Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1881-02-09

money. There was no ability in the
father or the son,--not even pre-.
tence Of IL, They were not speakers,
nor writers, nor thinkers, nor philoso.
pliers, They were simply rich men,
and their most intimate friends can.
nQs~point out one single act Of benevo.
lenco to any public association from
either even vicarious suggestion Of
public benefit, no scheme of education,
no one work of reform. Joined to this
power Of purchase, camo other wretch.
ed attributes, In power in the Sen
ate, the two men seized the high places
of the Government; and with these
they punished all who would not ap.
plaud their combination, and rewarded
all who did not hesitate to praise them.
The manner in which their terrorism
has been maintained on the one hand,
and submitted to on the other, has no
parallel m any modern community.
II has crushed out the public spirit Of
most Of our young men. 1t has made
thousands who were too poor to pro.
test, mere claquers aud echoes of sue.
cossiui and reckless knaves Many
humbly take places at tho hands Of
the successful purchaser Of Senator.
ships, confessing their compelled hu.
initiation. Others see how Presidents
and Cabinets yield to these influences
and sally admit that nothing else is to
bo expected from strangers when the
people of Pennsylvania sell out their
own birthright without hesitation to
interiors. Occasionally there is a revolt,
but it is always feeble, and temporary
because there are always newspa.
pers ready to assail independent
thought, even while they admit the
justice OF the example. The result is
that independence is rare because il is
risky, and that reckless tyranny be.
comes more defiant in the face of
frightened people. Hence public opin-
ion as such is crushed or sicnced, and
the transgressor not only goes free,
but forgiven not only forgiven but
honored.
1t is worth recollecting that before
this purchasing business began in
Pennsylvania, we had some very cred
table Senators in Congress, Geo. NJ,
Dallas, William Findlay, Robert Nor
ris, George Logan, Albert Gallatin,
Abner Laycock, Walter Lowrie, VIM.
Wilkins, and James Buchanan. Since
the Senate has become the preserve of
a family in Pennsylvania, other States
have been careful to send their best
lntellects to that branch of Congress
In Pennsylvania the late choice of
Senators has been decided in certain
way : but Illinois had sent Douglas
and Trumbull New York, Dickinson
and Herman; New Jersey, Frelng-
huysen and Stockton; Delaware, Bay
ard Maryland ReverIy johnson
Massachusetts, Wilson and Sumner
Indiana, Morton and Hendricks. In
all the gigantic struggle, during and
since the war, Pennsylvania has been
silent and unknown, except whore Sen
ltors like Bigler, Buckalew, Cowan,
Wallace, and Wilmot were elected by
legislatures. Every coun.
ty can point to its statesmen and ora
tors Of both parties; It's scholars and |
its men of science and culture |
among Republicans and Democrats. /.
The first are rarely called forth, while |
Bigler, Buckalew, and Wallace are
chiefly remembered to prove what the .
Democrats could do, ii the majority I
favored them as often rs the other side. I
The Republicans are as truly disiran .
,hised as if they lived in China. so far
rs the United States Senator is con f,
,erned
1t is to the further shame of Penn /
'ylvania that the John Welsh Corrup-
ion Fund originated in this State.
Like the bribery of the legislature, it
grew from the same seed. The two
we're equally infamous, and will long
% remembered as warnings. In Eng.
and both examples would have been
erubly avenged. The new law there
las made such offences crimes; a. we
'ealze almost every day a member of
Parliament is indicted for bribery. It
: word and blow. One proof ends
he case. Confession follows the fact
If purchase, and the Judge acts like
lash, Here we have our laws too.
But they are dead. They are down in
tatute books, but they are scorned by
,ur servants Our judges do not see
hem. Oar legislatures turn away
rom them. Our press ignores them.
n England, where money is a great
'ower, law is greater; and even there
When the aristocracy holds the House
# Lords, young ambition may force
is way into the Commons, in defiance
Il the god Plutus, and push the mill.
onaire out Of his purchased cushions.
-ForHey'S ProqreSs.