Columbia democrat and star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1867, 1866-10-31
Address of the Democratic State
Committee.
DEMOCRATIC STATE COMMITTEE Rooms,
Philadelphia, Oct. II, 1866

Philadelphia, Oct II, 1866 !
TO the Democracy of Pennsylvania
In apoll of more than six hundred and
ten thousand votes, you are beaten less than
three per cent. on the whole. A change of
one and half per cent. would have given
you the State. You have reduced the majori-
ty of your opponents, and polled nearly
twenty thousand more votes than ever be-
fore. Upon the aggregate of the Congress
ional vote, still greater force is shown.
In this contest you have proven your devo-
ton to principle, have demonstrated the
strength of your organization, and yield to
your enemy a dearly bought victory.
You are defeated, but not dismayed
Buoyancy and hope everywhere pervadeyour
ranks, whilst chagrin and dismay mark the
visages of your opponents.
They judge you rightly; for, in the light
of this exhibition of your stern devotion to
the doctrines of the Constitution, to the per-
petuity of your Union, and TO the supremacy
of your race, they read their coming defeat
For the first time since the final disband-
ment of our armies, you have met the forces
ofthe Republican organization. They fought
for the life of their party they concentrated
against you the influence of almost every
manufacturer, corporation and ban; they
had at their command large preponderance
of the public press of the State, speakers
without number, all the money of dynasty
of contractors-to whom the public treas
ury has been a mine of wealth-could fur
nish; memoriesof the war still fresh esough
to be the means of exciting hatred laws
enacted with view of their own political
ascendency; well disciplined organization
and all of the advantages that the posess-
ion of municipal and State power could bring
them and yet, unaided and dself-dependent,
you have combatted this powerful combina-
ton, and almost carried the State.
All honor and praise to the Democracy
of the keystone, for this most gallant fight
A band of men, who, in 1868, can poll for
their candidate 254 900 votes in 1864, 276,-
600 votes, and in 1866, 295, 900 votes; who
plant themselves upon principles that are
eternal who viii not despair of the Republic,
and who possesses the physical power and
the moral courage to maintain their opinions
and preserve their liberties must eventually
be the ruling power in the State.
Implicit belief in the justice and truth of
the great doctrines that lie at the base of our
form of government, aversion to its centrali-
zation, aud confidence in the efficiencyof the
Constitution for the preservation of your lib
critics, have ever distinguished you. These
are the magnets around which you have |
gathered in many hard fought contest, |
and to them you will be true as needle to |
the poll. Opinions individuals may change, |
but, in the future as in the past, come vic
tory or defeat, as party you viii ever be
found rallying to these principlesas the lead
ng tenets of your political faith
Hope, confidence and courage should be
gathered from the remembrance, that two
birds of the white freeman of the Republic
hink as you DO upon these subjects, and |
hat, On every field on which they are stak-
d, your united action will overcome all OPP
posing forces.
We ask you to persevere in the work so
begun. From this hour, let us
to go forward. Let us have done
With spasmodic efforts, and move onward
With unfagging energy.
The thorough and effectual dissemination
If truth, is the proper means to your event
lal triumph +; and organization, discipline,
systematic effort and Individual exertion,
ire the avenues that lead to victory
VIII you pursue them? United, disciplin-
ID and determined, you viii be irresistible
BY order of the Democratic State Com /
nittee.
WILLIAM A. WALLACE,
Chairman