The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-12-03
An Astonsshed Governor.

An Astonsshed Governor.
/ Mr.Daniel Manning has been gull
ty Of 8 serious neglect. He should
have introduced GcvernO Cleveland
to the political history OF the county
before be presented him as a can6i-
date for its highest honor. But the
neglect Is wholly irreparable. There
is time between this and The 4th Of
March next in which a snd-book
of political history. placed in the
hands OF the president-elect, may
save him some exposures and & great
deal of wear and tear. Governor
Cleveland has expressed his aston
ishment that the freedmen sre ap-
I prehensiye at the prospect Of demo-
cratic rule. But why should he be
astonished 2?
We are very willing TO believe tia
the freedmen are unnecessarily ep-
prehensive. This Is not an age IA
vorsble 10 the REINSTATEMENT of an
enfrranehised people. We can think
OF no people who would consent 10
be enslaved. We are sware that
slavery can have no legal existence
within the jurisdiction OF thisrepuD-
lie. Even were there any people
base enough TO consent 70 servitude
such as dlsgraced this country pri-
or to 1863, their baseness could not
re-establish chattel slavery. Beyond
this We graveiy doubt If any eonsid-
erable class OF citizens would enter
tain the proposition to re-establish
ehattel slavery
So much we have thought vel 70
say before undertaking TO show
Governor Cleveland why he ought
not 10 be astonished Ihat the resto-
ration o. the democracy begets ap-
prehensiveness among the freedmen
of the old slave 0elt. We invite
him 10 take up the old slave belt
We invite him 70 take up the history
OF his party. He viii then learn
that for thirty years bis par
" was the bulwork Of the institu-
ton of slavery. he VIII find It's first
crsoking Of the pregnant hinges Of
the knee 10 the Oligarchy IL the COM
| promise of 1928. He VIII find
that about that time The slaves pow
er submitted It's uiumarlm 60 his
party, and that ultimetum was uu-
Questioning subscribe IL be care
to pursue the quest further. be wi
find his party yielding such sub
service 10 the oligarchy in legislation
adverse to the growth Of industry
IN dealing war against Mexico, and
the subseqUest extension Of the slave
area bv purchase. He viii iiud his
party eager TO accede 20 the demand
OF the power that tbs entire body
OF northern citizens should become
q eonstabulary for the apprehension
and return of ffugitives slaves 10 their
l0athsome bondage And be will
find the leaders of his party. north
and south, framing the Ksnsas-Ne-
braska act, by which the right Of
slavery to follow the flag was inten-
ded to be established.
Passing over q few years. during
which his party hunted men and
women ike hounds. lie VIII arrive
at the crisis of 1861, il which the
real leaders of his party organized
and carried out, In so far as they
were able, a great conspiracy TO es-
tabllsh an empire. the basic princi-
pie of which was the right of capi-
tai to own and buy and sell labor.
Passing TO 1865. when the ringing
proclamation Of emancipation eeh-
oed around the world and won the
applause of the listening nations. he
viii find the leaders of bis party de-
nouncing Lincoln as an usurper.
and the enfranohising voice as the
tocsln of war upon the constitution
itself. Later, when the people de-
maDded such change Of the organ
ic law as should forever prohibit
chattel slavery within our borders.
be will find Tho leaders Of bis party
united in a lou protest against the
change which would make liberty
universal. Later, when il was pro-
posed to forbid the endorsement
of slave owners of their ill-gotten
gains, be will find the leaders Of his
party resisting that righteous penal
", tooth and nail. When il was
proposed TO establish universal suf-
frage, the leaders Of bis party de-
nounced and resisted that. And be
will find that his party has opposed
every constitutional guaranty BY
which the slave Of Yesterday Is as
sured Of his freedom as a citizen to-
day. If Governor Cleveland i
aware of these irrefutable facts Of
history, we are the more astonished
that be should confess to astorish-
ment thai the freedmen are filed
with gloomy apprehenslons at the
restoration Of the demeracy. Even
the negroes Of the south are aware
Of al the facts we have stated.