SIIIUEIIT & VAN OlUlKlt, Editors.
VOL. 4.
£lit Centre § mortal.!
Terms 51.50 per Annum, in Ailvßnce
8. T. SHUGERT & J. R. VAN ORMtK, Editors.
Tbnrsdav Moraine, December 14, 1882.
The Altoona Time* wants the navy
sold.aud the Philadelphia Time wants
the Altoona Times to first catch the
navy before putting it up at auction.
GOVERNOR-ELECT PATTISON, visit
ed the Slate Capitol on Saturday had
nn interview with Governor Hoytand
dined with him at Ruse' Grand Hotel.
PRESIDENT ARTHUR'S reference to
the Hayes administration when he
speaks of it ns "the four years preoed
iug Mr. Garfield's accession," is the
eloquence of sarcasm.
THE Slate of Georgia, it is said, has
3,593 manufacturing establishments
with u capital of 820,672,410, and
gives employment to 25,000 persons,
meo, womeu ami children.
THE National Hank of the State of
N. Y. has decided to enter the State
Bauking System, and it is said it is
likely to be followed by a uuniber of
other bauking institutions.
THE post-office ill L ai-burg was
burglarized last week. The thieves
blew opeu the safe and secured alxiut
nine hundred dollars in mouey and
all the registered letters.
THE leading question now is, has
Senator Cameron yet selected his next
candidate for governor, or will he wait
until the next National Convention ? !
Field Marshal Cooper might answer.
ii. .. . _
MANY p?r-o IS failed to see Madam
Venus skipping over the sun the other
day, hut they may have better luek the ;
next time she performs. It will only '
he 122 years until the next truiisit i
is to take place.
SENATOR LOGAN again reiterates
his undying hostility to the restoration !
of General Fitz John Porter. Noth
ing better could lie expected of a man
incapable of a generous emotion that
might possibly conflict with his politi
cal prejudice.
THE receipts into the State Treasury
during the year ending the 30th of
November, (including a new loan of
$9,360,120.45) is $16,428,650.11. The
paymeuts for the same (teriod, (includ
ing two loans redeemed $9,826,104.77,)
is $14,850,871.18.
IT is said Don Cameron has trier!
his digestive organs on the first dish of
Crow by consenting to the confirma
tion of Marshall M'Michacl. He has
a good deal of that kind of diet to
dispose of before his re-election, and
it is well to accustom his stomach to
the fare.
THERE seems to be a general con
currence among Senators and Repre
sentatives that a revision of the tariff
laws is absolutely necessary at the
present session. The same necessity
has existed for some time but it has
become more apparent to sluggish :
states men since the election.
■
THE Presidcut favors the reduction
of letter postage to two cents. This
proportion is favorably received
throughout the country. Hut it is
suggested that a turn might also be
taken at newspaper postage. News
paper readers, too, might be givea a
chance iu the reduction with great
propriety. .
TIIE Clinton Ii publican and other
stalwart (taper*, say* that the Demo
cratic State officials were committed to
civil service reform, end they will be
held responsible for their promises.
That is right, let the people put them
to a strict accountability. That is
what is expected. But does not the
Republican demand imply that reform
is much needed, and the discharge of
all corrupt persons in the puhlio ser
vice who have bad any agency iu aid
ing the general debauchery of electionc,
is a very proper place to Degin the
desired reforhi 7
TARIFF REFORM.
