The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-10-24
How Do Yon Yotef

tates now the public mind, especially
that portion represented In the names
of the numerous nominees of the diff
ferent party organizations now strug-
CLING for the mastery in the fierce bat
tie now waging, which shall continue
to wax hotter and hotter, till the
eventful 5th of November shall have
decided the issues of this memorable
campaign, this triangular fight by the
free ballots OF free men. Freedom
first had its birth with us in the decla-
ration "that all men are created equal;
that they are endowed by their creator
with certain inalienable rights, such
as life, liberty and the pursuit of hap
piness."
Among the rights covered by the
word liberty is the sacred right of
suffrage-a right guaranteed by our
constitution to every male citizen who
has passed the age of twenty one years
and has subscribed to certain condi
tions enjoined by law. In that right
he has the choice, when not intimi-
dated by force Of circumstances or
force of arms to cast his vote with that
party and for those men who in bis
honest judgment are best calculated
to conduct the affairs of government
the most intelligently and honestly.
We hold that two great parties are
necessary to preserve the equilibrium
of any government or state, each hold
ing the other in check, and thus pre-
venting that oppression and fraud
which grows out of great monopoly
of place or power; and we further
hold that in either of the great parties
which now move the destinies of this
nation there are essential elements of
good. Which of these great parties
contain the best governing element
and the noblest principles is the ques.
ton that presents itself for solution to
the mind of every thinking man.
Said the eloquent Henry: "There is
only one lamp by which my feet are
guided, and that is the lamp of expe-
rience. 1 know of no way of judging
of the future hut by the past" Seeing
then by this light thrown backward as
we look down the history of the past
and carefully compare party records,
we ask to which of the two great par
ties belongs the honor of having
achieved the greatest national benefits.
There are issues which the one party
claim are dead, but to which the voice
of oppressed millions answers "No ~
When the shackles of national serf.
dom were stricken off, bequeathing in
one sweep of the pen the sovereign
right of suffrage to four million freed
men, freedom had its second birth.
OF this spake the noble Lincoln:
'"That this nation, under God, shall
have new birth of freedom, and that
government of the people, by the peo-
pie, and for the people, shall not perish
from the earth" Then it was that
there went up from the hearts of
thousands throughout the christian
world acclamations of joy. Then it
was that the party, then, as now, in
power, achieved a national benefit-a
world wide beneficer.
Again, when in 1850 men who are
now clamoring for place and power
sought the betrayal of the national
honor in rebellion, when for q moment
throughout the northern heart terror
reigned and all seemed chaos, the Re-
publican party, then coming into pow
er, held firm the helm of state, and,
supported by the loyal sons of the
north, guided her safely through the
dark days of long and bloody war,
preserving the union and maintaining
throughout our character end dignity
as nation. This was a national bene-
fit. And further, when the war was
on and the burdens were heavy there
was general prosperity east and west,
vast enterprises were projected and ex-
ecuted, vast capital was embarked in
the many industries conducted
throughout the land, giving employ
ment to thousands of men. This was
a national benefit.
Again, for years after the war had
closed there was general business ac-
tivity and prosperity, during which
the wise and frugal secured larger
wealth, till, as natural result of over
production and unbounded speculation,
there came those financial crashes
which always follow sooner or later in
the wake of any great revolution. And
then we began to feel the reaction in
the pressure of the times.
AS hard times are always charged by
the "Outs" to the "Ins," so now cum
ming arguments are used by political
leaders to show that the present finan-
cial outlook is the result of fraud and
misrule. They would array labor
against capital-a pernicious doctrine
which should never be entertained by.
men of clear and unbiased judgment,
as the two are closely allied and should
ever go hand in hand. Fraud Fraud
is the hue and cry raised by the party
seeking place in every campaign in
any state. Isolated instances of fraud
should not be charged to the party in
power, as in every party there are
those who would betray the honor of
their party for the sake of gam.
WbiIa 6iSouccipp tba pOliticol Of