Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1872-02-21
The Political Situation.

The North An,erican. Republican
paper on which their is no discount thus
reviewed the political sitsatiss in its
issue of the 10th inst. Read the article
carefully !; it states the positions Of the
different parties ter,ely and correctly:
The Republican National Convention
for the nomination Of candidates for Pres
ident and Vice President, is to assemble
in Philadelphia in June. The free-trade
Republicans, under the lead of Carl
Schurz, will hold convention in Cincin-
natl Whether the Democratic party
will join in this convention is as yet un-
settled. But still another convention 10
to be held somewhere, that is to include
the Labor Reformers, Woman Suffragists,
Prohibitory Liquor Law men, etc. As a
contribution to this latter organization
Mrs. Victoria C. Woodruff. chief the
Free Lovers, publishes neat and grace
ful maniferto, Withdrawing her candida
cy. as being an obstacle TO harmony, and
agreeing to support the ticket of what
she calls the Equal Rights Convention
Thus things are gradually beginning to
take definite shapes. and the issue be-
tween the parties are gradually looming
up. The itch to proclaim reform Of some
kind seems to be universal among all
shades Of the opposition. Carl Schurz's
idea of reform lie to let any body who hae
been FIVE years in the country be elected
President of the United States. Wen.
dell Philips ide. of reform is woman
suffrage, and absolute extirpation of the
liquor traffic. The Labor Reformer 3
idea Of reform is to have high wages and
little to do. Mrs. Woodhulrs idea Of
reform is that marriages should be mere
temporary arrangements. The rebel
idea of reform is that the southern States
should revert to their condition anterior
to 1860. The Democratic idea of reform
is that the Republicans should be turned
out of office and the Democrats put in.
Senator Trumbull's idea of reform is
that the administration should have no
control over the civil service. Senator
Summers IDEA Of reform is that the ad-
ministration rhould hand over its powe,
to the Senate Committees. Mr.. Bry-
ants idea Of reform is that foreign manu-
factures should uniformly be encouraged
in preference to domestic industry.
1t is scarcely possible that out of all
this incongruous tumble of of ideas, any
one platform eau be risge d up that will
be satisfactory to the several factions.
unless. indeed, in taking . survey in
company. they see any such effort to be
hopeless, and therefore agree to disagree,
aud to 60 into the canvass merely with
a ticket and no platform. There were
possibly great many protectionists who
were as discontented as the free traders
but the blatant efforts of the latter have
driven all the true friends of home in
dustry back into the ranks again. And
this is significant of what will ensus
with the sensible men who represent
other practical movements.
7 here could be no better or truer re-
fo,m organization than the Republican
party has been since it obtained power
1t has abolished slavery. 1t has crushed
forever the oft mentioned rebellion of the
State sovereignty party. 1t has given
the suffrage to the whole African -Ameri-
can race. 1t has secured them full civil
rights before the law. 1t enacted the
free homestead law. 1t has put down
southern terrorism. 1t has reduced the
national debt 1t has reduced the rate
of interest on the debt. 1t has reduced
national expenditures generally. 1t has
largely and continuously reduced ma
tional taxation. 1t has voluntarily adop-
ted the civil service reform. 1t has
sought to settle amicably our troubles
with England without the arbitrament of
war. 1t has given to colored citizens po-
sitions of high influence and responsible
ity. 1t has reformed the evils of the
Iudian service and maintained peace on
all the frontiers. By the firm mainte-
nance of protective policy it has done
more to build up home manufactures and
give employment to labor than had been
accomplished in twenty years prior to its
advent In power.
These are achievements that seem to
be forgotten. or conveniently ignored by
those who are in haste to break down
what is established and successful, and
set up something new and untried. If
the Labor Reformers shall truly represent
the interests of the workingmen and wo-
men of the nation, how can they Assent to
free trade. which degrades labor to the
lowest possible level. by setting up as ,he
grand desideratum mere cheapness Of pro-
duction, without reference to the question
whether labor can subsist on the wages
paid -, II the temperance movement
shall be represented in the convention Of
reform>rs by earnest and sincere men.
can they join hands with the Democratic
party, which comprebends four fifths Of