Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1876-01-05
LETTER NUMBER ONE

ton of Democratic principles in a
homcly way, to the end that reason
and thought may guide us to just
view of our political duty, What "a
here said will not be defended. Its sole
purpose is to suggest thought and to
reproduce principles sometimes lost
! sight of. In what Is said, no attempt
win bc made to appeal to passion OF
to rally prejudice, but argument OF
criticism, if used at all, will be used
with calmnoss and without abuse. The
times are propitious tor sober second
hought. Business adversely and pc
cuniary disaster have reached to ovory
door-sill The days are evil and men
grow fearful of the future. In such an
hour it is wise TO draw experience
from the lessons OF the past--to sit ut
the feet of the sages of our party and
gather there wisdom and knowledge
for use among the troubles of the pres.
cnt. BY the Democrat who loves and
reveres the principles of free Govern
ment, and who believes that they
should be sacredly maintained, the
lessons o. Jefferson, the founder of his
party, are always in season, always
respected, and, SO far as the progress
of events will permit, are always to be
obeyed His creed. now nearly three
quarters of century old, Is rs perfect
compendium of political truth now
as when ho uttered it, and it is the
very essence of tho faith of an honest
Democrat. Let us repeat it and
remember il: Equal and exact
justice to all men of whatever state or
persuasion, religious orpolitical peace,
commerce and honest friendship with
all nations--entangling alliances with
none the support of the State govern
ments in all their rights as the most
competent administrations for our do
mesiic concerns and the surcst bul.
warks against anti-republican tendon.
cies the preservation of the general
Government in its whole constitutional
vigor as the sheet anchor Of our peace
at home and safety abroad; u jealous
care of the right of election by the
people absolute acquiesence in the de-
cisions Of the majority; a well disci-
plined militia the supremacy of the
civil over the military authority; econo-
my in the public expense, that labor
may be lightly burdcned the honest
payment of our debts and sacred
preservation of the public faith; en-
couraS cement of agriculture, and OF
commerce as its handmade; the diffusion
Of information, and the arraignment OF
all abuses at the bar Of public reason
freedom of religion freedom Of the
press freedom of person under the
protection of the hdbeds corpus, and
trial by juries impartially selected,
This should be the creed Of our politi-
cal iaith--the touchstone by which to
try the services of those we trust
AS the great truths that make up
the aggregate Of the Christian religion
never lose their force nor their value
in the world of morals, so these great
doctrines are of binding force and eff
cacy in the world Of politics Our
form of government can only be sue
cessfully administered when they are
rigidly observed Neglect of the oh.
servance Of those principles, or viola
tions Of their teachings, invariably re
act upon the people and bring in their
train countless ills. The man who
does not seek Office, or who neither
secs nor feels any direct benefit to him.
selffrom theperiodical changes ofrulcrs
that occur under our systemvery often,
thinks il does not matter to him who
rules or what principles govern. But
when financial distress pcrvades every
part of the country and comes TO the
daily life of these men, thcysarc taught
by sad experience that 1t IS q matter
of grave Importance to them who gov.
erns and what principles prevail
Jcfersons maxims were good for
the people of his day, and they are in.
valuable for all the people of our day.
"The preservation of the general Gov
ernment in its whole constitutional
vigor,' if faithfully observed would
have made secession impossible and
saved us of all the woes that flowed
thercfrom. "A Jealous care ofthe right
Of election by the people" would pun
ish with Just severity the frauds and
outrages upon the ballot by which the
verdict Of the people have again and
again been reversed, "The supremacy
of the civil over the military authority
would have spared us the spectacle Of
a Louisiana legislature dispersed at the
point of the bayonet Economy in
the public expense to the end that la.
bor may be lightly burdened is plainly
the need of the present but labor helps
its enemies and ike blind giant
wastes its strength in aiding those who
are the very agents of extravagance
"The honest payment of our debts and
sacred preservation ofthe public faith
may well be commended to those with
in the circle of our party who forget
the intrinsic value Of n promise fe pay
, and ignore our traditions in the hope
of personal gain.
dThe diffusion ofiniormation and the
arraignment of all abuses at the bar oi
public reason" teaches us the lessor
that our institutions are based upon
the intelligence Of the people, and that
an appeal TO that intelligence through
= "the bar of public reason" is n better
corrective of abuses than is the remedy
that n secret oonclave of oath bound
associates would provide. The latter
is an appeal to passion, secrecy ant
= ignorance; the former to reason, light
and intelligence. aFreedom ofreligion,
Of the press, and OF the person have
each and all of them by turns borne
the brunt of passion and of prejudice
and evidence thickens that the very
basest instincts Of our natures are
about to be appealed to in behalf Of re
ligion, in order TO preserve power fol
those who have 50 shamcfully misuseC
: t. Wherever and whenever we fine
darkness sought and light avoided
prejudice aroused and reason ignorcC
, or passion invoked and calm though
driven out, if We have the instinct of .
Democrat we will at once recognize
the hand of those who hate our princi
+ pies, dctest our policy and seek a con
tinuancc of radical rule,
? Let us stop and think, and use oul
COMMON SENSE.
4 "RApIoAL" REFORM, The Secro
tary Of the Treasury is engaged il
the work Of reducing expenses in th'
|, custom houses, the pay of inspection
being cut down IRON 81 to $3.50 pc
day, and the salary Of clerks reduced