The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-05-02

THE following well-timed remarks
are taken from an article IN the Har-
risburg State Journal, a radical organ.
They relate to q question which more
Intimately than any other affects the
dearest interests of the people. If the
press of both parties in the different
legislative districts throughout the
State would "cry aloud and spare not"
the etilimble-rigging crew who disgraced
the Last legislature, only tithe of
them would again have an opportunity
Of feeding on fresh fields and pastures
new" When will the stolid inditfer-
cnce of the taxpayers to the character
and qualifications of the men they an
nuallv elect to enact laws for their
/ benefit, cease and give place to lively
/ and active interest in the selection OF
candidates! The people literally sleep
! while their servants at Harrisburg are
! robbing the treasury with unwashed
/ hands"
| ''Could that be done? Elect sufficient
/ men to the lower branch of the next Leg
! islature who would resist, without regard
/ to party obligations, the controlling intiu-
/ ence of the rirg which usually directs that
! body? We submit this question to the
( serious consideration of the press and the
/ people in all parts of the State. BY the
| action of the ring formed at the beginning
| of each session of the Legislature, lew
bold bad men are enabled to control the
proceedings of both Houses. 1t only re-
quires bold conduct, and not bad men, to
resist this. If the people would resolve to
elect men who can neither be bribed noT
bulled, all rings would soon cease, and we
! would have legislation accomplished on the
! principle of justice and hight. Take the
! case of Philadelphia. The very objects III
which the great mass of the people there
were most interested were rejected by then
own representatives, and measures that
were notoriOusly obnoxious were crammed
! down the throatS of business men anC
! property holders while they were yehe
mently protesting against their passage
! Representative government like this is {
tyranny which many of the monarchies Ot
Europe would not dare practice. The
Parliament of England is more inclined
to listen to and comply with the protest:
/ of a meeting of LOndOners, than is the
Legislature of Pennsylvania to respect the
remonstrances of the people in any part o.
the State, asking that certain Legislation
| shall not be accomplished which the ring
| demands There is no lack of instruction
on facts on this subject. The great mis-
chief always comes from Philadelphia
which for years has sent class of men t.
the Legislature that rerudiate all contro
of their constituents, and are the prime
movers i'll all the fraud committed il eithc
branch of that body. We have the testi
mony of the newspapers Of Philadelphia t.
establish this fact-and the voice of he
merchants, manufacturers and real estat
owners is never silent in condemnation o
the wrongs which they are subjected b.
the acts of their representatives. If Phila
delphia is not able to send better elias
of men to the Legislature, it is high tim
rural districts send men who have the in
telhgence and the Independence to oppos
the operations of all rings. The legisla
tion which most effects the people for evil
is generally secured by the activity, in
trigues and dishonesty of dozen men
who manage to intimidatc, mislead, O
corrupt the rest needed to carry on thei
work"