The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1872-02-16
AGENTS FOR THE STATE RIGHTS DEMOCRAT.
HARRISBURG DEMOCRATIC CLUB,
HARRIsBURG, Or, Feb. 4, 1872.


HARRISBURG, Or, Feb. Z, 1877.
Editor Democrat:
The meeting of the Harrisburg
Democratic Club" on Saturday night
last, was largely attended, considering
the inclemeney of the weather, having
rained all day, and about six O'Clock
set in showing, nevertheless the Acad-
my was well filed with those who
We're DESTROYS of hearing Mr.. Helm,
who had been invited to address the
club on that occasion.
After the usual transaction of BUSH
ness by the club, Mr.. Helm was intro
dueed, and in his usual forcible style of
delivery, his plain, concise and logical
manner of argument, his earnest, hon.
est mode of expression, entertained the
audience for one hour and a half, now
and then being interrupted by hearty
rounds of applause from the audience.
He showed up the corruption of the
party in power with so much clearness
that "a wayfaring man, though a fool"
could not fail to see the foulness of
Grants plan of civil service, and ex-
horted Democrats to be- vigilant and
active mot ''~passive") in their efforts
to hurl Radicals from power, and thus
furnish an opportunity of purifying
the administration of public affairs
and of restoring that confidence which
the american people formerly had in
their ability to honestly and economi-
cally govern themselves
The dangerous tendency of monopo-
lies was held up so plainly that every
Democrat and Republican present was
ready to say son to the 'front.' in the
war between the honest, laboring class
and monopolies. He showed the dam
gerous precedent, set by the Radicals,
of granting millions upon millions of
acres of the public domain to those
heartless monopolies who are constant
ly drawing the life-blood from the toll
ing millions, who are now no more nor
less than slaves to a horde of petty
railroad kings and aristocrats. The
attention of the audience was called TO
another act of folly OH the part of the
;administration-that of giving a liber-
al construction to the charters under
which the subsidized monopolies of the
country amassed immense fortunes in
"a few years, often, too, without invest
ing a dollar of their private means, as
though they were Il class of citizens
who needed and deserved the fostering
care OF the government. He "a in
favorof railroads and all other enter
prises calculated to develop the hidden
resOurces-of the country, and would
not object to the government extend
ing a limited aid to those who engage
in such enterprises. but while the far
mer and the miner, the pioneers of the
country, go out unaided and unprotect-
ell to develop the material of
the country, the Spectator and money
adventurer should be made to rely up
on his own for his success
This position Republicans annot gain
say. These arguments Republicans
will not attempt to refute.
The assumption of power, ION the
part of the federal government which
was never delegated to them, was then
dilated on by the speaker, who showed
one of its natural results which will
exemplify itself at our next election
Our State provides that all votes shall
be given Uird Uoce, but a late law of
Congress provides that all Congress
men shall be elected by ballot, thus
bringing about direct conflict between
State and Federal law. Now shall we
have two sets Of polls for each precinct
in the State, or shall we violate State
or federal law, and if so which shall We
violate? But space forbids me follow
ing the speaker any further. The
speech was well-timed and had a good
effect among Republicans, of whom
several were present.
The next meeting of the club will be
held Saturday, Feb IL, at 1 o'clock P.
NJ, when speakers from a distance will
be present. 7. j. Sites, r. S.