Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1876-12-20

/
/ spire the world with confidence an
ourselves with the highest sentiment
H Of honor, then our future will be lon
n step toward national decay and degr'
n dation.
I While we imploro oil classes Of cit
/ zens to enter upon the duty Of dccit
!. ing what shall be done TO avert threa
( cned evils, we respectfully appeal I
|. the great Republican party 10 see
the heaviest responsibility for a jus
J decision does not rest upon them. An
: we make this appeal with confidenc
that a great organization, which ha
its full share Of virtue and patriotism
, will not, when II calmly reviews th
events Of the day, tail TO do justice :
us, TO themselves, and to the country
We do not complain that under tn
, excitement OF the canvass, or that be
r fore the heat Of the election shoul,
have passed away, you may for mo
ment grasp eagerly at victory with
, out seeing that such victory may
prove curse 10 you as well as 10 til
others. But we beg you will rehec'
now that you have had exerted in you
behalf, not only the whole power o
the national administration with II,
hosts Of officials, but that The execution
Of all laws relating to the election o.
the officers 9. cs :.cc BE general government
was entirely in the hands Of your par
tlsans If we look at the provisions
of these laws, we find they contain fea.
lures Of startling character, as they
were framed before the passions excit
ed by civil war had been allayed, and
with reference to States suIl looked
upon as hostile TO our Union. The
Judicial officers Of every grade who in
terprct these laws, almost without cx-
ception, belong TO your party. The
marshals who execute them arc heat.
ed politicians, the very tenure Of whose
Offices depend upon the success OF your
ticket. They can summon n vast ar.
ray Of deputies, and all Of these make
arrests in some cases without process,
and by express enactment arc placed
above the reach Of the laws, and OF the
Judiciary Of the State. At the late
election, Republican officials, at the ex.
pense Of the general government, could
examine every registry in the princi.
pal towns and cities. They could and
did arrest men for accidental clerical
errors Of others in giving the name or
the number Of house In only one
instance under these was there re-
cognition Of the party opposed to the
administration. They were entitled
To one Of the two supervisors Of cleo
ton at each polling place, but these
were TO be selected by persons all Of
whom belonged TO the party in power.
We do not complain OF the enforcement
Of these laws. On the contrary, we
point with satisfaction 70 the fact that
they furnished the proof made by their
partisan opponent that the Democratic
vote was an honest one. If fraud is
suspected il must be the work Of 9th
ers, not of the Democratic party. Even
If these election laws had been in all
cases fairly enforced, they still made q
vast array of partisan forces and pow
cr, supported BY the common treasury,
but exerted against the party that car.
ried with it majority Of the Amer.
can people. We hear much Of coercion,
intimidation, and undue influences, but
nothing approaching this in power can
exist 10 any part Of our country. There
is no organization which could for q
moment contend with it--backed uy
as IT had been by the American army.
We also appeal to the Republicans
to see If it is not true that during the
late election the officials at Washing.
ton overlooked the fact that they were
the government Of a country, and act
ed throughout merely as the admins
tration Of a party. Has one step been
taken, or the army moved, save at the
instance OF their political friends7 Has
there been recognition Of or consul
tation with a single citizen whe was
not allied TO them in interest and feel
ing?
Ihere Is darker phase OF tne last
election. The administration sent out
q cabinet officer TO take charge Of the
canvass 90 behali OF 'ne hepuohesn
party. ms very posiuon al the
head oi ITS managing committee
made forced loan upon nearly one
hundred thousand oficial dependents.
IL proclaim cd TO them 10 louder tone
than words; lou must WORK. lou
must vote. ou must pay 10 sid The
election oi q candidate VINO declares
himself 70 iasor OF ci'll service re-
iorm- IL told them that u, Deiieving
ana ac'ing upon bis assurance, they
foilowed their own convictions and
soted LOT his opponents, they wonid be
punished py the icss o. their positions.
ihey were iorceo 70 thousands Oh cases
70 submit 70 extortion with smiling
laces' Dat WITH neavy beans: ~ a Ike
'numIasuon baa oeen USED ~ > Sonth. !
ern state ~ would nave Deen se'zed
~ s.' ~'"'''',', '.,, -.'o,' - isAs'"
Tor declaring Fnari'ai law, Tor arresiing
And impnsoning every suspected eiti-
zen; i,i dne 10 ,he best class OF the
leaders and journals Of the itePuoi'ean
party 70 say tnsttbey protested against
lhis indecency. but such acts aid not
'top win mere impropreiies. They |
riPened INTO . violation o. the spint Of
me law In IT'S resolutions, journals
lna 10 its speeches 'bst parry nas de-
'iared us de'es'Ai'on o. soch abuses
mo !, us purposes 70 reform them AZ
ne last session ci congress u made II
! CRIME, punishable win imprisonment
IND deprivation q once, 10 levy as
upon once ho'aers Tor point
cei prrpo~es- IL limited the punish