The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-10-23


do their own thinking, no doubt believe
that it would be great blessing II many of
our prominent politicians of both parties
could be ousted from power. But when
election comes around these politicians
frantically wave the "bloody shirt" and
many of our good innocent voters become
alarmed and then turn in and help to make
them more powerful than ever before, and
after they have them re.installed in power,
then they begin anew their usual growing
and fault-fnding. Let us al be more free
and independent, no matter what party we
belong to; it will be for the good of the
country.
The policy of the Republican party since
the close of the war is also a question de-
serving the most thoughtful consideration.
! 1t may in the future haunt the party that
upheld the policy and made precedents
Necessity knows no law" and that maxim
will justify all that was done during the
war, outside Of the Constitution, but when
strong government lie invoked in time
of peace for the advantage Of the party in
power then the doctrine Of necessity will no
longer apply. A government may become
too strong for the good of the people. State
sovereignty and the powers conferred upon
the general government by the States are
not well understood. The States or colonies
existed in their sovereign capacities when
they made and ratified the Constitution of
the United States, and ever since it was rati-
fed by the people there has been a success
sion of contending political parties of near
ly equal strength. The main ideas about
which they differ have not changed much.
One has always favored strong govern
ment and the other has always resisted all
unnecessary interference by the government
with the affairs of the citizen. The strong
passions of the war, and the exigencies of
that unforeseen event, confused and partly
blotted out these distinctions.
The Republican party succeeded to the
ideas of the Whgs,and whatever party takes
tho place Of the Republican organization,
will naturally inherit the same views. II
will be composed of most of the men who
believe in regulating mans food and drink
by law, and all those who think that the
power Of the general government ought TO
be brought 10 bear to accomplish all sorts cl
results in public affairs. On the other hand,
the cardinal idea Of the Democratic party, is
and has been that much government is an
evil that the powers Of the general govern
ment must be exercised within the strict
limits prescribed by the Constitution that
the vitality Of the state governments must
not be impaired nor their authority ntrench-
ed upon and that the citizen should en-
joy the largest liberty to n anage his own
affairs consistent with public order. These
two ideas of the parties will not always be
plainly expressed in party platforms, be-
cause the parties will probably be closely
balanced and each will compromise some
what in its public declarations, for the pur-
pose Of gaining votes, but will no doubt al
ways be the underlying principles of the
parties. These subjects have not been thor
oughly discussed of late and many people
have but a vague idea Of the nature of the
foundations upon which our liberties and
rights rest.
Since so much has been said in relation
to a protective tariff ! will add few words
upon that subject. AS far as the tariff ques
tion is concerned, every well informed man
knows, that that is at present no party ques-
ton. Tariff and Free Trade depend on local
circumstances, and in this country it will
hardly ever be possible to make it a strict
party question. Localities largely engaged
in manufacturing favor a tariff as matter
Of course, while localities that have to buy
everything in that line favor free trade, anC
the result is that some of the strongest Re
publican states are opposed to a high tariff
1t depends upon local interests which are
very dIssimlar in the different states. II
this State we all favor high tariff becaus
we are q great manufacturing State, but i
we vote for Gen. Garfield, an honorary mem
Der of the celebrated Golden Free Trad
Club, fear we will not be putting our votes
"where they will do the most good"
In conclusion, believe that the election
, of Gen. Hancock would be a great blessing
to our common country; that it would re
store to us a new era of peace and prosper
ity. The history of this country, as well a
of other countries, is that the people ARE no
ingtateful 10 the heroes of their wars. tn
United States has made ample and libera
= provision for pensoning her disabled soldier
, ot the late war. And when a man lik
Gen. Hancock, true and tried and in ever
. way qualified, is put before them for hig
" and honorable office, the people ought to SUI
port him. A soldier who shed his blood upo
the field Of Gettysburg, TO protect our FIR,
sides from the invader,i is surely entitled I
!. "Ingratitude is abhorred by God and man
do not intend to let the glare of q can
paign torch and the loud rantings of pal
", political speakers divert me from the pat
Of duty, | served more than !our years q
the field during the late war,and on electIo
day cannot be induced to forget a bra,
soldier and an upright man like Gen. Hat
cock, When cast my vote Tor him for Il
high office of President of our grand en-
:, pire Of States cannot help but rememb
M his glorious service, not only at Gettysbur
but on many other important fields OF battl
- Pennsylyaninns ought not to forget hi
nor snoud they show their ingratitude to,
ards the greatest Of fhersurviving soldiers.nr
one Of the ablest and best of her citizen
T., when they exercise their high prerogatiye
in the choice Of their Chief Magistrate
~. the polls in November. hope the daywi
never come when the freemen of this cour
i, try will become the slaves of any creed {
, party, 50 that they will not feel free to a,
and vote as their consciences may dictate.
''' Very Respectfully,
70 VIM. NJ. RAPSHER.
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Granted by the United States to citizens Of tn
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