In advance of the publication of
the report of the Commission appoint*
ed to examine ami report on the con
dition of our tariff, it may not be wise
to declare what ought to be done by
Congress. That report was made a
few days ago, but neither the members
nor the public have been able to read
and digest its suggestions. Enough is
known however, about the report, that
very important changes are recom
mended by the Commission. This is
right. Our tarilf was made during
the war for the purpose of securing as
large a revenue as possible. To do
this, Congress placed the tarilf rates on
those articles most extensively used
throughout the country. These inclu
ded mostly articles of necessity. In
the distribution of this tarilF, the arti
cles of prime necessity, such as cheap
blankets, bought by the poor, etc., I
were more heavily taxed than the
the better quality. The wind hat of
the better manufacture paid less tariff
the cheap kind. For instance, dia
monds pay ten per cent.; blankets pay
70 to 100 per cent. —highest priced
ones 70 per cent., a low priced one 08
per cent. ; balmorals 00 per cent, if
high priced, 85 |>er cent, if low pric
ed ; flanuels, worth not over 40 cents a
pound, pay 05 jar cent, if over ><o
cents, 01 per cent.; hats not over 80
cents, 66 per cent.; over, 09 j>er cent.
So as to cotton and carpets and other
woolen goods. Plows and all farming
and mechanic tools of steel, aic 45
per cent. Thus it will be seen that
ibis War Tariff was made to produce
large amounts of revenue that is no
longer needed except for River and
Harbor steals. The revenue is ample,
it exceeds the cx|>eodiiurea of the
government $liK),000.000. This being
admitted, let the tariff be wholly re
moved ou such articles as are not man
ufactured in the country. To tax an
article for revenue when that revenue
re not required, is simple robbery. A*
to articles manufactured here and us
ed by our people let there be a gcuer- :
al reduction iu the interest of the |>eo- -
pie, at the same lime having due res- j
pect for the interest of invested capi- i
tal and employed labor. Bucb is the
drift of public sentiment. The days >
of high protection are few. Tariff at
best,is simply taxation, and when it is
levied for any purpose other than to
provide revenue to support the Gov
ernment, may properly characterized
a tax of the many for the benefit of
the few. When the principle of dis
crimination on plea of encouragement
to home industry was iustitituted,
was not with a view that it was to
reach out to perpetual oppression. Hut
what was encouragement at first, came
to be considered a matter of right.
Whenever the business of special clas
ses became dull, more tariff was aked
from Congress. Tho steel men filially
secured S2B per ton ou steel rails, and
the profit became so high that manu
facturers of steel rails multiplied at a
rapid rate. The competition became j
so great that steel rails sold at S4O per
ton,some S2O cheaper than the foreign
er can sell the ra.l* in our market with
the tariff off. Let the whole tariff b®
revised in the interest of fair and hon
orable dealing between the manufact
urers and the public. The Commission
although strongly organized in behalf
of protection, yield to the force of
public sentiment and urge a general
reduction along the entire line.
CONSIDERING the frequency with
which the White House has to be re
paired and re-furnished, the New York
Mar thinks the occupants of that man
•ion of late years know precious little
alxiut housekeeping and are anything
but dead. It was done all over when
Arthur look it, tliough it bod only just
been put in order when Garfield was
wounded. Now it i iu the agonies of
another refurnishing. Perhaps the
plethoric treasury and the necessity to
furnish uatroiiage to some impecunious
stalwart -vorkers and dealers, may ae
c .unt tor the frequency complained
of.
"EQUAL ANIJ EEAUT JUSTICE TO ALL MEN, OS WHATKVKII STATE OK EKKSUAHION, RELIGIOUS OR POLITICAL.Jrff.r*oii.
BELLKFONTE, PA., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1882.
