The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1874-10-15
Address of the Republican State Com
mittee.
To THE REPUBLICANS OF PENNSYLVANIA.

stand in defense of hour principles. The
party which, by its political heresies,
plunged this country into a bloody wal, },
stands arrayed against you on precisely the
grounds which it occupied in 1860, and
proposes to re-opon all the controversies
which it was thought had been settled by
the war, and it therefore becomes necessary
to sustain at the polls the governmental
policy which has prevailed under Repub-
lican administration.
'An undefiled aud restored Constitu-
ton, which is equivalent to the Southern
demand for the Constitution as it was, is
what the Democracy Of Pennsylvania asks
for in the recently issued address Of the
State Committee 1t wants to ignore or
rule out the thirteenth, fourteenth, and
fifteenth amendments to the Constitution
and restore the Constitution as it stood be-
fore the war. 1t sets up pretence that
those amendments are null and void, and
if it should return to power we may natu-
rally look for an attempt to enforce a re-
lapse to the condition of things that exis
ted prior to the Rebellion.
Therecent armed uprisings in the South,
accompanied by numerous murders, out
RACES innumerable, open rebellion, and the
establishment of reign of terror to inti-
midatc the unarmed and peaceful citizens,
had the full sanction and sympathy of the
Northern Democracy, and were plainly but
part-of a general plan to re-established the
old order of things.
The part of the Northern Democracy is
to hull the people into false security, and
steal back into place upon false pretences
if possible The part Of the Southern
Democracy is to set up reign Of violence,
and by such an intimidation of the weak
as will keep them from the polls, to install
themselves into Offices to which they could
never otherwise attain. The two work to-
gether in perfect harmony, and their joint
triumph would utterly annihilate all the
beneficial results Of the war.
1t is the part Of the Republicans of
Pennsylvania to crush this conspiracy by
thoroughly defeating those engaged in it,
and they can do this only by r;lllying hear
tily to the support of their State ticket,
and by cordially supporting their local
nominations, so as to secure the election Of
a large majority Of the Congressman and
decisive majority in the Legislature
The people Of Pennsylvania do not want
to return to "a restored Constitution"
or ''the Contitution as it was" They do
not want to come back again under the
insolent rule of the Southern o!igarchy, or
to put their varied and grand industrial
interests at the mercy of the free trade
demagogues who control the Democratic
party.
But, strong as are their convictions up
on this subject, they can enforce them only
in one way, and that is at the polls. They
must elect men III harmony with their we'll
known views and interests and this can
be done only by securing a thorough de
feat Of the Democratic party.
The last Democratic State Convention
did not dare to open its mouth in favor of
protection to American industry, or against
the ratification of the Reciprocity Treaty,
which is free trade in disguise. 1t had
not the courage to take sides with the par
ty in other States on those questions, and
was equally cowardly in declining to take
the other side. On the two great ques-
tions which involve the material interests
of the State, the prosperity of its people,
and the development Of its wealth, it was
rs silent as the grave. No one doubts that
its sympathies are with the enemies of our
material progress, and the rule is as good
in this case as in every other-''He that is
not for us is against US.
'If therefore, the people of Pennsylvania
wnat to defend and promote the growth
and prosperity of their State they will not
entrust its destinies to the hands of party
that dare not open its lips in their favor
The Democratic party of the nation is for
free trade, and the outspoken part of it is
in favor of republication and it is for the
people of Pennsylvania is decide whether
they will again permit such party to con-
troll, and by controlling to ruin, their fu-
ture prospects.
The Republican party of the State has
had possession Of the Government since
1861, and has proved in that time its claim
to continued public confidence. 1t has ad-
minlstered the government honestly, faith
fully, economically and Justly. The State
has grown with rapid strides under its foster
ing care the laws are everywhere judiciouly
enforced and it needs but the maintenance
of the protective policy on the part of the
National Government, to secure our ad-
vance, at an early day, into the front rank
of all the States.
When the Republicans assumed the reins
of the State Government in 1861 they
found a State debt of over 10000 900,
and the breaking out of the Rebellion en-
tailed an immediate addition to that debt
of S3,5O0,GO0 for arming the people and
defending the State, so that they began
their administration with the burden of
over S43,000,000 of debt That debt has
now been reduced to S24, ,000,0 900, a reduc-
ton In round numbers of S19 900 900 in
thirteen years, or 81 800, 900 yearly. This
reduction has been accomplished by economy
and honesty in the administration of the
finances, and not by taxation. The State
tax on real estate was repealed in 1866,