Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1883-10-10
Judge AgneW on the Political
Situation.

Judge Agnew on the Political
Situation.
Ex-Chief Justice Agnew sends the
following letter to the editor of the
Philadelphia Press, upon the political
situation in Pennsylvania:
SIR: On returning this week from
Ohio found your letter of the 10th
instant, inviting ''free and candid ex-
preston" of my views, as Republican,
"on the situation Of the State at large"
and "the condition of the party in my
locality"
am, as you know, a Republican in
the essential principals of the party,
vet not a mere partisan; and certainly
as far as the poles asunder from the eX-
pectation or preferment of office. What
l have to say, therefore, will be as i'm
partial as it is free and candid.
| have seen the rise of two great
parties, the Whig and Republican.
Each was founded on the essential
principles of good government. The
Whig arose from the course Of the ad-
ministration of President Jackson
causing the downfall of a true Ameri-
can policy, embracing internal improve
ments of national Importance, the prop
er distribution of public lands, and a
system of federal currency in opposition
to that of State banks; and also in the
claim Of the President to control the
purse Of the nation as well as to hold
it's sword, and to interpret the COnsti-
tuition of the United States for himself
in disregard of the decision of the Su-
preme Federal Judiciary. The oppo-
nents of these invasions of popular
rights, perceiving their resemblance to
the Tory claim Of royal prerogatives In
England and in the colonies, took the
name "Whig" to denote their patriotic
remonstrance against autocratic aggres-
sion.
The death knell of the Whig party,
by division north and south, rang out
in the acts of Congress in 1854, which
wrested territory devoted to freedom,
aud prostituted it to the curse Of slavery.
The Republican party, the lineal de-
scendant of the northern half of the
Whig party, took its rise in the defense
of the principles OF American liberty,
invaded by the Dred Scott decision,
and the repeal of the Miss ouri com
promise, carrying slavery into free ter
ritory; and in the persistent effort Of
the slave States, by free trade, TO re-
duce the price of American fabrics TO
those of England and the continent, in
order to increase the purchasing power
Of cotton.
These parties, the Whig and Repub-
lican, were the true representatives by
inheritance of the principles derived
from Puritan and Hugenot ancestors,
pronounced in the Declaration of Inde-
pendence and the bills Of rights of the
States, asserting the liberties of the
people drawn from Magma Charta and
true Anglo-Saxon justice.
The Republican party thus founded,
borne down for while by mere ma
chineIy, is, by the reaction of 1882,
again arising to its original stand OF
fundamental principles and, therefore,
will he successful in the future, as it
has been in the past, if the methods of
recent years be not revived, and if the
reform of 1882 shall be continued in
the free spirit Of popular liberty in
nominations and elections.
In 1882, the Republicans divided be-
cause of q machinery which disregardcd
the true voice Of the people. But, with
the reform in popular representation, it
has become solid, for Republicans are
solid in fundamentals, and all they de-
sire to know is that their principles are
supported by their own chosen and
faithful agents. No great party can
exist in this enlightened country which
is not founded in right, justice, liberty
and the welfare Of the people. This is
an essential, for, though parties may
differ upon measures, our people have
the sense and the conscience to know
that any other foundation is contrary
to their own interests and the law OF
true government But when machinery
usurps popular power and holds our
destiny in it's hand. corruption is newt,
able and the heart rot begins. There
can be no dependence in it's agents.
The return Of Republicans to the
true principles on which the party rests
gives assurance Of victory now and in
1884 whilc this is strengthened by
the fundamental error Of its opponents
in the persistent attempt OF one branch
Of the State government, and that the
inferior in Legislation. to coerce the leg
islative branch against its conscience
and sense Of right.
In my own locality am glad to be-
lieve that there is no serious division
among Republicans, and that with an
honest administration Of the party
organism, success will follow.
Respectfully, etc,