The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-07-27

continuously been IN the opposition
1t opposed the adoption of stringent
measures to put down the Rebellion;
the levyiug Of troops to suppress it;
the borrowing of money to pay the
cost of the war; the Emancipation
Proclamation of President Lincoln;
the adoption of all the amendments
to the Constitution; the reconstruction
measures by which the revolted States
we're brought back into the Union; aud,
generally, every measure necessary to
the successful prosecution of the war,
or to the successful restoration of peace.
At present, too, it is opposed to the
means necessary for raising revenue
to pay the interest on the public debt,
and secure its steady reduction; is in
favor Of a semi-rcpudiation of that debt
by paying il in deprecated currency, it
paid at all; is watching for an opportu-
nifty to annul the new amendments to
the Constitution; and is generally com
mitted to any line of policy which will
remit the country to its condition prior
to 1860.
1t may be urged, here, that the
Democratic party of this State, in the
ninth resolution of the platform adopted
by its late State Convention, has acqui-
esced in the adoption of the amend
mcnts of the Constitution we have re-
ferred to, and cannot now be charged
with hostility to them. We answer
that the acquiescence expressed in that
resolution, bas not, itself, been acquies-
ced in by the rank and file Of tie party.
Over one-third Of the Convention voted
strenuously against it, and the action Of
the Convention has since been repudi
ated by many leading men and Journals
of the party. Besides, whatever acqui-
escence has been given, has been sullen-
ly and not beartily-as matter of
policy, springing from party necessity,
and not from conviction OF its pro.
priety. Wherever a vote has been
honestly given, or voice sincerely raised
for this "new departure" it may very
properly be regarded as an extorted
confession that the Republican party
has all along been right in what the
Democratic party has steadily opposed;
and this confessed, what need is there,
lor can there be, for the further exis-
tence of the Democratic party?
When Gen. Grant came into Office,
in 1869, he announced his determine,
ton to secure the honest and faithful
collection of the revenue, the steady
reduction of the public debt, and such
an abatement in taxation as was con-
sistent with this policy. In the space
of little over TWO years this detcrmi-
nation, faithfully adhered to, has re-
suited in paying off $3.50, 100000 of the
public debt, and in the abolition Of
nearly all the taxes imposed under pre-
vious laws.
In addition to this he has, by his
wise and firm foreign policy, succeeded
in settling all our outstanding Difficult
ties with Great Britain, in manner
alike honorable and advantageous to u,
as a people. The treaty, lately ratified
: by both nations, which removes al
causes of quarrel, and establishes peace
: and amity between them, has command
ed the admiration of the civilized world
and placed the United States in tn,
foremost rank among the nations of th'
earth. This result is one of whicl
every American may justly feel proud
TO continue the Republican party il
!, power is to continue the policy begun
: both in State and Nation, OF maintain
.. ing the public credit, paying off ou
= debt, reducing taxation, settling inter
i national difficulties without bloodshed
J and sustaining the great principles in
. volved in the measures necessarily grow
: ing out Of the war.
J. To restore the Democratic party t
l. power is to destroy the public credi
e pave the way for reputation, bring i
If the old tide of corruption, mismanag'
J. ment and extravaganza, and open u
,e anew all the questions involved in th
reconstruction of the Southern State
J. now settled upon an honorable basis.
ID For present proof of this we refer
rs the consequences flowing from the a
k cidental majority of the Democrats
er the State Senate last winter. To tn
d. fact we owe a session prolonged to Il
so middle Of May, at an extra cost
,e- 100000; tie establishment Of Il
nd iorsaken policy Of employing extra Gar
We useless) officers in the Legislative bodi
ly and granting them extra pay; an appr
ut priation bill increased beyond all form
n bounds, to the extent OF half millio
the defeat of all measures for calling
mt Constitutional Convention at an ear
m day to put an end to that curse of 0
nit State, SPECIAL LEGISLATION; and,
zee If determined to show that this cul
me should not be removed by their aid, t
no enactment of the enormous number
se. 1900 local bills. And this is but
en- 1.-THE of what we should have had
he endure had they had both houses a
nal the Governor on their side.
he 4 still further proof of the unftn
h,) of that party to be entrusted W
inc power is to be found in tho melanch'
on history of the late riots in New Yo
on In that city the Democrats have und
puted sway, and, through it, in
all State. They had the power in th
int hands to prevent this riot and bio
' a shed, but they would not use it eitI
snt. at the right time or in the right "
lest Why? Because the party is posses
or Of no principle which can lead it to
ore spect the rights Of man, be they G