Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1873-09-03
The Living Political Issues Of the Day.

The Living Political Issues Of the Day.
The Washington Republic says To
those who have carefully watched the
tendencies of the times, the farmers /,
mechanics and laborers' organizations,
BY Whatever name called, are no sur
prise. \ living nation demands living
issues, and as soon as some questions OF
political importance are settled, new
ones will be brought forth for solu-
tion. The supremacy of the Union
over the States being secured be-
yond present dangers; the national
debt having been placed upon sound
basis of prospective liquidation the
rights of all classes, white, black, for
eign, or native, having been secured ;
foreign complications adjusted or avoid
ed and taxation measurably reduced, :,
the ever active American mind is bring
ing forward new topics of discussion.
Happily for our nation and times, these
new questions are not likely to precipi.
tate the country into violence and COM
motion, and their very statement shows
that there is no deep cause Of COM
plant. 1t is, moreover, gratifying that
the demands are in the direction Of
progress and reform. so We need have
no fear that We shall lose whatever has
been gained, 70 matter how these new
questions are decided.
These new issues of the present are
based upon economic questions, and re-
late chiefly to the obtamment of greater
compensation TO the producing classes.
That these topics are difficult of solu-
tion will appear more clearly as they
are more generally and skilfully dis
cussed, and the mental horizon of the
disputants becomes enlarged. As at
present presented, the topics may be
stated to mean: The restraint of the
monopolizing tendencies of large capi-
tallsts and railway and other joint
stock corporations the providing of
more adequate and cheaper channels of
transport the more economic admins
tration of the national, State, and mu-
nicipal machinery; a more skllful and
honest civil service ; the adjustment of
national and State taxes, SO tina: capt.
tai shall not escape its due share of
taxation and the assessment of I'M
port duties in more simple and econ
omic manner. We have heard of no
other source of complaint or agitation,
though our means of information are as
extensive as those of any other indi-
vidual or organization.
1t is not merely the duty, but the
anxious desire, of the Republican party
to meet these new issues, and to provide
affirmatively for their solution. The
radical and fundamental difference be-
tween the Republican and the Opposi-
tion party, by whatever name it chcses
TO call itself, is, that 1t seeks to provide
adequate remedies for all com plants,
Will, the other party is simply one of
uegatiou, indicting the Administration
and the party in power for its imperfec-
tions, but presenting no consistent and
well-considcred remedies. Thus far,
however, this system of warfare has sig
nally failed, because the people are too
intelligent to trust the destiny of the
country IN the hands of those who have,
in great part, been unreliable in the late
war, and who seem not to have the in
telligence to perceive suitable remedies
for existing ills.
We have ever held that all political
parties are simply means to secure Ger.
tain ends and in giving our prefer
ence to one party over the other, we |
must consider not merely whether one
of the existing parties is, by the ele-
ments of its constitution, by its past
history and tradition, and Its general
tendency, willing to take up our cause,
but also whether it has the power to
secure it by adequate Legislation. Itis
as easy for party without power or