Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-01-29

is equally their privilege and their
duty to make their interests and their
wishes known through their legisla-
tive representatives, by committee,
by writing, or by direct personal in
terview with the Executive. Such
careful, special, intelligent, unreserv-
ed expression upon the part of the
people, would enable both the Legis
lative and Executive branches of their
government to act with a clearer ap-
preciation of their necessities. 1
speak now for myself alone, but 1
am at the same time confident that 1
express the sentiments of every gen
tleman who is officially related to the
State administration.
We are renewing, in part, the per-
sonel of our State government, at a
period of momentous interest in our
national affairs. The one great ques-
ton yet to be solved is: Shall gov
ernment by the ballot be maintained
in this country, with equal political
rights for all legal voters. Pennsyl-
vania's attitude on that question is
known wherever her name is known.
That she will insist on the enforce
ment of the authority of the National
Constitution, in every State of the
National Union, is as certain as that
her mountain peaks point toward
heaven, and her rivers roll to the sea-
Under no circumstances can she ever
recede from this position. Strong in
herself, stronger in virtue of the con-
stitutional relationship to her sister
States, she viii be magnanimous, con-
ciliating and patient. But justice, In
the end, must, with her be paramount.
Upon this high ground she will de
mand that the provisions of a Con
stitution made for all, shall be con-
formed to by all. This question goes
not only to her political convictions,
to her estimate of the worth of our
civilization, but to the consciences OF
her population. Pennsylvania bows
in unalterable devotion to the grand
ideas of the supremacy, perpetuity
and glory of the nation.
1 have detained you, fellow-citizens,
beyond my intention, and Will there
fore claim your indulgence but a mo-
ment longer for a personal allusion.
1 should be guilty Of insincerity if I
affected Indifference to the honor of
the trust your suffrages have confd-
ed to me. 1 am incapable of express
sing my heartfelt sense of its value,
or the strength of my purpose to
prove that it has not been misplaced.
SO much, in brief, to those to whom
/ directly owe my election.
Che word to my fellow-citizens who
preferred and supported my honor
able competitors. 1t is worthy of a
free people thai they bear themselves
with propriety and self-control,
through the contentious and excite
ments of general election. 1t is
gratifying to myself, and dour tless
equally SO to all who were actively
engaged in the late canvass, that
there was so little manifestation of
bitterness. The great debate was
with calmness, as it was
also with earnestness. For the kind
ness and courtesy extended to me by
my political adversaries, l have to say
that if they had voted for me from
the same sense of duty which gave
their ballots to my opponents, 1 could
not be more firmly resolved that 1
am, to be impartial and faithful in
discharging the Obligations 1 owe to
them as Chief Executive of the Com
My political views and
convictions will and ought, unques-
tionably, to influence and shape some
of my official recommendations but
in protecting the constitutional and
legal rights of the citizen, no party
distinction can ever for one moment
be recognized.
In conclusion, fellow citizens, per
NIT me to remind you of the individ-
ual responsibility of each citizen, for
the aggregate well-being of the com
Each of us owes the high
est measure of fidelity to the justice,
the pcwer and the right embodied in
the State. Under the peace and pro-
lection it secures, all our traffic is
prosecuted and all our property is
shielded. Under it the social prlEci-
pie is allowed scope to found asylums,
lodges, seminaries and churches, and
to perfect the Commonwealth itself.
There can be no right citizenship
without an intelligent understanding
Of the principles which the govern
ment organizes and of the ideas which
it represents. Each citizen should
be able on his own information and
not depending on any interested job
Der or meddler to tell when there is
a departure from rectitude, where a
wrong tendency sets in, and where a
peril confronts us. 1t is a cardinal
principle underlying the political
creeds of all self-governing people,
which affirms each citizen to be as
fully responsible for the welfare of
the State as be is for his own person.
al safety and happiness. Private cit
lzen and magistrate are equally under
this fundamental law of the republic.
As you have heard me bound by
an oath to obey the laws Of the Com
so have 1, in turn, the
correlative right to hear the voice of
the ten thousands of freemen in Penn
sylvania pledging themselves to obey
the laws which they themselves have
made No strength of soldiery, no
wealth of farms and factories, of rail-
roads and Goals, no perfection of gov
mechanism can save faith
ess people from perishing.
Two Men Burned Alive.
The rumor that two men had been
burned alive by revengeful enemies in