Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-05-04
The Real Issue.

to the understanding of the people
that one of the principal reasons, if
not the controlling one, why the State
is governed by machine rings, and
plundered and wronged in its iinan-
cial interests with impunity, and
scarcely without protest, is the little
attention given to the choice Of hon
est, competent men for representatives
in the legislature. 1t is here that re-
form should begin, in the selection Of
our best men, whose ambition will be
to acquire honor in laudable efforts to
advance the interests and well being
of the commonwealth. This, We be.
lieve is the most important issue the
people ofthe State have to meet in the
coming election, and the Philadelphia
Record truthfhlly states it thus:
To tfs people of Pennsylvania the
question of real moment in the next
,tcctions ia the choice Of n Legislature.
While conferences are meeting and fac.
tions are struggling over the several
State offices, the people have A duty to
perform IN the choice of their repre-,
seutAtiyes in the next General Assem-
bly,. In the great cloud of dust that u
raised about a State ticket men who
have given fragrant proof Of their un.
wOrthiness and uniitnes- for seats in
the Legislature are again bcstIrrIng
themselves TO secure reelection, and
unless the people move energetically
they will again witness the scandals
which they deplored in the last session.
Important questions, etfcc,ing the in
terests of this great Commonwealth a.
we'll az this great city, will recur, and
these questions will be again treated
with cynical indifference and contempt
II the people show the same neglect in
regard 10 the character and fitness Of
their representatives. The Governor,
whether he be General Beaver or the
candidate OF the Democrats, may be
able to exercise no more influence than
the NEST insignificant representative in
the determination Of these questions.
The Lieutenant Governor, whoever he
may be, will have sull lees, and the
Secretary OF Internal Affairs will have
none at all. In Government like ours
IL il = mere truism TO assert that the
Legislature most Mighty concerns tho
rights and Interests of the people, and
yet, strange to say, that is the depart.
ment in which they manifest the least
40 - rAratAHWaH Sc 90
seat in the State Legislature Men
who could not find employment in
places of business trust and responsi.
bility are frequently sent TO the capital
to mske laws for this grea, State. even
after their untitness is demonstrated.
We have not joined IN the iudisorim.
! mate abuse and deuunciAtion Of the
| Legislature which rcsounds throughout
the State at every session. In the last
| Legislature there were many worthy,
| faithful and independent representa-.
tives, but IN the indiscrIminate clamor
these were coufounded with the weak
incompetent and corrupt. Good men
were held responsible for the obstruct.
! i've work OF faction against which they
vainly struggled. So great was the con.
tempt aud hatred in which the last
| Legislature was held that had another
Colonel Pride marched into the halls
at the head Of his dragons and turned
the members out neck aud crop there
| Is too much reason 10 believe that the
/ act would have been received with uni
versal demonstrations Of popular ap.
plsuse. Yet that Legislature was just
what the people made it. Had the peo
pie themselves exercised due vigilance
and care in the choice Of their repre-
sentatives there would have been no
holding indignation meetings and max
! ing protests afterward. Instead Of cast.
ing all the odium upon the Legislature.
| let them take to their own bosoms q
! large share Of the reprosch.
| II is needless in this place to recount
! the bead. roll OF the offences of the last
! Pennsylvania Legislature. They have
not been 80 soon forgotten. After n
session running down to the last hour
in which members could draw pay, the
Legislature adjourned without making
the apportionment required by the Con.
stitution but, in justice TO that Legis.
lature let this much be said, that a
gerrymandering apportionment would
have been made but for the resistance
of independent members OF the maiori
~. Such an element did not exist in
former Legislatures to successfully op'
pose Apporiionment frauds. Since the
apportionment remains unchanged the
iaithless members who are responsible
for the obstructions and mischiefs oi
last session are in their old districts,
and the people know the records which
they have made. But while carefully
watching the old offenders Il will be
necessary 10 diligently scan the claimi
and qualifications Of new aspirants fol
seats in the Legislature. Such assist
ance as We can render in dischsrginl
the duty Of an independent iourua
shall not be wanting.