The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-10-04
ADDRESS OF THE DEMOCRAT
IC HICKORY CLUB OF PHlLA-
DELPHIA.


lC HICKORY CLUB OF PHlLA-
DELPHIA.
At "a stated meeting Of the Hickery
Club Of the city and county of Phlla-
del phia, held on the 3rd September,
1914, the following address was adopt-
ed, and ordered to be published:
TO THE DEMOCRATS OF THE
UNION.
The Importance Of a single uote.
After the result of the memorable
election of $40, every republican dem
ocrat saw the importance of single
vote. If we look to the fraudulent
practices through which alone the
federal wings were enabled to carry
the last presidential candidate, we Will
observe the Importance of single
vote, and the necessity of preventing
their polling again corrupt or illegal
one. Their frauds were OF the most
various kind and character; and we
should, by constant vigilance, be ena.
bled to guard against a repetition ol
them. They possessed a system OF
fraud, organized throughout the Unit
ed States, by which a single illegal,
fraudulent or corrupt vote was poiled
in each town or township, at each poll,
and which decided almost any contest
ed election. Trifling when standing
alone, it became, in the aggregate, II
system of fraud so stupendous in its
consequences, that its very magnitude
prevented the generality Of people
from believing it possible. yet when
we come to analyze the monster, It IS
nothing but vast combination ol
atomsSa single one gathered from ev.
ery mole hill in the United States-ma-
king great mountain, when piled to-
gether. This course, rely upon 1t, dem
ocrats, will be resorted to again; and
we are fully convinced the success OF
our cause and men depends, in great
measure on meeting and defeating it,
at all points and everywhere, by inces-
SAINT watchfulness, and, if necessary, by
the exertion Of our personal energies
TO prevent an infraction Of the law.
when every other means fails, and the
triumph Of the democracy is as certain
as fate.
Various and secret devices will again
he attempted to be put into execution
and our lives and liberty depend upon
our frustrating them; we must stand
guard over the purity of the most ines
Unable of our rights, for the purpose
of counteracting the abuse of the right
of suffrage and the violation of the
ballotboxes. Let u' take public mra-
sures, for we verify believe that the
best way to prevent frauds, is at once
to let our enemies see that we are fully
prepared to expose and resist them
The importance of a single vote
must not be disregarded, if we woulc
triumph at the polls. 1t should never
be lost sight of for Il moment. that the
primary object is 10 defeat that enemy
who is still in great force, master o
great resources, and ready to employ
them without sc,uple. The fedora
whig party is neither weak nor displr
tied, simply because it possesses the
same means diminished, it is true,
which it employed successfully in the
the last presidential contest, and as un
scrupuIous recklesness in their employ
ment. Be assured it will not only re
Quire the united rally Of the democracy
to overthrow them fairly, but our cease
less watchulness in defeating those
acts of fraud and corruption, which
have once already afforded them a dis
graceful triumph, the fatal results o
which were only averted by an act
Providence. They have money, AM
they will distribute it through all tn
secret crevices ofcorruption.
The Importance of a single vote ha
been exhibited on many occasions;
once elected Marcus Morton governo
of Massachusetts let every democra
at tie ensuing elections make 1t su
cred duty, first, to cast his own vote
and then, by constant watchtulnes'
prevent the polling of single vot
fraudulent or corrupt; let not his ow
vote be cancelled by "pipelaying O
yarn spinning" The federal viii
frauds in Pennsylvania and New Yor
from 1887 to 1910, inclusive, admonis
us to beware of willy, ingenious, ant
well-supplied enemy; of a political 10
possessing all the arts and experenc
of corrupting The balot-boxes by do'
BILE and illegal voting, yet proiess'n
the greatest integrity and morality
private life and manners.
The importance Of single vote cal
not be too much urged upon ever
democrat who reads this short addre:
it may preserve the happiness OF tn
.,l 10, y,NrllInnc