THE discussion of political propriety
between the Philadelphia Time* aud
Clearfield Republican i* quite inter
esting, and perhaps instructive, hut we
doubt very much whether it is worth
the powder for the purpose intended*
If it is designed to influence Senator
Wallace, either journal might know
that the Senator is sharp enough and
independent enough to take iu the full
measure of the situation, aud perform
his duty intelligently without the dic
tation of an organ or the menace of
an Independent. If Mr. Wallace, as
a minority member of the Seuate, be
lieves that the public interests can be
best advanced, aud a fair representa
tion best attained by casting his vote
for uuy particular Senator for Presi
dent of the Semite, whether he be an
Independent or a Democrat, we have
uo doubt his choice will fall upon that |
man without instruction from any
quarter. The creditable record made
by Mr. Stewart and the Independents
generally in favor of reform measures
aud honest legislation, entitle them to
very high respect, and from whom the
Democracy have every reason to ex
pect fair play, at least. If the Demo
cratic members believe that by the
election of Mr. Stewart these desirable
ends can lie best attained, we see no
reason why his election should not
have their concurrence. They neither
forfeit their party respect nor their
self respect by choosing the Ir-.11 they
can obtain iu the interest of fairness
and justice. We doubt, however,
whether Mr. Stewart, under the cir
cumstances, craves the prominence it
would give him and take the responsi
bility it would bring. His faction is
largely in the minority —they are en
tirely independent of party trammels,
aud it may occur to them that they
can more effectually subserve the ends !
of their indc|M-ndent organization by 1
pla-ing the Senate more directly in
accord with the House and the admin
istration, and let the responsibility of
securing the reforms demanded and
urged by IxV.h the Indc|>ei>deuts and
Democrats, in precise words, rest upon
the Democrats without diversion. But
however this may tie, to accomplish
the desirable reforms demanded by
the people and so urgently conteuded
for by both, there should be no want
of accord between the Democratic aud
Independent Senators oh State issues.
Who is to occupy the chair, whether a .
Democrat or an Independent, is a
small matter if he is in full sympathy j
with the economy and reform so em
phatically emphasized hy the people
iu the late election.
SENATOR BECK has introduced a
resolution in the Senate looking u> the
i investigation of Jay Hubbellism. The
resolution calls for light on the manner
of assessments, the amount obtained,
how disbursed and what sum still re
mains in the hands of the collecting
thieves that ought to be returned to
the robbed employes of the goven -
inent. To offset this Senator Hale
offers an amendtneot to go into a gen
eral search to ascertain where tho
1 Democracy got funds for campaign
purposes; but as the Democracy did
not go the pages, the scrub-women, the
i clerks and other employes of the Gov
i ernroeot with threats aod intimidation,
| Mr. Hale's amendment is feeble. In
the meantime, it appears Huhbell's
Chief assistant has disappeared with
the books and memoranda of the
Committee ae a precautionary measure
iu ease the investigation is ordered.
THE Adjutant General of Pennsyl
vania receives nn annual salary of
twenty-five hundred dollars, with a
train of subordinates under compara
tive pay. This is apparently a depart
ment oiganisaiion of reoent date, and
in the inquiry which is likely to occur
as to the propriety of weeding out sin
ecures imposed upon the State re
sources, should not be overlooked.
Toe expenditures of that Department
look ieaky. It may be all right, but
judicious inquiry can do no harm.
THE President and the Tariff Com
mi-hion are free-traders according to
the interpretation put by the Republi
cans upon the utterances of the Dem
ocrats in the late campaign. They
both favor a tariff for revenue with
incidental protection iu favor of re
warding labor, aud not a tariff for
protection only.
THE Washington Pott, out of pure
sympathy for disgruntled Republicans
u their desperaliou to find an availa
ble candidate for President, now that
Hlaine decline to serve them, kindly
suggests that they freeze to Kx-Gover- I
nor Hayes. He being the only man
capable of reaching the Presidency in
spite of defeat at the polls, seems to
be the only one available to meet the j
desperation of the situation.
ATTORNEY GENERAL PALMER has
written nn opinion to the effect that
the Governor has no power to n*tore
to citizenship a person who has lost
the franchise by reason of conviction
for violating the election laws. He is
forever disfranchised, and it is just and
proper that he should be. A man who
will not respect the most sacred right
of citizenship, is not fit to exercise thai
right.
