National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-05-06
1.-THE CAUSE OF BOSTON, IS THE
CAUSE OFALL."

1.-THE o. USE OF BOSTON rs THE
CAUSE OFALL."
Yesterday the great debate on the recon-
mendation of the Special Committee on the
Centennial that three millions of dollars be
appropriated to the international celebra-
zion of the Fourth of July, 1876, opened in
the House and it is simple justice to the
Hon. William D. Kelley, of Pennsylvania,
to state that his Introductory argument in
Support of the bill was equal to his high
reputation as an unchallenged orator and
of the great cause of which he proved
himself so distinguished a champion.
No recent effort has awakened more in
forest and enthusiasm; and if these utter
ances of the eminent Pennsylvania could
be laid before the whole people this morn
ing there would not be found five votes
against the recommendation of the special
committee in either House of Congress. 1t
Is simple justice to add that Mr. Hale, OF
Maine, argued the other side with ability,
while the arguments of Mr.. Packard, Of 1us
diana, and Judge Tremain, of New York,
in the affirmative added to the absorbing
interest of the day. Just at the afternoon
recess Hon. Alexander II. Stephens, Of
Georgia, tclegraphed from his home in
Charlottesville, asking that some opponent
of the bill might pair with him on the test
vote to-day.
The patriotic Governor Drownlow, now
lying en- his sick bed at Knoxville, Tenn,
also telegraphs to his colleague, Senator
Cooper, to pair on this question, and he
cheerfully consents to the request of his
venerable associate Thus We have hap
ply united the two great statesmen of the
South. representing the extreme of politics
during the rebellion. And about the same
time the following dispatch was received By
Judge Kelley from lion. A. K. Mcclure,
State Senator in the Pennsylvania Legis-
lature:
.UAKaTsBJRG, M5y5. 1874.
Hos. w. y. EET.lsT: Bon houses OF tho
legislature Axe us. unanimously passed
res,.E. :na appealing 20 Congress TO pass Cen
Ak. MCCLURE.
These significant proceedings mark some
thing more tlilu = historic era. They are
prophetic voices, because they show that
the people VIII insjs; upon an imposing
celebration Of the close Of the frs: century
of American Liberty. The great State of
Pennsylvania speaks through both her
great parties unanimously to the Congress
OF America. She appeals to the represent
alives of the whole people not to dishonor
themselves by dishonoring their Govern
ment She comes before the United States,
having pledged herself for five millions Of
dollars, asking, not so much for pecuniary
aid as for the fulfllment of the International
pledge In the act of Congress OF 1871.
Pointing to the great Hall in which the
Constitution of the United States was framed
and from which the Declaration Of indie
peRdence was sent forth. and signed, she
appeals to the North and the South, to New
England and to the Pacific Coast, not to be.
little an occasion, great in itself, by refusing
to fulfill solemn legislative covenant; not
10 go back of the formal invitation of the
President of the United States to foreign
Powers, clinched IS well by his special
message to Congress in February last as
by the preparations in all the executive de-
partments Of the Government. 1t has bocn
Said that Pennsylvania had doubts on this
6ubject, that she gave her money grudgi1g-
"; that there were factions in hsr midst
,objecting to her royal appropriations. But
this last voice from her Legislative Halls,
speaking for both parties with one accllim.
stamps al such assertions as unfOundeI and
Cruel
: In the dark days of the Revolution, when
the British invaders hold down the great
city Of Boston by the throat and barred the
strong arm of power, the cry from Virginia
and from the South was echoed and re-
echoed, ''The cause Of Boston Is tie cause
of ALL" And she'll it be said that Massa-
husetts, which heard these responsive
cries, who WAS nerved during these dark
days by the enthusiasm and sacrifices Of the
South, and of old Pennsylvania, and of
New York, will now stand coldlY by and
fold her arms, and pormit the close of the
century, which began by her own brave
resistance to oppression, to pass, not only
unnoticed, but condemned? Shall it be
bid that the South was ready and eager to
support New England and Pennsylvania
in the Revolution, and will now scornfully
reject the cause that is TO revive these
precious memories, supplemented as they
will be by the new dispensation, which is
to restore our lately conflicting sections into
one hearty and irresistible brotherhood?
We cannot believe it. This is no question
Of dollars and cents, but of patriotic duty,
of plighted faith, of individual and national
honor.