The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-10-20
PATTIsON'S GREAT SPEECH
TIE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE ON THE
ISSUES OF TIE CAMPAIGN
HE POINTS OUT NEEDED REFORMS IN THE
STATE GOVERNMENT AND SHOWS
HOW THEY ARE TO BE
ACCOMPLISHED.

ACCOMPLISHED.
AT reception to the Democratic
State candidates by the Commonwealth
Club of Phila. OH Tuesday evening,
Sept. 10, Hon Robert Emory Pattison,
Democratic candidate for Governor
spoke as follows:
Mr.. PREsIpENT AND GENTLEMEN-I
thank the Commonwealth Club for this
tribute to the State candidates. | am
glad to be present at a reception rendered
by an association, which, as | under
stand, had its origin in the desire to
assist in placing the Democratic party
in Philadelphia in accord with the popu-
lar demand for administrative reform
and the purfcation OF the public SER
vice. My engagements as public Of
fetal have made it impossible for me to
embrace the many opportunities hither-
to presented for meeting the people
throughout the state. ] do not mean
to ne glect the duties of one office for
the purpose of being elevated to
another
cannot resist feeling of difidence
when | contemplate the Importance OF
the responsible office for which have
been named. The reflection which l
have given to the subject has streng-
thened my convictions of the trust i'm
posed upon the executive OF the com
monwealth. The people through their
constitution have commanded that he
shall take care that the laws be faith
fully executed. This injunction car
ries with it a weight of meaning that
grows in importance with attentive
consideration. 1t means more than
that the governor shall be mere auto.
maton to sign his name to acts of legis-
lation, nominate men to office and draw
his yearly salary. The constitution in
vests him with the highest and gravest
responsibilities. By his veto, if faith
fully and firmly exercised, the Cover
nor is check upon hasty, extravagant
and pernicious legislation. He has
the right to an account of their stew
ardship from the heads of all the exec
tive departments The treasurer who
is the custodian of the peoples money {;
the auditor general who is the chief ac-
counting officer of the commonwealth
and the inspector of every draft drawn
against the treasury the secretary Of
internal affairs, who has a general
supervision of the corporations OF the
state and her business and material
interests the attorney general, the
superintendent of public instruction,
the secretary of the commonwealth-all
are subject to the inquisition of the
chief magistrate of the people charged
with the faithful execution OF the laws.
THE JUST EXECUTToN OF LAW.
The Just execution of criminal law,
also is in his keeping. BY the inordi-
nate exercise of executive clemency the
prison doors may be opened and the
transgressors of the law escape just
punishment. 1t is mistake to sup
pose that favorable decision of the
pardon board is conclusive upon the
executive. The recommendations OF
that board are advisory merely. By
the fundamental law the final power to
grant pardons is vested in the governor,
who aloneis responsible for the exercise
of this grave duty.
take advantage of this opportunity
to say that, in my judgment, the is
sues of the coming election are confined
within the four corners of our state.
Between Lake Erie and the Delaware
and from the Northern tier to the
Southern border is to be found the rea-
son for every question legitimately
entering into the contest. Any at
tempt to import issues is an effort to
detract public attention from the real
questions involved in the campaign.
This occasion would not Justify me in
making a lengthy speech. 1t may be
fitting, however, that briefly state one
Or two thoughts upon matters that I'M
press me as important for present
public consideration.
One of the gravest evils in our poll
teal system is the low estimate of duty
held by public functionaries. This
arises from their failure to recognize
this fundamental idea of our govern
ment That a public office is a public
trust to be executed for the benefit Of
the whole people to whom alone of
ficals owe responsibility and of whose
will they should be the faithful expo
nents When this conception of duty