Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1872-12-18
THE INsoIENcE OF OFFICE,


the oppressor's wrong, the laws de.
lays, and the spurns that patient merit
Of the unworthy takes, as among the
evils too intolerable to be borne by a
proud spirit. But Shakspcare's sen.
sitive hero had little experience Of
that bloated and staggering insolence
Of Office that prevails in the present
generation, or he would not have hest
tated long abont making his quietus
with bare bodkin. The pertness Of
tho minions who basked in the sun.
shine of royal favor, or the supercili-
ousness of u minister. was perhaps the
utmost OF the evil that be felt. But
what was that in comparison with
the official insolence which is witness
ed this day 10 free commonwealth
A number of distinguished Republi-
cans in the exercise of their rights as
citizens saw proper to protest against
the corruption and arrogance OF the
combination that controls tho State,
at the recent election. They used no
means to corrupt the ballot box
They hired no repeaters, imported no
colonist, bribcd no voters, but earn,
eslly appealed to the reason Of their
fellow citizens in favor of much
needed reformation Of State govern
ment. No sooner is tho election over
than the chief OF this ring, occupying
the position of Senator OF the United
States, rushes to Washington and de-
mands vengeance against all who
have seen fit 10 protest against his
rule. Curtin, Forney, Marshall, Hick.
man, Grow, Kane, Billingfelt, Hard
ing, Rutherford and others are TO be
made experience the insoIence OF Of
fee. Many of them are private cili-
zens who have never sought Office,
and arc Indifferent alike 10 the frowns
and Establishments of power. But
nothing viii be left undone in the
effort to make them feel the power of
Pennsylvania's master.
Next comes the governor elect
Scarcely has no emerged from a con-
test in which his official incapacity
has been glaringly exposed, than be,
TOO, must put in exercise the insolonce
of Office. Exulting in q triumph OBJ
taincd mainly through the grossest
frauds in the Philadelphia paradise of
ropeaters and ballot suffers, bo tolls
the Republican citizens who would
not vote for the felow-conspirator of
George o. Evans that they must go
to the rear and repent. The Cover
nor elect of Pennsylvania sets himself
up as a party drill sergeant, and in an
exceedingly brief space shows to the
people Of the State what petty par
tisan administration they may expect
from the successor of John W. Genry.
Following him we have Assessor Er.
rett, the chairman of tho Radical
State Central Committee, who gives o
coarse and characteristic exhibition of
what Hamlet meantsby the insolence
of official minions. No Republicans
who felt it duty to oppose the elec-
ton of Hartranit with his load of
official dcrclictions shall be "permiited"
to make speeches for Grant "under
bis auspices" Chairmen of county
committees are also instructed to deny
them the exquisite privilege Of speak
ing for Grant. As a special boon they
will be suffered with 'baicd breath
aud pentcntial humbleness TO cast
their silent ballots for the great Gift
Taker. No further liberty will be
granted them by Simon Cameron, the
sovereign lord and master of Penn
sylvania. Closely following after the
Assessor and Chairman, comes our
Harrisburg Postmaster, toiling under
his heavy freight Of public spoils,--
He goes still further than Errelt, and
declares that tho party will visit with
signal "punshmcnt these traitors or
"any one else who attempts TO foist
"the renegades or give them any stand
''ing in the great Republican party"
The postmaster, in his official trucu-
lcncy, will not even allow standing
room for the "traitors,' and meanaces
with vengence any charitable inclined
Republican who shall harbor them in
future. Does this official insolcnce
soar so high as to threaten Grant il
he should tolerate any Republican
who opposed Hartranft and the ring ?
Whom else but Grant docs this meanY
Winding up his TRADE the postmaster
exclaims, "Kick them out, and keep
"kicking them to prevent their com
"ing in again" lie would have MS
few shares as possible in the official
plums which he imagines 10 have
been secured in the recent elections,
and snarls viciously at every ono
whom be suspects Of desire TO divide.
After these highhown dcmonstra-
tions of the insolcnce OF ONCE, IL is
difficult 10 persuade Ourselves that we
still breath the air of a free common
wealth. 1t is not enough that citizens
are menaced with the fercest displeas.
urc OF the combination that rules the
commonwealth, but they are daily
made the objects of tho vilest and
most cowardly calumies. Most of
this malignity is launched al Curtin
and Forncy, the most prominent Re.
publican antagonists Of the ring
Yet Forney has voluntarily resigned
more important office than any of his
revilers ever occupied, that he might
tho moro freely perform his duty as q
journalist, and Governor Curtin has
filed with dignity and credit, in u
period Of great difficulty and embar-
rassmcnt, o station which not ono Of
them could occupy for half an hour
with deccncy. The malice and spite
which tho ring display are in keeping
with the manner in which their vic
tory has been achieved What has
been Won by fraud, corruption, and
violence, is Worn with tho insolenco
Of vulgar, coarse, and conceitcd up
arts.-HdvisJurg Patriot.
|
| Mrs. Sands is bright little widow
who lives near Gil City, Penna., aud
has made comfortable fortune in q
speculation in oil lands. Represent