Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-10-02
REPUBLICAN POLICY SUSTAINED,

From the Huntingdon pa. Journal
From the beginning OF time, in all lands, and
under every form o; government. the party in
power has always been the shield against which
have been thrown the shafts OF malice. Tie
fierce light which beais against the throne illu-
inmates the most trining fault. and what would
be q mistake out of power, is sharpened and
magni:ieG into fault when in power. Only
fool would assert that the Republican party
has not made mistakes, but they have grown
up like ew weeds that will creep into an
extensive and magnificent garden. The beauty
OF the flowers and is superb and luscious fruits
in their endless variety make completely insiar-
nitcant the harmless weed that steals up in
some obscure corner. This grand party sprang
into existence when the country was
bankrupt in means, contempiib!e in
the eyes of other nations, and GishOn-
ored ia the eyes of the world. rs repub-
lie boasin- OF It's free institutions, We, holding
millions of slaves. II Was party without nr-
ganization, opposed BY party whose President
and Cabinet had, either through cOnnivance or
actual assistance, robbed the arsenals OF arms,
scattered the navy 10 the ends of the earth and
paraiyzed the army with the sole view OF pro
noting armed rebellion and disiHtegraring the
United States. When the thunders oi Braurr-
CARDS guns echoed IRON the broken walls OF
Sumter, leaping from the grauiie beds OF
Maine 10 the fair slopes of the Pacific, it was
that the Republican party leaped into exist
euce. 1t was the new partT that WAS TO wipe
oil the shame that stained the uaiiou's brow,
break the bonds of the slaves. and settle for all
time thai treason could have no fOOthold in
this country. Steadiasily, in the face OF bitter
est resistance, it pursued this lofty purpose.
Driving out OF power the imbecile Buchanan
and his traitor advisers, il Organized armies,
illed the piliered arsenals with arms, created
a navy, and the basrless fabric of empty
vaults, built up Treasury that SUPPORTED
millions of men aud literally crushed the bold
est and most magnihcently proportional rebel
lion the worlds record. Thousands were
the lives that were given to bring about this
end, but, As If TO hold up TO all future history
how sacred was the struggle and how holy was
lis accomplishment. the assassin sealed il with
the blood OF Abraham Lincoln. Since that
time the leniency shown to the Traitors against
the Republic has Oeen steadily working 10 the
Injury OF the party. We do not assert an ap-
pIoach 10 an eIaggeraiiOn when We say that
the day Lees army surrendered there spread
through the South feeling OF terror tha
lived until the words OF forgiveness from the
Republican party poured oil over their troubled
minds. Iusiead of bringing forth the fruits OF
repentance, the universal result was hatred
toward the Government that had pardoned
them, persecution and murder of its officials,
aud an awful record of cruelty towards
the ignorant freedmen. At every
step the Republican party was met by desire
for disorder. Years have been wasted ia Con-
gress to paeify these unhappy people through
out the South. Years have been consumed
trying To lead them iu the path of right and to
protect from their vengeance the millions
of blacks. To this constant tur nOil ia the
South is 10 be attributed much of the financial
distress of the country. Tie merchant is con-
servative by nature, and seeing how little tHe
merchants of the South were deserving .!
credit under such anarchy, the Northern capi-
ton. By the natural influence of trade the
feeling Of fear OF some unknown evil that was
really igTiS fdfIals, the lack OF confidence
spread to the West. thence by the same logic
To the East. until that hydra-headed
fend TO the success o: business, u general
want of confidence, peryaded the eutirr
community As i natura! sequence came
the stopping of mills, iOUuIries, and factories,
the breaking down OF solid business houses,
the appalling sacrifices OF all kinds of stocks
and bonds, the boundless depreciation of real
estate. Millions of operatives in every branch
OF industry, who had up to this period been
able to possess comfortable homes, were COM
pelled to herd into tenement houses The
pawuhroker fourished, while the artisan
suffered, and Eaunt famine sta!ked where glee-
some prosperity had made happy hresides- We
assert that this state of affairs was brought
about solely by the opponents OF the Repuoll-
can party. While it was untrammelled the
country was prosperous, and Ouly when fought
against by treason without its lines and
treachery within, did sorrow come upon the
people.
Nov this Is the par y that is arraigned by the
Honorable X. VI. Speer, Chairman Of the
Democratic State Committee, in a speech de-
livered At McConnellsburg, September q,
1873. The sad picture he draws OF the con-
dition OF the country Is the strongest con-
demuation of the Democratic party. Much
of his speech is devoted to 4 denunciation Of
the National banking system. Cannot Mr..
Speer remember when the country merchant
had to make a large per centGm Of allowance
On his annual profit aud loss estimate 10 the
large discount upon currency that comprised
innumerable banks Of ali kinds, about which
lew people knew anything: The wildcat bank
has ruined many merchant aud cost the
country millions of dollars. The Traveller from
Maine could only Use his cure ncy,iu Alabama
by having il largely shaved, aud should he get
lack to Maine with his Alabama currency there
came another shave. Does not Mr.. Spssr know
that for the guarantee from the Government OF
the inyiolability of the National banking cur
rcI.cy, aud The convenience of having this cur
rency pas>able At al! parts OF the country, that
every merchant feels he gets OF cheapiy for
the expense of the system The merchant
is ALWAYS willing 10 pay something
when he gets something in return. has Mr..
Spver ever heard OF National bank note
going 70 protest! Can ne euumerate the
thousands OF bank notes, under the old system,
WHICH were worth protesting! But. nos con-
tent with assaiI.ug the National hauk note. he
advocates the substitution oi the Crecnhack.
DE would establish power ut Washington
controlling the currency oi the people. subject
TO all the changes that arise from political
mutations, under the plea that it would lie
cheaper. He would swell the avenues Of trade
WIKI pieces Of paper having no value, but i
promise 10 pay money ty the Treasury, when
back oil It he knows would be no capital To
cover X. Every merchant would know that
the time might come wneu the great central
bank 1T Washington might be embarrassed,
could not pay its notes on demand, aud then
would come a food OF embarrassment that can
only be Imagined. Instead oil having tndn-
ciai system aaring its headquarters in ever
town, with the people OF tla; tOSn as stock
holders to watch its condition., lac would des
troy this perfect means of protection BECAUSE il
costs something!
Another burden of Mr.. Speer's speech IS the
comparative expense of running the ) ate aud
National Gov ruIueuts- His CON niari>ous savur