The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1871-08-01

had both Houses and the Governor on
their side.
a still further proof of the unfitness
of that party TO be entrusted with
power is to be found in the melancholy
history Of the late riots in New York.
In that city the Democrats have undis.
puted away, and, through it, in the
Safe. They had the power in their
hands to prevent this riot and blood.
shed, but they would not use il either
at the right time or in the right way.
WhyY Because the party is possessed
of no principle which can lead il to
respect the rights of man, be thew
civil or religious. Its sole idea of
rights is derived from the maxim that
MIGHT makes RIGHT. This was clear.
ly evinced in the debate in our State
Senate, in 1869, on the Fifteenth
Amendment, in which the Democratic
leader in the State, secuted the claim
that there were any such things as hu.
man rights. The idea, he said, was a
myth and humbug.
And this sentiment of the Demo.
cratic leader in Pennsylvania, has Been
carried out to the letter in New York.
A few thousand men, in the exercise
OF their Constitutional right to assem-
bic together, inform the authorities of
their purpose to parade the streets on
certain day. Another body of men,
who always vote the Democratic ticket.
and numbering many more thousands.
notify the authorities that this parade
must not be permitted, and that if II
is, they will attack it and disperse IL.
no matter at what cost of life or limb
to the party attacked. The Democratic
rulers of New York at once decline to
defend the few against the many in
the exercise of their Constitutional
right; deny that there is any such
right; yield to the defiance of the
mob, because it has might on its side,
and, at the demand of that mob, for.
bid the peaceable and law abiding cit.
izens to assemble together, as the Con.
slitntion permits, or to exercise the
rights which the law allows.
1t IS true that at the last hour. when
the public indignation had been aroused
at this base abandonment of the civil
rights of the people, the State authori-
ties stepped in and permitted what the
city authorities had previously forbid
den; but the mob had already tiumph-
ed too far to yield peacefully to this
sudden change, and the slaughter
which followed is attributable solely
to the official cowardice which first
yielded to mob it was afterwards un-
able to control.
1t is plain, moreover, that the first
act, OF prohibiting the parade, was the
legitimate outgrowth of the principles
controlling the Democratic party, that
men have no inherant rights and that
MIGHT alone gives RIGHT. 1t brought
into view the ferocious claws which.
though afterward withdrawn, the fur.
red foot could not wholly conceal. It
was clear indication of what we NAV
expect throughout the country should
the Democratic party ever return to
power.
If our civil and religious rights are
to be preserved in this country against
the attacks of turbulent mobs and the
demands of wild fanticism they can
be preserved only by the party based
lmmovably on deep regard for HUI
man Rights and Constitutional guar
antees; and in the light of these facts
we appeal to the people of Pennsylva-
MIA to rally to the support of the i'm
periled Constitutional franchises, and
by the. defeat of the Democratic party,
which has proven itself alike unwill-
ing and unable to uphold them, teach
1t that the people will bear no Weld.
ing to mob violence nor tampering
with their constitutional rights, and
will never permit the surrender of the
citadel they have erected at bloody
cost, sacred, now and forever, to CIvIL
AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY.
RUSSELL ERRETT, Gilman.
F FL F, i, /. ESss:' I4ss:' ISss:sar' Secretaries.