The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-07-12

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State convention was convened in the
ity Of Reading on the 3Oth of May last,
harged by Its constituents with the high
nd responsible duty of nominating can
lidates for Governor, Judge of the Su.
,reme Court and Auditor General, to be
voted for at the State election in Octo-
Der next, This con vention, for the first
lime in the history of the State, was re.
luired to nominate three persons for
congress. The reason for this is found
in the fact that the federal congress by
statute awarded to Pennsylvania three
additional members. 1t therefore de.
volved upon the state convention to
nominate three candidates to he voted
for at large by the people.
The last legislature having authorized
a convention to be held to propose
to the State constitution,
the democratic convention also nomina
ted fourteen candidates for the consti.
tutional convention in conformity with
the act of assembly.
Democrats of Pennsylvania, your
chosen agents in the State convention
were required to perform these several
most important duties. That they have
faithfully and we'll discharged them is
acknowledged by all, for the work Of the
Reading convention has been hailed
with general satisfaction.
The duty now devolves on you to Ia
Dor earnestly and harmoniously to ratify
at the polls in October this action of
your delegates. The contest before you
is most important one.
1t sto decide many vital questions di.
rectly connected with the dearest in
terests of the people.
1t is to determine If the labor, capital
wages, income, property and the pros
perity of the people of this state are
longer to be the prey of unscrupulous
Spectators in politics, who regard the
taxes of the people as money to be taken
by combinations known as "rings,'
created solely to enrich those so associa
ted, and accomplished by the votes O
the agents of the people selected to pro
tect their rights, foster their industry
and economize the expenditure of thu
public funds.
1t is also to determine if reform In
public affairs Is possible for the people
or If their agents are so arrogant and
powerful as to be beyond the reach o.
the opinions and votes of the honest
toilers, business men, and yeomen O
| this State.
It is to determine II the great princi
Piles of representative republican gov
ernment as established by our fathers
are to be overthrown in order to set uI
a personal military dictatorship, under
which the people of Pennsylvania will
become the slaves of irresponsible pow
er and military rule, without voice ir
the management of their government
or the right to regulate their domestic
affairs or to protect their political in.
| terests.
1t is to determine il the States of the
Union are to be free and Independent
and the people thereof to retain those
inherent political rights by the exercise
of which they created the federal gov
ernment and ordained the federal con
stitution to be the supreme law Of thu
land.
1t is to determine if personal liberty
is longer to be preserved or If that dear.
est and highest right Of freemen is to bt
destroyed at the caprice of military
cabal for the purpose of enforcing odlous
and arbitrary rule under the color o
popular approval.
1t is to determine if legislation is to
be sold to the most corrupt bidder-i
the money of the people is to be used tt
enrich "rings," composed of men ii
Office and their allies-if frauds on tht
treasury are to be ignored and the guilty
parties exempted from punishment
and if the privilege of the electiv,
franchise is to become a farce, becaus
frauds the most infamous are perpetra
ted on the ballot box, and avowed a
the only means to overcome the homes
votes of the honest men of the State.
Democrats of Pennsylvania. You ar,
called upon earnestly to consider thes,
questions and to render at the polls il
October next your decision.
| The memories of the past, the pa
triotism of your fathers, the trials an
sacrifices they made to establish al
give to their posterity the blessings c
liberty and free government, invok
you to earnest, active, united effort t.
reform the administration of public al
fairs. We earnestly invite the chairmel
of the several county committees care
fully to organize their counties for tn
coming contest. We respectfully an
atfectionately call on every democrat t
devote time and labor to aid in the SUI
cess of the principles of the party and il
candidates.
| We beg leave to call on every patrio
in the State, whatever heretofore ma
have been his party associations,
look at the perils which now threate
the great interests of the people, tn
State, and public liberty, and to unit
in the efforts now being made whic
have for their object liberty regulate
by law, reform, prosperity and peace.
We present to the men of Pennsylvs
MIA the decision Of the momentou
issues involved in the October election
because 1t Is the government of the stat
on which is directly and primarily d.
volved the responsibility of protectin
the people in their rights, liberty an
happiness,
Men Of Pennsylvania! we appeal
you with confidence proportionate t
our cause and dthenecessities OF the time
and with q deep conviction that upo
the due organization of the State at
ministration under iit men depends tn
protection of all our people in the
rights, liberty and happiness.
BY order of the Democratic State Con
mittee. SAM'L j. RANDALL,