The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-09-02
The Duty Of Democrats.

I
country toward centralism during the
last few years, is most alarming to any
careful student Of our institutions. Its
influences are made apparent in many
ways. The advocates OF the policy the
henchmen Of this administration in Con-
gress and elsewhere are naughty, dom.
ineering, inpatient OF criticism, indiffer-
ent toward the people, gnsping and
INSCRIPTIONS They are reckless, and
do not hesitate to offend tho most pop
ular sentiment and most enlightened
morality OF the country In tho means
they use in the accomplishment OF their
personal and partisan ends. II IN elec.
tion Is TO be carried, or a just popular
judgment Is TO be denied fair and yOlun'
tary expression at the polls, they do not
appeal TO the reason and Justice OF the
people, but to partisan laws aud to pas
sion, TO prejudice and to sectional ani.
mostly. It'these latter fail they resor'
to money, to bribery, to corruption.
To these ends they levy contributions
upon their friends and retainers in office
upon their favored contractors with the
Government, upon their pet corpora.
tons, and upon the corrupt lobby and
rings, and II all these full, then upon the
Treasury-not by direct DRIFTS for mere
partisan purposes, but by indireetion
and by tho indecent manipulation OF nu'
thorized expenditures. l am profound
" persuaded that the managers OF this
Administration, In the pending campaign
have done, and will do, things with the
corrupt aid Of money, that arc simply
lawless and Infamous. And l pray you
all to be ever vigilant to detect and ex'
pose them. They are now engaged in
| the unmnnly business Of hiring purchns-
able Demoernls to support Grant, or to
oppose Greeley, and thus break tho ef.
feet Of tho popular mind Of tho vast
number Of good, ,eminent,and incorrnpt-
ihle Republicans who are deserting from
tlieir ranks and coming to the support
OF the Cincinnati movement. l mean
Just what say. But 1t must not be in
ferred that / so reproach all Democrats
who oppose Mr. Greeley. Just the con.
trary. Those only I reproach who do 1t
for unworthy and dishonoable reasons.
The people readily know who they are.
But, my fellow citizens, ] must hasten
on, for / must not tax your attention
much longer. / want to remind You
that for many years past the mind OF the
Democratic party has been filled with
more or less adequate conceptions oi
these great dangers and abuses, to which
in some detail I have now referred. But
our political opponents came slowly, or
have not yet come at all, TO appreciate
and admit them. During the present
Administration, however, they have be-
come so open, repeated and bold that
the entire country has felt thrill oi
alarm, thousands Of true and patriotic
Republicans in every State, and many
Of tue ablest mud tho purcst leaders and
founders Of the Republican party, both
in and out Of public life, now admit them,
brayely cooperate with US to check and
reform them, and testify to the people
| from their personal observations tue
great extent OF the corruptions and dan.
gers which stand in tho way OF reform,
and threaten tho safety Of our free In
stitutions.
These events aud facts most naturally
and logically led to q great popular
movement TO secure 0 change Of admin
istntion aud reform in the conduct Of
the Government. That movement found
expression in the Cincinnati Convention,
and adopted declaration Of purposes
and o national ticket. The National
Democratic Convention at Baltimore, in
a PATRIOTS spirit OF sliabnegation never
before paralielcd In the history OF our
country, accepted that ayowal OF princi.
pies aud that ticket. In this act did it
suffer aiy humiliation, or sacrifice any
essential principle Of the party? With.
ont hosisation, l answer, no. a Demo-
CRITIC National Convention, under other
circumstances, might have specifically y
demanded some additional reforms, but
none inconsistent with those demanded
at Cincinnati and Baltimore. Let me
epitomize the great and noble purposes
ayowed IN our present platform;
/. Equality before thelaw, and equal
Justice to all men.
3. The preservation OF the Union
under the constitution as amended.
8. The removal Of ali political disa.
bilities, 50 that there shall be actual
equality In rights between citizens Of the
1. local self government with impair.
tial suffrage.
s. The supremacy Of tho civil over
the military power. .I
O. Tho uninterrupted enjoyment ol
the habeas corpus.
Z. The return Of the country to The
methods Of peace aud law.
8. Strict observance Of the constitu-
tional limitations upon power.
8, Effective and honest ciyil.serNiet
reform.
10. No reelection OF President, SC
that his personal motives may not con
fiict with his public duty.
II. Taxation shall not necessarily In,
terfere with industry.
u. The questions Of tariff protection
and free trnde shall be remitted TO the
people and to Congress without executive
Is. Economy and obedience Of the
laws in public expenditures.
IL Tie amount Of the revenues and
taxation TO be reduced.
Is. The public credit TO be maintain
ed uninpaired.
10. As speedy return TO specie pay
ment as Is safely practicable.
II. Justice and reward to the ex.sol.
diers Of the Union.
is. Hostility to laad.grants-the
lands To the people.
~. In foreign intercourse, the cult.
walton Of friendly relations on terms oi
Eoitnnsa ennnlitv and honor.