The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-08-25

zen, within its boundaries, in all
his primary rights of personal Sc
curity, personal liberty and private
property" While the federal and
the State governments are territor-
tally coexisting, they are separate
and distinct as to the subject matter
of their respective jurisdictions and
several duties.
1t follows from this division of
powers and duties that the questions
arising under the Federal jurisdic-
tion are, with rare exception, essen-
tally different from those arising
under the jurisdiction of the State.
In like sequence it comes to pass
that controverted public questions
arising under these respective juris-
dictions give rise to two sets of po-
litical issues, not only totally dis
tinct in their origin and subject mat
ter, but ultimately determinable in
widely different tribunals. These
two sets of issues being distinct in
origin, character, subject matter,
and as to form OF final settlement,
reason suggests that each be tried
separately and on its own peculiar
merits. IF there be those who neg
lect this obvious truth and thought
lessly regard all popular elections
as inquests on federal questions, let
them reflect that it is the power con-
fided in trust to the State that as
sures security to the life and liberty
Of the citizen, that stands guard
over his property, that makes his
hut or his palace his castle, that
maintains schools for the education
of his children, that maintains courts
for the enforcement of his rights
and the redress of his wrongs, that
maintains highways for his use and
convenience, that regulates the cleo
tive franchises by which he makes
his voice'potent for good or ill to
himself and his kind, that attends
him in all the busy scenes and leis-
TIRE hours of his life, and. when at
last he bids farewell to this world,
supervises the distribution of his
estate among the chosen subjects of
his bounty and affection. The mag
nitude of this power, the wide va
riety of subject matter on which it
operates and the highly delicate
duties attending its exercises render
it only the more tempting to official
avar1ce.
CoNDFMNtNG THE LEGISLATURE.
The only reference in the Repub-
lican platform to State issues ap-
pears in these words: "We COM
mend the wise, careful and efficient
administration of the State govern
lnent in its various departments,
and heartily approve Of the fidelity
with which Our State officers have
discharged their duties" Both the
press and the people of the Com
monwealth, with almost unanimous
acclaim, have adjudged the last ses-
sion of the Legislature, in its faith
lessness to its trust, its reckless con-
tempt of the rights of the people,
and its unblushing subserviency to
base and sinister influences, to be
without parallel in the history of
the State. The malign power of
single self-seeking, autocratic hand
has brought this disgrace Rupon the
Commonwealth.
1t has forced the dominant party
to declare that this disgrace shall
be perpetuated and the rule of Off
cial conduct by it observed is now
formally adopted by the party as its
official standard of State morality
for the instruction and guidance of
its nominees. "The issue is be-
tween ignominy, corruption and in
fanny on the one hand and indepen-
dence, honesty and manliness on
the other" In the past Our citi-
zens have been proud to say II am
a Pennsylvania" The founda-
tions of our Commonwealth were
laid in integrity, fidelity, justice
and good faith. The initial lines of
its colonial policy stand as perpet-
ual admonitions and pledges to pos
terity against intolerance, venality
and profigacy in the use of politi-
cal power. May that name never by
the negligence or indifference of
her citizens become a byword or
eproach. May the vigilant integ-
rity Of the citizens of tie Common
wealth and the equality of her jus
lice to poor and rich, to weak and
strong alike, be her glory.
The duty of allegiance is still
obligatory upon every citizen. Each
and every citizen has pledged to
every other "his life, his fortune
and his sacred honor" for the faith