The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-09-20
The Real Question Cor Voters.

briefly, which party, taken on Its
record, is entitled TO administer the
affairs of the State and ofthe nation?"
The Republican party arose in 1884
and became a factor, crystallized as
an organization in 1856. and won its
first national victory in 1860. Since
that time it has been practically the
shaper Of national policy and the
controller of national destiny. Its
doings are facts ef record. The an
nails OF Congress exist without q
brt ak. Not a page, not even line
has been expunged. Such as IT is
every man who can read and who
cares to act upon information in cas-
ting his vote, can appeal to It and
form his conclusions. II is not a
perfect record If by a perfect record
we mean a record without an error.
But Just as it is the party goes upon
it before the people and
asks their suffrages. The party does
not ask oblivion for a single page OF
that record. One high purpose runs
through it all. from 1861 TO 1882, ard
that purpose relates to universal hb-
erty as a basis Just government.
economy in the administration Of
national and State affairs, and a fault
less public credit.
On the other hand stands the record
of the Democracy from 1882 to 1860
as a majority party, and Its record
from 1860 to 1882 as a minority par
ty. The first act of a Democratic
President was an act in violation Of
ali his pledges in consenting to the
destruction OF the Tariff of 1923. A
brief period of Wing rule gave the
country the Tariff OF 1912, under
when the wages of labor and the
opportunity to labor protitably IN
creased, and the country entered up
on period of thrift after the collapse
of 1897. The Democrats returned to
powerin lS45 under a distinct pledge
10 the people to maintain the Tariff
Of 1S42. Their first work was to abol-
ish that beneficenJ measure and
substitute for it the Tariff of 1916.
The result of this periidy was seen
in the collapses of 1S47 and 1897, the
decrease of the wages of labor and
the universal prostration of our IN
dustries. Meantime the question of
the extension of slavery into the vlr.
gin Territories arose, ana the Demo
cratic party struck hands with the
oligarchy, who believed and taught
that capital should own labor, and
in collision with the oligarchy
brought on the rebellion of 1861.
This is history as derived from
the record. Ssnce 1861 the Demo
cratic party has used its power to
obstruct and hinder the government
ordained by the people. 1t opposed
amendment Of the Constitution
intended to secure the result Of the
war for national life. 1t opposed
every reconstruction measure and
taught that rebellion against FEEDER
al authority is not a crime. OF all
the great measures of finance which
constitute Republican financial pol
icy the Democratic leaders have not
aided in adopting one. They have
opposed all that now, after years OF
successful operation. they annually
approve. The country as it exists
to-day, with all its varied industry,
its thrift, its high credit, and its
place among great nations, is liter
ally the creation of the people
through the Republican party
The State of Pennsylvania, with its
vast fixed capital applied to the de-
velopment Of its great resources,
with its great railway system and
numerous local markets, and with
its preferred credit, is simply mon
ument of the wise rule of the Re-
publican party. The question for
Republican voters is-"which party
has earned the right to administer
State and national aiiairs-taking
each upon its record ~
Gen. Beaver. and his colleagues
on the Republican ticket, represent
the record and the result of Republi-
can rule. Mr.. Pattison and his col
leagues on the Democratic ticket,
represent the record of that party
from 1882 to 1882. If Andrew Jack
son could not be trusted to respect
his solemn written pledge to defend
American labor and enterprise
againgt foreign capital and pauper
labor, how are we to trust Mr.. Pat
tison with the vast interests of
Pennsylvania ? His pledges, i'll
made, would be made to the ear on
ly to be broken to the hope. An
untried man: a man dominated by
the most sinister influence known in
State politics 4 man who, whatever
hisinclinations may be, would prove
as wax in the hands of that intiu-
ence to prefer such man
TO a man Of positive character, and
of the known ability and exalt-
ed patriotism of General Beaver, |
would be to prefer the record of
Democratic misrule and Democratic |
hostility TO the vital interests of the /
country. We cannot believe that
the Republicans of Pennsylvania are
afflicted by sIch midsummer mad /,
ness as that would indicate.
Bnt that is exactly what Republi |
can division, if maintained at the
polls, means. if not meaningless.
Only one of two results is possible
in Pennsylvania. Either the Repub-
hcan or the Democratic record must
be endorsed, and whichever shall be
endorsed. and whichever shall be
endorsed will owe its endorsement
to the Republicans of Pennsylvania.
There in no escape from this conciu-
sion. The fine casuistry which teach
es that a vote for a Republican COW
ers the obligation of the Republican
voter to maintain Republican ascen-
drncv ought not 20 deceive body
who does not want to he deceived.
The case Tor Republican voters could
not be palmer were there only two
candidates in the field-Beaver and
Pattison. Practically their arc hut
two candidates, oOe an advanced
Republican, the other a reactionary
Democrat Aud Republicans must
choose between them.