Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1872-09-04
The Lowest View of the Case.

ll6 LOWeSJ VleW VI tno Oaoo'
The editor of the Golden Age an
original Grant man without guile thus
address himself to his old party
friends "Some say suppose the Lib.
eral movement fails, suppose the Gin
cinnat nominees are defeated, what
will come of all this immense effort,
this popular uprising of the country,
this vast wavo OF enthusiasm now
sweeping across the land? These
questions aresseriously asked by cool
and sluggish minds in both of the old
parties. They deserve notice and
reply. Certainly people do not care
to break up old ties, and enter into
new relations, and encounter new and
unknown difficulties, and invite in
caculablc risks without the assurance
that their labors and sacrifices will
not be lost. People do not like to
work for nothing. That is poor gen.
eralship which rushes recklessly into
danger without the certainty OF safe
retreat, If not the well founded hope
of victory. A great political cam.
paign like the present is environed
with uncertainty and encumbered
with risks. The conservative instinct
which leads men TO hold on to what
they have until sure Of something
better is a healthy and noble one, and
deserves to be treated with the ut.
most respect. And did VIC not believe
that the Liberal movement would pay
for itself ten times over even were
the election to go against its candi-
dates for the highest offices, we should
hesitate to urge it upon public atten.
tion, if indeed our personal interest in
it did not utterly evaporatc.
1t is because the Liberal movement
has already achieved so much good
and will certainly effect so much more
for the public safety and welfare, even
though il shall be defeated at the polls
in November, that we give it such
enthusiastic advocacy. Think, in the
first place, what it has already done.
1t has given this nation platform OF
political principles which is itself a
victory. No such honest and states
manlike statement of principles was
ever before onunciated by national
convention as that unanimously pro.
claimed at Cincinnati and enthusias-
iically adopted at Baltimore. That
platform sweeps away all the oid
issues, and buries all the dead quarrelS
of century beyond resurrection in a
common grave. 1t asserts the liberty
and equal rights OF all mop and prom
ises protection to all alike; it pro
claims universal amnesty for all po
litical offcnses il welcomes the south
ern people and States to new parti
cipation in the privileges and respon
sbilities of American citizenship, anC
erects them with the opon hand o
lratcrnal good will it throws new
sanctions and supports around th'
weakened walls of local interests anC
State governments; it assures th'
nation that the government shall b,
honestly and economically administer
cd, and that the President shall no
usurp the functions Of Congress am
the Judicature it remands the ques
tons of revenue to the people AM
their chosen representatives, and
strikes fatal blow at the root 0
official corruption by making the re
election of u President impossible
That platform is a triumph and
the Liberal movement had done notl
ing but frame that instrument, an
get it enthusiastically adopted by haI
/ the citizens of the country, it woul
have marked an era in our politics
history.
The Liberal movement has alread
justified itself by its influence on tn
Administration. Every importar
measure of the last session OF Cor
gross was directly influenced by th
popular uprising. The Amnesty bill
inadequate as it is and open to obje,
ton in every respect, would neve
have been passed but for the CinciI
'' matt Convention The bill to repci
the habeas corpus and put the who
!. South into Gen. Grants hands, nal
ing him more irresponsible dictate
than Louis Napoleon ever was, ow'
!. its defeat solely to the Liberal demo-
q stration. The transient spasm I
= = reform, which sent few nervol
twitches through the official limos
y the Administration, was excited |
y fear of what the rising opposite
d might do. And all the fine profe
sions and promises of the Pbiladelph
platform-evory one OF which convic
The Administration of unfaithfulnc
. TO its trusts or an incapacity which
y a crime-is an echo Of what the Iii
a eral leaders proclaimed at Cincinna
Il The Liberal movement has justiti,
itself by rallying the people of u
country upon new ground, under
new banner, around new leaders, I
new and nobcr ends than were ev
before proposed. Sec what has beef
Here was the South, overrun with &
petty hireings of the Administratio
taxed into beggary, and crushed
= political enactments which were equ
d ly calling to her pride and hone
1t There seemed to be nothing before
+ country but continuance of par
u jealousy and alienation growing o
nt Of old issues and sectional oppressi
re and hatred. The Liberal moveme
changed the entire situation in I
weeks. 1t inspired tho whole Sou
p with new sense of loyalty and |
lriotsm, new hope OF pcaoo a
1. prosperous days, and an irrepressil
- desire for union, fraternity, and go
!" u' will. 1t appealed to the nobiest c
,, ments in tho Democratic party, n
found an unexpected response in {
,, intelligent, honest, patriotic mass
n. attached to that great historic org'
.. ization which sprung from the bri
q, 10 Of Thomas JeGerson-one OF the M
b. philosophical and far sighted stat
Of men this country has produced. A
TO day three millions of people, 4
Y getting all that ever divided the