Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-09-04

~ 10 NAhN Ahhh wi WIN NhIf'
fully guarded powers are necessary to
carry out great enterprises, but in grant,
ing privileges superior to those enjoyed
by the individual, the greatest vigilance
should be exercised by the Legislature,
otherwise as all experience proves. hav.
ing once entered the field of special
privilege, their rapacity knows no limit,
and they become engines of oppression,
crushing out every interest but their
own. gathering where they have not
strewn, and reaping where they have
not sown." Recently their grasping
tendency of corporate power has been
displayed in the great oil regions of the
State.
This wonderful natural development
has attracted there immense capital,
the necessary and legitimate result OF
which has been to add largely to the
material wealth OF the Commonwealth.
There the widest field for individual
enterprise has been opened. Thousands
of the active men, the business men,
the live men OF the country, of physical
and intellectual energy. have been
drawn to this center. To foster aud
encourage this interest by proper and
protective legislation, that the producer
may reap the legitimate fruit of his In.
b rr and capital, should be the first care
OF the ealih, and yet, we are
assured by the appeals coming from
the people of that region, that the great
carrying corporations in their discrimi'
nation against the producer and trans.
porter have so paralyscd the enterprise
of individuals, rs TO make them their
servants, 1.-The hcwcrs of wood, and the
drawers Of water
For these wrongs they must hold re.
spousiblc the Republican party, which
has been in full possession Of the execu.
tive and legislative branches of the gov.
eminent.
To correct tLese and many other
grievances, and the more ciicctually TO
guard the approaches of corrupt inhu.
ence upon members OF the Legislature,
new Constitution was demanded. The
ring influence in the Republican party
arrayed itself in opposition 10 the pro.
posed reform, but the people aroused TO
a sense of It's importance, carried the
proposition by an overwhelming ma.
jority. The new Constitution was adopt.
ed. The most stringent provisions were
Incorporated in 1t to curb the encroach'
mcnt OF unwarrantcd corporate power,
and seemingly impossible barriers rails.
ed To prevent the approaches of corrupt
influence upon the representatives OF
the people. The people felt safe in it-
apparent protection, but how vain and
futile were their hopes. Chartered mo.
nopolics refused to submit TO its require.
ments, and the poisonous influence OF
the lobby again found its way into the
halls OF legislation. To the ring comb
nation in the State the Constitution was
but rope OF sand. OF this the proof is
before the ,people-in the recent at.
tempt of the master spirits Of the ring
those who are recognized leaders in the
Republican party, and who control 1t.
conventions and nominate its ticket, "a
debauch the members in the last Lcgis
lature IN the attempt TO pass the 1900.
900 riot bill, Is glaring evidence before
the people, and must convince every
one not blinded by party prejudice that
nothing but the utter exclusion of this
influence, and those whom they may
dictate as candidates for official position
will save the fair fame OF the Common
wealth and place the revenues of III,
people beyond the reach Of organized
corruption.
Hitherto the enemies Of the honest
administration of the government wer,
lnsidious in their approaches TO the
| treasury, but emboldened with long
success with impunity, and the magnt
/ tude OF the prize IN their recent attempt
upon it. they lost their usual caution
and hence investigation has disclosed
the actors--the ruling spirits in the in
| iquity. Some have been condemned in
the body Of which they were members
and others await their trial before a le
gal tribunal. Manfestly the days o
! the political power OF the ring in Penn
| sylvania are drawing to n close.
The Democratic party occupies NJ
uncertain position upon this question
but has placed itself on record before th,
people, in the late Convention, in the
following decided resolution:
"Tenth, That the recent attempt, under
| the personal direction OF ruling Kepubli
can leaders, to debauCh the Legislature by
| Wholesale bribery and corruption, AnC
| take from the common wealth four millioul
| Of dollars for which IL liability has never
been ascertained, is fresh and alarming
evidence Of the sggrrssiyeness of corporal,
| power in collusion with political rings, and
should receive the signal condemnation o
the people at the polls"
But what attitude does the Republi
can party, through its leaders, occupy
on this leading, vital question Of wheth
er fraud or honesty sball be the rule in
| the Statei II is fact, and one which
every honest Republican must admit
that the leaders and controllers of tn,
late convention at Harrisburg, by thcii
action compel him as a member of tn,
party virtually to endorse bribery and
corruption, and to declare that he viii
not have honest meH in office. There is fol
him no escape from the position in
which they have placed him but to re
pudiate their action by voting against
the candidate they have selected.
distinguished Republican, struggling FOL
his political life with the ring, put tn,
question now fairly before that conyen