The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1872-02-09
TIE MODEST ROMANS OF THEM ALL

THE MODEST ROMANS OF THEM ALI
1t is cheering in these times of "nev
departures" and passive policies" t.
find such powerful and eloquent cham
pions of Democracy as Hon. Geo. Ii
Pendleton and Dan. w. Eoorhee:
standing up for the true and undefleG
principles of the Old Democracy
that Democracy. under whose banner
statesmen were born, lived, died-and
were buried beneath its fields and
honored by its followers; that De
mocracy under whose rule our Gov.
ernment was founded and under
whose fostering care it fiourished as
has no other under the blue canopy OF
heaven; that Democracy under which
our country had in fifty years matured
and grown into such a formidable
power that older nations envied and
feared, while they could not initiate it.
In the language of another they dared
not assault or defy our banner, dared
not modest a citizen, dared not en-,
croach upon the tiniest portion of our
soil for we were "a band of broth
crs," a powerful chain OF State Sow
ereigDties, each link working in mag
netic influence with the other, consti-
tuting a mountain of strength in all.
A blow &C one was a blow at the
whole, a blow at the unity 4 blow at
each. All this was of the past,
when the Democratic star rode the
ascendant; the Democratic flag waved
freely in the wind; Democratic states
men held places of distinction a
Democratic Executive occupied the
Presidential Chair. 1t was a glori-
Gus past; contrasted with the present
it was as the bright, morning, sum-
mel sur-to the pitchy darkness of a
night in the forest.
But hear what that pure and able
statesman, Hon. Geo. I'll. Pendleton,
has to say upon the present status and
prospective career of the Democratic
party. In a letter to a Committee of
Cincinnati Democrats, who invited
him to be present at a celebration of
the sth of January, he says:
The Democratic party, founded up
on The idea of local government, jeal-
Gus of powers granted to authority,
taught that simplicity and economy
are essential to the honesty necessary
in Republican institutions, maintains
with more determined purpose that
the military must be subordinate to
the civil authority, and that officers
are a trust for the people, not spoils
for the victors.
Its powerful organization enters in
to every village in the land, and num-
beers among its adherents nearly one
half the people-as intellectual, as
patriotic, as unselfsh as any other fell
low citizens. They are too numerous
to be ~cowardly: they are too patriot
ic to be lukewarm. They are too
sincere in their purposes and convic-
tions to be driven to dependency by
ten years of reyerses. They have
shown constancy in defeat as well as
wisdom in victory. If I understand
their feelings they will neither disband
their organization nor flee the field
before the contest commences
Either course they believe, would
give ~undisputed sway to the present
Administration, which could then
give undivided attention to the de-
serter from its ranks.
An advancing army, with the enemy
either dispersed or in flight never
looses divisions or regiments OF even
companies, and is generally able to
punch off pick up t~reacherous or
thoughtless stragglers.
If there be. as is claimed, many
members of the Republican party who
disappfove the ideas which dominate
the administration of President
Grant, and are prepared to oppose
his reelection, they should declare
their purpose, organize their party,
develop and manifest their strength,
and, if I may predict the future, they
will have no just cause-even the
most sensitive and timid among them
for refusing to cooperate with the
Democratic party. When its author
lied convention shall speak it will re-
mind its adherents that tao ultimate
and highest purposes of its existence
is to secure the greatest prosperity,
in its best sense, of every human
The land; that principles
rs are true or untrue. IS
10 this resultSS that
and oficesla are