Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1902-08-28
AN OPENING GUN
Judge Pennypacker Speaks to Three
Thousand Republicans.
LEHIGH coUNTY's GREAT RALLY
Senator Penrose Makes An Able
Speech On National lssues-Both
Speakers Warn Against a Change
In the States Political Policy.
From Our Own Correspondent.

From Our Own Correspondent
Philadelphia, Aug. 26.-While the ap
pearance of Judge Pennypacker and
Senator Penrose at the county commit
tee meeting in Lehigh county Saturday
afternoon signalized the formers en-
trance into the active canvass, 1t must
not be understood as the opening of
the campaign. Rather it was clar-
ion call Although the brief address
of the judge was, as he put it, word
of greeting to the Republicans of Le-
high, yet there were some very solid
truths embodied in it.
There were three thousand enthusi-
astic Republicans at the meeting,
which was the largest attendance in
recent years. 1t was held in Fogles-
vile in the heart Of a farming country,
and this large attendance was all the
more remarkable by reason of the fact
that to reach it one had to drive or
walk, as no steam or trolley cars reach
ed the place. Judge Pennypacker said
in part:
THEN A JUDGE NOW A FARMER.
For many years l have been Judge
in Philadelphia, but for the present
nave no occupation but that of farm
er, and | am one of your neighbors,
living along the Perkiomen railroad.
1t is to be hoped that the campaign,
upon our side, at least, will be conduct
ed with decency and propriety, and that
no unkindness may be exhibited in the
treatment of our Democratic oppon-
ents. They are American citizens.
like ourselves, interested in the main
tainence of the public welfare, and also,
like ourselves, getting the benefit of
the prosperous condition of affairs. 1t
is very doubtful whether even they are
hopeful of bringing about change in
the control of the government, or would
do it, if they had the opportunity with
in their grasp. They keep up an or
ganiZation and make ostensible efforts
from force of habit and fear of neces-
sity for the future; but certainly they
must see that in the present it would
be wise not to interfere.
Some years ago a sailor, whose life
had been spent on the sea, decided he
would go through the country and find
out how the land looked. In the course
of his travels he entered into one of
our rural graveyards, and amused him
self by reading the inscriptions on the
tombstones On one of them he read:
i am not dead but sleeping here He
remarked: Well, if / were dead would
own up
I'VE do not expect our Democratic
friends to own up that they are dead;
but we do expect them to admit that
the condition of things is fairly favor
able. daughter and prolonged ap-
plause)
PROSPERITY AND THE FARMER.
THE great tide of prosperity which
has swept over the country since the
retirement of Mr.. Cleveland to private
life is just now reaching the farmer.
Every wave affecting business inter-
ests reaches first the dealer in stocks,
then the manufacturer and merchant,
and, finally, the tiller of the soil, who
represents the most stable and conser
vative of all classes in the commu
nifty Last year the price of corn went
up at least 20 cents a bushel. This
year the price of oats had like in
crease Horses and cattle are bringing
more money in the market l have
been supervising the conduct of farm
since 1883, and during the last year the
revenues from the sale of milk were
larger than ever before; and am sure
your experience has been like my own.
From the increased price of farm pro-
ducts there must presently inevitably
result an enhancement ini the value of
farm lands. The one is dependent up
on the other. The time is not far dis
tant when you will no longer see the
farmer within fifty miles of a great cen
ire of population, like Philadelphia,
eager to sell his land for one-half what
it was worth at the time of his father,
and without the ability to find a pur-
chaser. What folly it would be to
strive to stem the current which is now
carrying us onward.
IMPORTANCE OF NEXT ELECTION.
While it is of some importance to
determine VINO shall be your next gov
ernor, it is of much more Importance
to see that the members elected to the
next legislature should be men, who,
when they are sent there, can be trust
ed to vote for United States Senator
who will uphold Republicanism.
"A weakening of the efforts of the
Republicans in Pennsylvania has ever
been a precursor of a change in the
control of national affairs and pre-
lude to national disaster. l am sure
voice your opinion, as well as my own
when l say that we do not propose to
take step, however slight, in that
direction"
SENATOR PENROSES SPEECH.
Senator Boies Penrose made a