Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1873-04-30
TWELVE YEARS ADRIFT.

twelve years adrift from Democratic
landmarks, twelve years undsr the
guidance and discipline of a party of
high moral IDEAS, and II ia GOOD for us
to look about us a little. SEQ where
we are. and take stock of our hearings
and belongings. in order TO mako ap
intelIigentiy he account of profit and
loss in the national balance-sbcet. IL
is confidently asserted bv the Repub-
ican press and leaders that we have
been enormous gamers by their dc.
parturcs from ancient marty faith and
nrinciples. both in material social and
moral respects Tho chimes hive nro.
claimed Il in tripIe hob. majors that
the lofty. generous and wise priuciples
of the new.light party, the great and
beneficent measures that have marked
our progress under their auspices, and
the harmony which this party has
shown with the genius and character
of our institutions we ouote the
words of an eminent moutbpieee of
advanced Radicalism. in order that
there may be no mistake about it.
are much more than enough TO com.
pensate us for the triflipg little notes
lust now floating in our sunbeams.
and the few incommodities which peo.
pie seem to suffer in consequence of
these departures. This may all be so,
but if so, the statement will assurcdlv
stand the test of comparison and fact.
The party of high moral ideas has
generally proceeded towards the
achievement of it's supposed reforms
by processes peculiar to itself and
processes not of universal acceptance
with that school of statesmansbip
which is founded on science and cx.
perience. 1t has reasoned like It's
favorite poet and philosopher when he
said that "Beauty is its own excuse
for being" Reforms. the ncw.light
doctrinaires have invariably argued
Justify the methods employed to bring
them about. The constitutional limi.
tation must not stand in the way Of
progress. There is always higher
law than the statute, and when these
two conflict we must yield obedience
to the tea non scrptd, and give the
merely human ordinance, the go-by,
In Illustration OF the operation of this
principle we have seen Vice. President
Coliax lately trying TO oppose his
mind, conscious Of its own rectitudc
to the universal law of evidence, and
the partlsans of his sect stoutly con-
doning his solemn and repeated per
Juries upon the ground that he had
done service to the cause of liberty
and union. This is somewhat differ
ent from the practice of the fathers
OF the Republic, who, when the case
OF Benedict Arnold was brought before
them, and they were asked what they
would DO with him 1t captured, an
swered ut once: "Bury the leg that
was wounded at Saratoga with the
nonors OF war, ana hang the rest ol
n 'po" s'oo
onuer the operation OF It's system
Oh hauohai reformation linus metho'
a'1eo, inc party OF h'gh moral IDEAS
mas succeeded IN consigning all for
merry current principles oil legislative
expediency, national poiicy, statecrait
CONSTITUTIONAL limitation and individ'
uai , unoos'ruc'edhess 10 decent oD'
liVioh OF u harmless suoordinatlon IN
tno cohduet oi AFFAIRS Instead ol
tnese is substituted vague sent'men'
tality or stout usurpatlon. The sub
stllution cannot DC defended ny any
rules OF authority but that oil Rob
Roy, that they are privileged to take
who have the powor; nor docs the
party OF high moral IDEAS advance any
defense except that which we have
s'ated-that the end Justlfles the
means. The hepuol'can party, there.
fore, elects to be judged strictly by
what IL has done during the past
twelve years, and by the fruits OF those
performances
Tho system Of interference with the
States and with individuals has grown
up out Of series Of separate acts,
each OF which was done under pretext
Of military and political necessity in
the period of civil war. One result
has been the abolition of slavery
That result naturally grew out of the
war, and is great and unauestiona.
bic boon, the moral and material bcne.
fits of which could scarcely be esti
mated. But on the high moral idea
programme that result could not be
accomplished by legitimate processes,
but must be effected through fla
grant violation of the sanctify of the
Constitution. This violation led TO
others, the protext of which was still
reform, still that the end justified the
means, until, in necessary and logical
sequence, came negro suffrage and tho
wretched enforcement bills which are
spreading anarchy, tho reward Of
tyranny, over the land.
The system of interference again
manipulated in the interest of high
moral ideas gave us the protective
tariff and its congoners of subsidy and
Government partnership. When the
cloak of public necessity was torn