Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1890-10-31
Vote for Thomas w. Phillips.

The RepubIican Convention Of the 25th
District of Pennsylvania, which met al
Harmony. Butler county, on the 23d day
Of September, unanimously nominated
Thomas W. Phillips, Of Lawrence county.
as the Republican candidate for Congress
n this District He is the only regularly
and honestly nominated Republican can
didate for Congress in the field, and TO bis
support we earnestly invite all good
citizens.
We are on the eve of one of the most
important Congressional elections ever
held in Pennsylvania; one in which much |
more than the usual interests are involved.
one which is attracting the attention of
every thoughtful citizen Of the Common
wealth as involving decisions which are
vital; one in which will be declared to the
people of the State the deliberate judg-
nent of the honest and intelligent voters
of this district upon the worth Of the great
safeguard of our political instituticns-
honest elections and pure ballot box IL
is to be declared at this election whether
we mean, as Republicans, what we have
always loudly professed, that at the very |
foundation Of our political faith, honest |
and fair elections must have the most
sacred place.
The issue presented TO the voters OF this
district in the coming Congressional cleo
tion is one of the gravest charaeter. IL ID
nothing more or less than whether honesty
in our nominations shall be approved and
endorsed, or dishonesty condoned and re-
wsrded.
The time has long since passed when the
question was an open one for discussion
whether an alleged Republican nomination
for Congress at New Castle few months
age was fair and honest one. The lips OF
the defenders Of that nomination should be
sealed by the sworn confession and openly
published admissions Of the bribed dele
gates In that convention, who, against
their personal interests, testified that they
had been bribed to vote for that nomina-
tion, which could not have been made on
the nominating ballot without their votes.
These confessions and admissions have
been under the public eye for months with
ont successful contradiction, and they have
passed under the careful examination and
revision Of the highest judicial tribunal OF
I his district, leading to the deliberate de-
cision Of that tribunal, after patient hear
ing, that these bribed delegates should be
held to answer therefor at the next session
OF the Court Of Quarter Sessions Of Law
renee county. When brought to the bar Of
justice 1t is expected these bribed delegates
will, as criminals usually do, plead mot
guilty" Their advisers greatly undcresti-
mate the intelligence Of the honest and in
corruptibls voters Of the 25th district if
they suppose that the publication Of this
plea Of mot guilty" IN the newspapers be-
fore they are placed on the docket for trial
will weigh particle in mitigation'of their
guilt. Criminals are not tried in Pennsyl-
vania in this way.
Whilst the mot guilty" as newspaper
plea before election, will avail nothing be-
fore a court of justice for the acquittal Of
tho accused more than other newspaper
assertions the exhausting Of the whole vo-
cabulary of Billingsgate and abuse upon
the defenders of an honest and pure ballot
box in this dig.rict will weigh as little. IT.
il a matter Of regret that gentlemen whom
we have been accustomed to regard as hon
orable in all the relations Of life, through
misguided zeal and uncurbcd temper
: sh ould have been betrayed into u public
defense of great wrong in language 30
disercditablc as TO recoil with power on
those who publish and circulate il.
The honest voter who surveys the whole
field cannot but recognize the met that
there IL now before the people but one reg
.ularly, honestly and fairly nominated Re.
publican candidate for Congress in lLis dis
trict, and as such, that candidate, Thomas
W. Phillips of Lawrence county, has a
right to expect the support Of the Repub-
Icans OF this district, and We would invoke
the aid Of all good citizens without regard
to party 10 aid in his election. Our can
didate is eminently worthy Of the Office for
which he has been named. Mr.. Phillips Is
o man oil high moral and Christian clarac
ter, OF brains and culture, aud Of wide
business experience; the friend and helper
Of the toilcr and the helpless, An earnest,
thoughtful student of all tho greet questions
of the day, one of the foremost reprcsen-
tative men Of the great industries Of our
district, Industries which imperativcly de-
mand representation ON the floors of Con
grcss.
We hail the auspicious signs Of the times
as clearly indicating the triumphant cleo
tion of Mr. Phillips, result in which We
would be glad to have every honest voter
Of the district have o share, making the
victory so complete that bribery and cor
ruption would never again be heard OF in
the nominations and elections OF thit
district.
Voto the Whole County Ticket,