Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-10-03
JUDGE PENNYPAcKER's FATAL

has confessed the truth of the indict-
ment against it and promised reforma-
tion. To this hour its pledges have
been systematically violated, and the
head of this organization, little while
ago, publicly stated that if it did not
keep faith with the people in connec-
tion with ballot reform, it would sink
into merited infamy. 1t has been re-
served for the present candidate of this
organization for the highest office in
the gift of the people, to openly and
falsely characterize q temperate state
ment of plain facts concerning misgov-
ernment aud self-confessed political
degradation-these things being known
of all men and deeply deplored by all
good citizens-as an indefensible
wall, diatribe, denunciation of the
state and it's people," This amazing
confession of weakness in answering
Governor Pattison's speech of accept
ance should prove fatal to Judge Pen
nypackers misplaced ambition.
Has it come to this, that free speech
is a crime? That the truth must no
longer be told? That public protest
must be stifled? That public wrong
doing must be passed by without no.
tice? That faithless public servants and
corrupt political leaders msst not even
be criticised, much less classified, with
the freeman's weapon, an honest bal
lot? The declaration of the Erie con-
vention, which is truthful summing
up, in part, Of glaring evils of the time
in Pennsylvania, is flippantly referred
to and its grave charges dismissed, as
"a platform of mendacities." Is this
the way in which the burning issues
before the long-suffering citizens of
this commonwealth are to be met?
The last session of the Pennsylvania
legislature was without a parallel in
defiant wrong-doing, the evidence of
which was so conspicuous that there
could be no denial that did not reflect
upon the intelligence and sincerity OF
any apologist therefor. The second
officer in the government of the state,
thoroughly ashamed of the degrada-
tion he had witnessed from the presid
ing chair in the senate, publicly and
Indignantly declared that never in all
his legislative career OF many years
was bribery and corruption so open and
shameless. The most direct charges of
venality were made in the public prints
against men openly named, without
even reply, much less denial. Defense
or escape from public scorn and con-
demnation was impossible.
The widespread Indignation of the
people has been expressed in many
ways, through leading newspapers,
speaking shamefacedly for the party in
power; through public assemblages;
through convention of self-respect-
ing, intelligent and fair-minded citi-
zens, representing more than 100000
conscientious members of the Republi-
can party, and in a union of forces,
upon a non-partisan basis, with the
avowed and determined object of re-
deeming the state government from
fragrant and demoraliZing misrule.
There has been an uprising of honest.
courageous and patriotic men which
cannot and will not be silenced and put
down, at the bidding Of any man. 1t
will not accept apologies or disclaimers
or pleas for forgetfulness. 1t will not
give ear to the unwise and unpa-
triotic cry of party regularity, the pur-
pose of which is to cover up heinous
offenses; to blot out the memory
thereof, and to prevent any guarantee
for the future, any assurance of bet
ter things.
Judge Pennypacker answers, with
strange unwisdom and lack of true
civic ideas. flood tide of public criti-
cism of his apologetic defense of ma
chine iniquities, by again repeating
and emphasizing anew the self-con-
demnatory statement that there are
no evils to be corrected; that he sees
no sins of omission nor commission,
having words of praise and ill-founded
and unjustifiable charity for evil-doers,
and bitter-minded criticism of those
who denounce public evils and de-
mand their correction. He has no
sympathy with those who are striving
for better things. He servilely imi-
tates his leader in seeking to divert
public attention from the misdoings
of the most odious legislature in Penn
sylvania's history.
He even goes further, and plays
upon the chords of public ignorance,
prejudice and passion. He gives grave
offense to every instinct of patriotism,
to every sense of justice, by comparing
men who represent and who cour-
ageously avow and stand for the best
impulses, the best thought and the
best purposes of virtuous and pa
triotic people, to the misguided anti
desperate enemies of government and
the public peace. This is blunder of
partisan zeal that Is worse than a de-