No wonder that Dr. Bliss and the
other physicians and surgeons who at
tended the late assassinated President
are somewhat disgruntled and disap
pointed. They claimed, for the three
i principles, the sum of $.5,000 each,
for a few weeks'service. The Audit
ing committee appointed to distribute
the appropriation, have awarded them '
sums averaging from $6,000 to $.'1,000
; ea h, and public opinion and common
| honesty will approve its sufficiency.
THE last rumor has it that Secretary ;
Folgcr is about to step down and out
of the Treasury Department for Don
, Cameron to step in. Whpre this n*
liable programme comes from, we are
, not able to say, hut we presume it is
only a sensational feeler to find out
how the squelched boa* of the Penn
sylvania Republicans would be re
ceives! as a leading spirit in Arthur's
cabinet.
SPEAKINO of the asseftsinents of the
Government employes in making up
the corruption election fund, the Prcs
ident says in his message that their
j ' only motive in giving was fear of
what might befall them if they refus
ed." That's it, and yet the robbing
was allowed in the Departments under
1 his control, to greater extent, perhaps,
than ever before, in the face of a law
intended for their protection. Hub
bell, Mahooc, Cameron and their
satellites, had a free run in the late
campaign.
WE see it stated that our excellent
friend, Major E. MOCONKKT, will be
presented for resident clerk of tiie
House of Iteprcseutali voa. He served
in that office most acceptably iu the
session of 1875-76, and we trust be
may be choseu now. His ability and
experience, as well as his pleasant and
gentlemanly bearing, will commend
bim a* peculiarly the man for the place
iu a Democratic I>egi*lature.
GEN. MANNING, who contested fr
re-election to Congress from Mississip
pi against Chalmers; was offered the
certificate of election, ou.account of
defective returns for the loiter front
oue county where the vote was cast
for " Chaliuess," declines the certificate
and will rest his claims to the seat on
the evidence which may lie developed
in (he contest before Congress. This
evidence promises to lie of a very pas*
itive character and is likely to im.
j plicate the Administration in very
discreditable work, in wuivi. HuhbcH's
I corruption committee also plays a
part. The course of General Manning
in declining the certificate is highly
commendable and contrasts fav
orably with that of aeveral Republi
cans who have received certificates
nd will cr in oeaU on alleged dofto*
| tiv# MUi.ua oi ieaa merit.
Tin: revival of the "Whig" party
is seriously spoken of now an a substi
tute for the one which aupcrceded it a
few yearn ago, ami now in turn in go
ing out in ding race. What's in a
name? Whether Federalist, Anti
Ma sinic, Know Nothing, Whig or Itc*
publican, the same crew tnaua it —the
name principles govern it —the same
disgrace await* it, and the name desti
ny follows. Antagonistic mainly to
the Democratic principles of Republi
can government, it favors the concen
tration of power in the Federal Exec*
utive and thus teaches by precept and
example the subordination of the
masses to the personal mastery of the
servant. Thus it has ever been under
all the names assumed and thus it will
be under whatever alias expediency
may suggest. Hut the Democracy, the
parly of the people, the representative
of the masses, founded as the defender
of their sovereignty, and unchangeable
in the assertion of the right of the
people to govern and control, will ever
come to the front to protect our Dem
ocratic government from the spoliation
of the enemy at the right moment.
It is here now, and the enemy, covered
with fraud and shameless disregard ot
the most sacred safeguards of the con
stitution and laws of the government,
are again seeking a change of name to
cover the iniquities of the past and
hide the disgrace and usurpations
which have marked its progress under
the present name. Under this name,
among other wrongs, it has usurped
the Presidential office by fraud and
sought to corrupt and degrade our
elections to mere mob-, controlled by
rings ami operated by executive pat
ronage and fed by spoils forced from
the slavish f-ars of the subordinate em
ployes of the government. It is time
to bide under a new name.
