The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1872-09-04

There is odium, suspicion and some
measure Of disgrace in public affairs
in this State" Taking it for granted
that he knows whereof he speaks,
wherefore is it that he, a sworn Senator
of Pennsylvania, does not detail the
origin, cause and all the underlying
and fagrant facts, with names, dates
and circumstances In all his terms
in the Legislature when the Democrat
lc party had majority or when the
Republican party had majority, has
he attempted to lay bare any single
one of the iniquities at which he hints.
but has not the manhood to specify {?
In the whole Of his long service, has
Charles Il. Buckalew, with bribery
and corruption going on under his
very nose in the legislative halls ever
risen in his place as n Senator and
dared to denounce what he declares to
be patent and full of "odium. suspicion
and some disgrace?" Indeed, we may
ask and challenge a reply, against
what measure of bought legislation
legislation notoriously bought by rail.
roads, by banking monopoiics and by
corporations of every grade-against
what measure of bought legislation did
this political Uriah Heap lift his
honest voice, oppose by his honest vote.
or lay bare by his honest exposure In
sooth fOrwhat one Of all these infomous
acts did not Charles r.. Buckalew cast
his legislative vote, and crown with
the splendor Of his collosal statesman.
ship? Why, claiming to be a Demo.
crat, he has been foremost Of all men
in advocacy Of special legislation"
for the favored few; and to-day, speak.
ing Of "Rings,' there is not politi-
clan in Pennsylvania who stands high.
er with the Railroad Rings led by
Alexander X. Mcclure, and the Boom
Ring headed by "Horse" Herdic. and
all the rest of the Rings that pros.
per by corrupt legislation than this
Charles r. Buckalew, who is travelling
in tears over the Commonwealth. And
this is the reason that, knowing, as he
claims to know, of all the venality
and rank rascality abounding in Har-
risburg, he has not dared and does not
dare, to-day or at any future day, to
speak as Senator in denunciation of
the foully infamous transactions, in
name and in DETAIL of the corpora
tlons and their agents who, year after
year, pollute the Capitol of the Com
monwealth. Is not the receiver as bad
as the thief? Is not he who conceals
a crime the eqaal of the scoun6rel
who commits it? Is not the compound.
er Of felony-and what felony is
more infamous than that of corrupt
ing the legislature of the people PAS
guilty as the felon who consumates it ?
If yea, on what ground can Charles r.
Buckalew, sworn to faithfully serve
the people of Pennsylvania, claim
their sutirages in the face of the fact
that, while venality and shame were
stalking all about him, he had not the
courage, he had not the manhood, he
be had not the decent honesty to brand
it from his Senate seat with all the
warmth and vigor of truthful man
He is not blind. He is not deaf. He
is not dumb. He is simply silent while
the honor of his native State is being
violated, her legislative halls polluted
and the rights Of her citizens being
trafticked away for cash. All that he
vouchsates her outraged people is
string OF glittering generalitics, with
neither names dates or circumstances,
and miserable mouthing about "odi-
am, suspicion and some measure Of
disgrace in public affairs which would
not exist if Charles r. Buokalew had
discharged his duty with the fearless
ness Of an honest man and in utter
disregard of the opinions or interests
Of the Railroad Ring" and all the
Rings that have made the Peunsyl-
yania Legislature the synonym of sor-
did shame. And yet he asks to be
made Governor
Mr. Buckalew, "lrooly loil' as he
claims TO be, is averse to "the cry of
the people-loyalty as in war times"
He thinks thar that ought to be stop
ped, although he ventures upon vim
dication of his particular "war record"
Let us see what this "war record" was.
In the fall Of 1860 the practical work
Of secession was begun. That it W. .uld
be attempted was known to Buchanan,
Us Cabinet and by the public men Of
the period long before One by one
the resolutions Of the Southern Legis-
laturcs we've passed. One by one the
Southern Senators and Representatives
went ont. One By one the members
of Buchanan's CabiGet withdrew.
The Star Of the West had been fred
upon while going to the relief cf
national garrison. The President Of
the nation was inaugurated at the
point Of the bayonet. Pennsylyaniaus,
Democrats and Republicans, had been
shot down in the streets of Baltimore
while going to the protection Of the
National Capital. At last the Old
Flag was fred upon, and, as if by