The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1902-08-07
PUBLIC OPINION
Opinions From Various Sources On Po-
Iitlcal Questions of the Day.

vention was the choice of the Demo-
cratic people of Pennsylvania. The
one who heads the ticket is a man
whose honor would have spurned a
nomination stolen from another or pur-
chased of men willing to betray their
people for the price an unscrupulous
boss was willing to pay.-Lock Haven
Democrat.
Those people who believe "Pennsyl-
vania has no ills that are worthy of
mention" will vote for Judge Penny
packer, but the same people would vote
for any candidate Of Quay's selection.
Those who disapprove of ballot-box
stufIing, of padded assessment lists, of
ripper" outrages. of bribery and intim-
idation and keep in mind the open,
glaring corruption Of the last legisla-
tive session will vote for Pattison and
Guthrie.--Erie Herald
There is a growing impression In
Democratic circles that the Union party
will nominate Robert e. Pattison for
governor and George w. Guthrie for
lieutenant governor. While no one
presumes to speak for the Union party
until the delegates to the state conven-
tion are elected, the Democratic
friends of Ex-Governor Pattison be-
lieve that when they assemble to name
the ticket the majority will be for the
endorsement of the Democratic guber-
Material andidate.-Pottstow Ledger.
It's impossible to feel a great meas
ure of sympathy for the Quaysylva-
mans. They know they have a corrupt
government. They proclaim their
shame to all the world, and yet they
submit to the rule of the oligarchy.
They worship the Liberty Bell, which
hangs in Independence Hall, but they
| have none of the spirit of their Revo-
lutionary forefathers. That glorious old
bell is debased by its political environ
ment. 1t once sounded the tocsin of
| liberty for men worthy of self-gov-
ernment. 1t is sadly out of place in
Observation-Disclosures Sun Qnd.).
Representative men were present at
the committee meeting of the Union
party from 40 of the so senatorial dis
| tricts of the state-every man a Re-
publican in all that makes Republican
ism worth while. OF the 40 not one
had favorable word for Pennypacker;
many said their people had naught but
| opposition for a candidate who had de-
clared that Pennsylvania has no ills
worthy of MENTION" others reported a
| feeling of utter Indifference on the part
of Republican voters toward the sue
cess of the Republican ticket; still 9TH
ers were silent. All this is eloquent of
the state Of the really Independent Re-
publican mind. Where Pennypacker
does not actually antagonize he fails
to enthuse.-Philadelp North Amer
ican.
The promise of ballot reform, the
most pressing political need in Penn
sylvania, is made by both parties; but
the Republicans have been so often
faithless to such promises that it is
difficult to find reason for accepting
this years protestations. Quay is nom-
mating the same old tools for seats
in the legislature, and Quay has in the
past gained and held his power large
| ly by election frauds. On the other
hand, every argument, both of morality
and expediency, urges the Democrats
to bring about ballot reform. Their
platform calls for a personal registra.
| tion law and secret ballot, and ex-
Governor Pattison is pledged to carry
this reform through if elected. The
contest in Pennsylvania this year will
be interesting.-New York Evening
Post.
1t is one of the strange delusions
that make up the great Quay myth, of
which Judge Pennypacker is the
prophet, that the senator is faithful to
his friends. He is so while they serve
his purposes. The moment they cease
to be useful or become a hindrance,
they are thrust aside without the least
rem0rse. The whole state is strewn
with these worn-out and rejected poll
tical tools. Quay is not different in
this respect from other "bosses," ex-
cept that his political system is more
completely organized, more despotic
more absolutely soulless than any
other that has been known. The
human sentiments are not to be ex-
pected from such machine. It's
prizes are awarded not so much for
past services as in consideration OF
services to come. Elkin has been USE
full, but Pennypacker can be more
useful under present conditions, and
the loyal devotion of the other is the
very reason for his rejection. 1t has
made him powerless in opposition and
there is nothing for him to do but to
submit.-Philadelph Times.
The Manila chamber of commerce
composed of as INSCRIPTIONS and
greedy a lot of carpet-bag exploiteU
and grafters as ever followed flag to
pillage in the wake of an army, asks
the president by resolution to put q
stop to trials of army officers by court
martials for abusing the natives. The
trials are held under the orders of the
president. who has declared that Off
GERS guilty of cruelty shall be pun
ished, and this impudent gang of camp
| fDIls hoc he Dfg, 4