" Every intelligent, honest man,"
says the New York .S'ua in its remarks
on the President's message, " must feel
an insticlive hatred for the electoral
fraud of 1H7d~7, by which the Presi*
deocy of the United States was stolen ;
and also an instinctive repugnance for
the hypocrites and villians who com
mitted and promoted the fraud, and
who in various official places and dis
tinctions enjoyed the direct usufruct
thereof. The honorable feeling of
hatred and repugnance is beautifully
expressed by President Arthur when
he describes the shameful period of
fraud triumphant, as "the four veers
immediately preceding Mr. Garfield's
accession to the Presidency." No one
can allege that Chester A. Arthur hns
pardoned or condoned the blackest
; crime ever perpetrnted by nefarious
politicians. Honor to this true and
manly President,"
A Proper Snhject for Inquiry.
Why ha* not the country aright to
i know what Me was made of money up
| preprinted tocrry on the executive He
partmeuls. money that ws gotten into
the power of the Department of Cor
ruption In iiienns which no puldic man
| Hares defend f
The Pre-nleiit in his excellent mes
sage av ttiat such contributions hare
"been obtained (rotrt ; erson* whose
only motive for giving lias been the tear
jof what might befall them if they re
' fused. It goes without -vying that such
i contributions are not vnluntsry, and in
toy judgment their co lection should tie
prohibited by law." It is the dntv of
< engross to find out and let t fie country
know how much money has been li.u*
dishonestly obtained; what u - h*
leeo made of the "sr. -g ." it any of ;t
; la still Wuere it can • .ol f (or return
jto tlie parties robbed, nd hoar tar the
State elections have lieeri inlcrfetrrd
with or ciMgtml'rd by tt.e use ol funds
j dishonorably diverted from legitimate
j purposm.
j When officials of the government are
compelled in hand orer to a party com
mittee a portion of the salaries voted
thrill for performance ol put.lie duties,
anil dare not decline for "the tear of
what might befall them if thev re
fused," it is high time for Congress t<
come to the relief of such inittuidatad
officials.
The "road agent" or the l-old high
wayman, who collecla his assessments
at the muttle of a cocked revolver, re
lies on ptwi-isely the same motive that is
described ,by the S'alwart President in
his official capacity.
When the passengers of a car or
mail coach, or benighted traveler* on a
lonely road, hand over their pocket
books to a robber, "their only motive
i lor giving is tie tear of what may befall
[ them if thry refuted."
TKKMS: $1.50 |>tr An mini, in Alliance.
When a In ly or gentleman, letrdieil
by threat* in mii anon)ru'iini letter. en
close* ih<* money <lem>n<le<i In a ficti
noun address, "the only motive (or giv
ing is the (ear of what may befall the
giver in ease o( refusal."
How much more honorable i* it to
practice on the fear* of poor m'-n or
needy women in the Department!, a*
>ia* been done hy the Department, of
'♦irruption, than to collect assessment*
at the revolver'* muzzle or levy biack
mail hy threatening letter*?
And when we consider that the mon
ey contributed by clerk* and other em
ploye* of the government, "whone only
mot ive for giving i* t he tear of what mar
befall them if they refuse." is coiruj t
i> used to prevent a (air choice of local
• Hirers, the advantage is on the *ide of
the robher who uses hi* ill gotten gains
for the per*ni I t.-ri'-fi' of l| intaelf arid
his friend*.— I VatKinyU/n Pott,
I'urtisun Leadership.
