New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-10-04
EX-Gov. CURTIN AND COL. sLIFER At LEW
ISBURGH.
MOST ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTIoN-AN ELo-
QUENT SPEECH FROM COL. SLIFER-HE
PLACES HIMSELF sQUARELY ON THE LIB
ERAL PLATFORM.


QUENT SPEECH FROM COL. SLIFER-IlE
PLACES HIMSELF sQUARELY ON THE LIB
ERAL PLATFORM.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO TnB TIIBUEEl
LEwIspURG, Oct. 3-Ex-GOv. Curtin never
received more cordial reception in Union County
when IA the candidate Of the great Republican party IN
Its purest days. he here 70 discuss the important
Of the war; than accorded him by the people
Of Lewsburg his arrival here this morning. great
number OF leading citizens OF the county some In
carriages and horseback, gathered at the rail-
road station, and when Mr. Curtin appeared
the platform Of tho cars he was received
with an enthusiastic round of applause. Ho was
Of once taken carriage and escorted by the cava
cade OF citizens headed by band TO the residence OF
the Hon. Ely sfcr where he remained in quiet during
the whole day, except that he received great many
calls from friends who desired TO testify TO him their
toutnued respect aud admiration The meeting In the
evening" at Music Han, Of the most remarkable
that taken place anywhere In the State during the
present campaign Mr.. Slfer however any OF the peo-
Die Of Pennsy may have formerly differed with
him on matters Of political policy, has always
been looked upon by men OF all parties as one
Of the most conscientiously honest and upright
men who have ever been in public life in the
State. He Is a man who has never acted hastily or
Without weighing carefully all consequences OF his
course, and when II was announced that he would
toueht discuss the great questions which are agatng
the nation and that Gov Curtin would also be present.
audience collected such as is rarely seen at political
meeting It had the character OF lyeeum audi
ence gathered to hear Of the most popular pol
ished orators Nearly half the Hall was filed with
ladies' and the remainder Of those who crowded every
available spot IN the large Of the most inelll
gent voters. When Gov Curtin and Col slifer came
NM, the Hall tue whole audience and gave them
prolonged applause.
The meeting was called to order at about u O'clock
and Col III. B. TowDe "a Liberal Republican OF Lewis.
burg and Of It's most influential and respected e
Ecns. was unanimously chosen Chairman. Col. TOwne
at once introduced Col Sfer with few pertinent re-
marks Mr. Siicr said that be before this audience
IS much through the mahgnity of his enemies as
through the solicitation of friends. He had heard 1t
reported lie had been brought 70 deaths door by
the direct ntefposihon of Providence punishment
for his sins lie then, turning 70 Gov Curtin, reminded
Linn Of the death OF two noble members Of bis personal
staff during war. who died from the effects Of over
exrOn IN tao Of the Union. Nor were they alone
IN their noble martyrdOm The war Governors Of Mas
saohuse,ts and Of Michigan fell victims to
the devotion, and If Gov. Curtin and
himself really dying from the pangs of guilty
they had this TO comfort themthe little
who tTaducng them had not consciences to be
affected. lGreat applause.l lie then referred briefly
and very ieelngly to the attempt now making to dig
open the graves OF the noble men Ypo died for the
country. IL though after srewng those graves
with flowers the Spring me they should in the Au-
tWnD like ghoCs tear them open again and scatter the
precious comes abroad the barren earth Passing
the discussion OF the great political questions
now before the people, he began by calling attention TO
the fact that liberty and the rights Of the people
ore not always In more danger in the midst Of great
ouuOns than when despotism advances by slow and
often by unnoticed steps. Looking abroad over the
country Mr. Slifer said that there could be no doubt
that the tendency is to aggregate power in the
hands OF few and that II has even reached the Govern
nent itself He then reviewed at length the history OF
the country, showing that extreme States Rights doc
trnes and the GENERALIZATION OF power equally dan
cerOus TO the nation. The speaker then called
attention 10 Que or two instances of cen
truhzation which he had looked upon with
alarm The first the packing Of the Supreme Court
IN the 0. capital and another was the National
election law, which lie said gave 10 the Administration
more power than accorded 20 Louis Napoleon by the
law under which he reelected himself. lie then dis
eoursed most eloQuently on the despotsm Of the Re
publican party, which would close the mouth OF crt
csm and read ont Of the party every one matter how
long his service TO the principles Of the Republican party
might be- who dared to be independent closing this part
Of his speech with the exclamation "If this be treason
then am traitor"
lr Curtin said the circumstances under which he up
pcared we're strange and somewhat embarrassing. qhe
changes Of the past few are marked There is more
political violence and denuncla,ion. -Four years ago
man could without being denounced as scoundre
ana a traitor Thank God. said Mr.. Curtin, have
science enough TO know what is right and 1 win
do g. Those who choose make this departure do not
pretend TO lead others. Others may choose for them
selves. But those who pursue independent action are
still entitled to the respect Of their felow-men There is
a way known TO political parties in this country Of
making nominations 1t used be fair but at Harris
burg a political ring put In nomination a
ticket which was simply licked into shape
by the Convention. No other duty did that body
form. One great Ring in this State is the Treasury
Ring Tie Treasurer and the AuditorGeneral also
Commissioners Of the Sinking Fund, and II they act In
concert they control the whole financial Of
the Commonwealth. The lending Of the deposits Of the
Sinking Fund using them TO profit rs penal offense.
Treasury are loaned TO banks which mem-
beers OF the Treasury Ring. In an evil
broker in Philadelphia 1t is alleged that Hartranft had
connection with Yerkes or with the deposits IN bis
hands yet it is not denied that the had
transactions with Nerkes amountlng IN one year 10
e60O.OOO; that he eorresponded with Yerkes, and
that ne drew upon YerkeS for money, say,
Mackey The Chicago IRE burst the bubble.
lerkes failed was convicted Oh crime anu sent 10 pson
circulated against his coadutors when Mr.. Swope
with Mr. Yerkes in his cell resulted in his Liberation,
and Mr. Yerkes at once, without denying the
truth Of the books or denying the correspondence,
faint and smell of the Penitentlary about the whole
transaction But the freemen OF Pennsylvania present
necessary to go TO the Penitentary 70 get
not right 70 make national election depend upon
State contest. The State should be allowed 10 purify It's
own Government without being told that national con
Vania would have resented such euRges-
ton Fortunately the people OF the Com1monwealt,sh
have, said Mr.. Curtin, known Chas r. Buckalew per.
Iecy for 70 year., need mot sPek 10 te PeSpe Sl
ton and the changes he has made in your Constitution
the Legislature that did not emanatc from him. 1t Is
said that during the time Of the counrys struggle
for life be was traitor knew MT Backaiew all me
time OF the war. 1 saw him every time he passed
through Harrisburg.