
and upon this issue they put themselves be-
fore the country. We may now have
fruitless winter of legislation, as the major
ity party of the State conscious of being
right, will never yield to such demands. At
this 5uncture of affairs, it is with the Dem
ocracy to say whether diry insist If they
do, we hope and appeal to the Republican
members of both houses to stand firm in the
right, and if needs be, as they have egsla-
ted properly and performed their duty and
obligations to their party and State, let the
Governor exercise his prerogative and serd
them home, where they will be fully sus-
tanned, on account OF constancy to principle
and good government The party which
saved the country from rebellion and the
ruthless hands of her despoilers, is not the
party to be brow beaten and dragooned into
the inquities set up and demanded by the
Democracy. With the registry law as it is,
the coffee-pot will lie rusting in the classic
shades of Clearield county. Change it.and
we will see King William plying his voca
ton, with renewed vigOr ''frorl Centre to
Luzerne, baptising aliens in the wilderness,
with coffee from his urn. ''-HolliGaysJarg
Register.