The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-07-29
The Duty of Democrats.
A Good Speech from tho Wheel Horse Of
the Keystone Democracy Why tho Old
Guard Accepted Greeley.

!
define tho duties OF Democrats in the
present crisis. He was one OF those who
did not vote for Mr.. Greeley in the
Pennsylvania delegation, and his words
will have weight with all who hold simi.
lar views. Mr.. Wallace spoke as fol.
lows:
Among the political revolutions of the
past fifty years no more significant or
singular spectacle has been presented
than that which eliminated at Baltimore
in the nomination OF Greeley and Brown
for the offices of President anil Vice.
President, by Democratic National
Convention, with all the solemnity and
in perfect accordance with the rules and
usages OF the organization. True it is
that we have in our own days seen
British Premier bow his head to the fiat
Of progressive public opinion, and de-
liberately reverse his position upon grave
questions ofstate policy. but he had upon
him the robes and obligations of official
station and was bound to aid in crystal
lizing into law the will OF the people
whose servant ho is. That great poll
teal organization, whose highest boast
has heretofore been that OF devotion to
principle, whose membership has been
cohered and strengthened by that very
deyotisn, and scorn, reproach and con.
tumely during bloody civil war rather
than surrender or yield single syllable
Of the opinions that were passed upon
tho doctrines OF tho Constitution ana
the plain principles of free government,
should by its chosen representatives, with
unexampled unnnimity, place tho stand
ard OF their faith and organization in
the hands OF ono who during all those
years was ever foremost IN their denunci.
alton, and who by his present antago.
'niim to the cardinal tenets Of that faith
hnd won for himself among the masses
Of their party an unenyiable place rs one
who sought to destroy and not to heal,
may well be said 10 be u singular spec
tacle. OF the reason for this result II is
my purpose to speak, md whilst in my
place rs q Senatorial delegate, represent.
ing the Democracy Of the State, l did
what | could in honor to resist the tide,
and voted with the twenty-threo men
from pennsylvania who composed the
minority OF the delegation and voted
against Mr.. Greeley, yet can appreciate
the arguments that were so potential in
accomplishing the end. More than two.
thirds OF the Convention and n majority
of your own delegation having in solemn
form yielded their assent to those argu.
ments, further opposition would have
been but fictitious, and in obedience TO
the instructions Of your delegation, which
had SO honored MEAN ayOwCd anti.
Greeley man-as to place me at its head,
| accepted the result, singular MS it was,
and moved and voted to make II unani.
nous. What has p:oduced this most
marvellous change7 Why has the
Democracy passed by their own men OF
intellect, OF culture, and OF craftsmanship
and chosen one who has been an alien to
their views, their thoughts, and their
purposes?
The periods Of peace that Immediately
follow times OF grave social commotion
or of internecinc war have invariably
been those during which the liberties OF
n free people are in jeopardy. Laxity
Of morals, familiarity with bloodshed,
habits OF luxury and the subordination
Of civil to military power breed neglect
Of legal and constitutional restraints, and
that which before war would have been
q crime meriting deposition or punish
ment, passes after 1t rs but venal OF.
fence or triRing irrcgularity, and the
man in official station who is bOldest in
despising its legal and moral obligations
Is he who receives the highest plaudits
OF vitiated and debauched public sonti.
mcnt. To such condition has this, our
unhappy country, come, need not stop
to point you to these evils-yOu know
and see them you hear them criticized
and condemned, or condoned in every
hour Of your waking moments. No sane
man denies their existence none call
Justify or excuse them. They strike at
the very vitals OF the political aud social
fabric. They sap the foundation Of free
government, md II not arrested will de.
stroy our institutions and sacrifice our
liberties. To put nm end to these and to
restore to the republica period OF purity
Of official morals, Of strict obedience to
official obligations, Of relief from oppres.
sive taxation, and from necessary pro.
scription was the desire Of all within
our organization and many thousands
without It's pale. The union OF these
forces for the attainment OF these ends,
all conceded to DO eminently fit and
proper. That this unity could only be
effective by the action had at Baltimore,
was the influence and the argument that
produced the nomination OF tho ticket
and tho Endorsement OF the platform.
Our own statesmen were passed by be.
cause it was believed that IN effective
union could not be had on any Of them.
In word, It was believed there, and so
acted upon by vast majority Of the
Convention, that the only way to defeat
Grant was to nominate Greeley. My
judgments and convictions did not reach
this conclusion, nor do they now, but
when q majority OF our delegation do.
clared for this result, although our State
is universally regarded Us the pivot on
which all will turn, we were powerless to
enforce our view upon the Convention.
PENNSYLVANIA united could have turned
the scale and controlled results, divided
ard in minority we could but vote our
opinions md ncquiesce in the will Of
two thirds of tho Convention formally
declared. Distnsteful rs / know this
nomination to be to many thousands Of
our people we must yet accord TO the
candidate the possession Of purity OF
character and integrity Of purpose,
That il elected he will administer the
Government purely and honestly, aud
will so far as in him lies "protect, pre-.
serve, and defend the Constitution OF
the United States" we can scarcely