General Davi*, of the I>o)]e*towri
Democrat, Las rome aetikible adV ice to offer
ii tin* week * leadcron the leadership,
♦d*ico which thould, be considered
oy the Democratic party just
a* it is gaming ascendancy in
Ai ate and National politic*. He says :
• Political parlies, like arone*, require
leader*. W ithout them, and able ones,
too, ttiey have litile, or no, fighting
strength. Number* and individual prow
•s go lor naught tiood leadership
tjtiug* orgnruiAiiou • irifr}ir*n cou ;
a confident leeiing of u< ces ; and otb
er qualities necessary to win. Politicians
IU not ai *a) reai.ae this, tut when
iliey do not tney are apt to come to
gnet. 1 lie Democratic party in Penn
sylvania wa* never in greater want of
-ucli * leader ; in laot we have needed
one tor twenty year*. We have just
•cliiesed a gieat victory, nd the politi
cal power ol the Common weal ih is
auoui lu u* tuiueii o%vr U> us With it
come* the p. nod ol great trial. Parties
.lae individual*, tind their sorest trial
m prosperity, i lie outside pressure of
■>Uvei*iiy tiuds tlieir rank* together,
uui wan victory there i* a natural in
collation among the rank and file to
inr>w oft discipline. It is then a party
ueeds a- good leader. To able lealer
-inj aiJiit-, la the It. put llCan party in
dented lor lis quaiu-r ola century of
wciory and p.wrr; lor it ha* been lead
wiiu almost un-nrpasked ability and
•hresdueaa. .Snail we learn wtdaoru of
our eueuiy J Ine continuance ol the
il.-uiocratic party in power in tbt* Srale
depends, largely' upon lis leadership.'*
l here word* are word* of wisdom, and
t-'iouid have gieat w leght. When the
ieprroeutalive* of m e party meet at
liairunurg ID January, there should be
a Ifee and geheral interchange ol opin
ions, aud lUe men best suited Selected
i to lake the lead, not ,lo serve as busses,
out as leader* 1 here ha* he. n enough
Lais* rule in till* .State the past lillern
year* to satisfy all claaae* escepl those
directly interested, and the moment
Democratic leader* attempt to ply the
'*"'i. or assume dictatorial powers that
moment they or the party will go to the
wall, the Democracy need leaders,
out not political managers and lime
i reiver*.
How to Obtain a Needed Amendment.
Senator Morgan, of Alabama, has in
troduced a joint resolution providing for
an amendment to the Constitution em
powering the President to veto *eparat
item* in an appropriation hill while ap
proving a portion of the same. This
provision exists in the Constitution of
tint Ntate, and indeed of several others
including New York. It has been
found to work well. If engrafted into
the Federal Constitution it would afford
i he best possible safeguard against log
rolling scheme* of plunder.
But as it will require a two third vole
' of the very members of Congress who
usually profit by log rolling to pass Sen
ator Morgan's resolution and allow the
A talc* Legislature* to act upon it, there
doe* not appear IO be brightest prospect
II the world of its success. It i* proba
bly expecting too much of average
('.>ngresionl human nature to suppose
that two thirds ot the mcmlwrs will de
ib. rately vote to deprive themselves of
ht many >.( them areinclined to look
tip-in s their chief prerogative. An
| amendment to the Constitution which
prop ses IO curtail the power* Congress
• ill hardly be looked ujon with lavor
j by ihvt holy, however necessary to the
j public ion rest* such an amendment
•my b Congress ought to pas* the
amen intern promptly, a* that is the
s...xtest w-iiy of effecting the proposed
reform. But Congress isn't obliged to
; m Mini quite likely will decide not to
' do it.
Ibe fratnrr* of the Constitution,
I doubtless anticipating just such a eoo
"ngency, however, provided away hy
which -such an amendment might be
ili*de. whether Congress desire* it or
not. ■n.e Constitution it*e|f provides
that An tli# application Af the Legisla
tuics ot two thirds of the State*, Con
gress shall call a contention for that
I pur|*e. Should the Legislature* of
tlie Siafe* which are in *.ssion during
•he cooling winier promptly p** reso
lution* demanding such a convention,
that wII se.-oinplDli t'e object. Hits
is a good thing for the t*i*nien to
think over.— l'M/*. T.mst.
A* noatar election will he an indis
pensable element of a title, to a seat in
the Forty-eighth Congress. It will
time and vexation if all aspirant* for
seat* will hear this la naiad.
NO. 40.