The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-11-03
Calling the Roll

directness and force, referred to q sub
iect which is of interest ut this time,
viz the decentralization of. politics in
Pennsylvania as illustrated in its evil
effects upon young men and those
taking practical interest in public af
Fairs. Attention was called to the
startling fact that the political high
way is strewn with the wrecks of once
bright and promising young men, and
it was pointed out that there must be
destructive influences at work where
only pme, heathful aud eleyating
atmosphere 3r should prevail. The
thoughtful words of the sober minded
and patriotic Democratic candidate
are only too true, as is abundantly
evidenced by the record of almost
every county inithc state IL is as
though political pestilence had swept
from the Delaware to Lake Erie,
striking down multitude of gifted,
ambitious and noteworthy young men.
A glance at the Legislative record will
bring out most suggestively the idea
referred to, and show, inferentially, in
vivid colors, the miasmatic condition
of the moral political atmosphere at
the state capitol during the past twen
ty years, or since the Republican party
came into power .s.I. d. ,.. ....I I..
Since 1850 over two thousand men
have sat in the Legislature of Pennsyl-
vania. Most OF these, when they first
won't TO Harrisburg, were young mon,
just fairly entering upon the serious
work of life. A large proportion of
them were well fitted, as to mental en-
dowments and early training, for use
full, honorable and distinguished public
service, Nearly all were ambitious to
rise in political life, and it is safe to
say that very few were simply actua
ted by sordid and degrading motives.
| Even those who fell the quickest and
the farthest little dreamed of such
deplOrahle fate. OF course, it was not
possible within the eircumscrbed area
| of single state, and considering the
sharp competition of public life, that
all of these men should become famous
and powerful, hut the disproportion
| between the number reasonably sue
cessful in this respect and the number
OF the lost, 50 to speak, is terribly
suggestive. Take the listof member
ship of the Senate and House, as it ap-
pears in full from 1880 to 1880 in
| Smull's hand book. and it reads like a
roll of the unknown, with here aud
there, at Ion intervals, familiar and
honoreu name, and it is significant
fact that nearly all of these took their
start in public life prior to 1861 fur
ther, that ma ority -ofthem have been
associated with the Democratic purity.
| In the Senate roll we find the names
of Charles II. Buckalew, afterward
United States senator and Democratic
candidate for,g in 1872; A.G.
Brodhead, of Carbon county';' Andrew
III. Dill, Democratic candidate for gov
ernor in 1878; Daniel Ermentrout,
now member of Congress from Berks /,
John w. Killinger, congressional
representative from Lebanon for sev-
eral terms INV. w. Ketchum, after
ward ian influential member of Con
gress, and late 81 United States Judge
Geo. V. Lawrence. elected to Congress
from the Beaver Washington district I;
William McCandless, elected score
tary of internal affairsin 1875 Charles
b. Penrose, now a Judge of the Or
phans' court of Philadelphia; Eli X.
Price, the Nestor of the Philadelphia
bar; VIM. i. Packer, the last Dem
ocratic governor of Pennsylvania,
elected in 1857; Samuel $. Randall,
ex-speaker of the national House of
Representatives, aud Pennsylvania is
most distinguished member in that
body during the present generation
Glenni w. Scoiield, for twelve years
an influential member of congress and
now Judge of the court of claims,
| w Washington VIM. "A Wallace, United
States senator from 1875 to 1881
Hester Clymer, Democratic candidate
for governor and late member of Con
gress :; and John Stewart, Independent,
| Republican candidate for governor. ID
The names of these who are found
on the, roll of the House first, latel
also on that of the Senate, and, there
fore, already referred TO, who have
rendered a good account of themselves
is very ineagre, indeed. j, Simpson
! Africa, the present Democratic candi
date for secretary of internal affairs
heads the list alphabetically, and fol
lowing it down we discover the names
of VIM III. Armstrong. late member
Of Congress from the Lyeoming district
and now a bureau officer at Washing
ton; Charles +. Boyle, Democratic
candidate for Congress III the West
moreland district; Thomas Cochran
president of Il leading financial institu
! ton il. Philadelphia, and one of tn
wheel horses of the Centennial expo
sition; G. Dawson Coleman, VIII
beeame congressman from the Lebanon
district; Henry ID. Foster, Democrat
candidate for goyernorin 1860; Isaa
&. Gordon, now n Justice of til
supreme court of Pennsylvania; Cyru
l.. Pershing, Democratic candidate fo
governor in 1875, the model Judge O
Schuylkill county, to whom the peopl
Of that region are indebted for th
suppression of Mollie Maguireism
John c. Hall, row the able Democrat
senator from Elk county; John
Mitchell, United States senator, an
Charles S. Wolfe, the Independeu
Republican leader. This PRACTICAL
eXhaustS a list, as we have said, 9
over two thousand names,
Here is a revelation which ought t
arouse the people of Pennsylvania t
determined and successful effort t
bring about immediate and effectiv
political reformation. For twent
| wears thn men who have UOne nm I