Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-08-12
The Congressional Question Of 1878
Contrasted with 1880.
From the Lewistown Free Press.

From the Lewistown Free Press.
The campaign of 1878 was a phenom
email one in Pennsylvania politics. Fo
the first time in many years a disturb
ing element entered into the confess
which threatened destruction to the
calculations Of the most astute leader,
in both the old parties. A third ticket
was in the field for State, and, in most
cases, for congressional, legislative and
county officers. The strength of thi:
third party was the unknown quantity
which confused the judgment of old
political managers and made them more
than anxious to propitiste as far as
possible those of their own households
who had gathered under the new ban.
ner. Under the lead Of mistaken men
the campaign of the Greenback organ.
ization became q crusade against prop.
erty, the obligations of the government
and particularly the National Banks
1t was the misfortune of ex Gov. Curtin
TO be candidate for Congress at this
juncture in district in which the feel.
ing against men of wealth was lashed
into white heat. From every portion
of his district was heard the most viru.
lent denunciation of those who were fl.
nancially interested in National Banks,
or who were holders of the bonds OF our
government. Ii was time when men, 5
reason was overthrown and their pas
sions cunningly played upon. The
men who composed this new party and
who were in the forefront of the fight
remembered nothing but that Governor
Curtin was a stock holder in National
Bank and a man of large means, and
therefore the legitimate prey of those
who were clamorous for nothing more
or less than the annihilation of all who
were even remotely connected with the
banking institutions which they hated
with so cordial hate. The magnificent
services of Governor Curtin to his State
and country; his matchless devotion
and patriotic selfsacrifce in the dark
hours of civil war the unfaded lustre
he shed upon the great commonwealth
whose Chief Executive he was, laboring
day and night to equip her brave sons
no thav aooLal aro,,oJ H.. "a L.. Ill
ready to do battle for their country's
honor, all these things were forgotten
in 1878 and Governor Curtin's connec.
tion with National Bank was sufficient
to efface past that is glorious with
noble deeds. Looking back dispassion.
ately at the surroundings of the con.
gressional campaign of 1878, the pas
sions evoked and aroused, the preiu.
dices appealed TO and all the influence
at work, 1t will be conceded that Gov.
Curtin had much to contend with. And
yet with all this weight TO carry he re.
ceived the suffrages of 1881 voters in
the district, only 500 less than the Dem.
ocratic candidate for Supreme Judge
received at the same election, and
only 624 below the Democratic vote
cast for Lieut.. Governor, which is, per.
haps. the fairest test of party strength
at that time in the counties composing
the Goth congressional district. Mr..
Dill's vote was l4,245, only s64 in ex.
cess Of that cast for Gov. Curtin, in
district in which they both resided, and
who could truthfully plead not guilty to
the chargeof being bond holder. then
held to be the objectionable sin by the
new factor in politics.
How different will be the canvass of
lSS0i With Winfield Scott Hancock
as the Democratic candidate for Presi.
dent. 1t seems most appropriate that
Andrew @. Curtin should accompany
him on the ticket for Congress in the
Goth district. Every plea made for
Hancock applies with equal force 10
Curtin. While Hancock was striking
heavy blows against armed rebellion on
the battIefelds Of the Union, Curtin,