The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-07-26
The Democratic Party.

The Democratic Party.
From its organization, in 1900--when
by it Mr.. Jefferson was elected President,
and the infamous Alien and Sedition laws
were swept from the statute books-to the
present time, the Democratic party has
been the true party of Reform Whatever
measure has tended to destroy or curtail
the reserved constitutional rights Of the
States or the people; whatever tended to
subordinate the public veal to private gain;
whatever scheme that had for its object
the creation Of unnecessary burdens Of
taxation; whatever form class Legislation
assumed--whereby special advantages were
sought for the few at the expense Of the
many whatever disguise the advocates Of
centralization put On, they have met with
an implncable foe in the organized De-
mocracy.
The Democratic party was born Of re-
form. II was called into existence to pro-
tect constitutional freedom and the rights
Of the people against the aggressions Of
despotism, and the iniquities Of class legis-
lation. Its motto has always been ''the
greatest good to the greatest humber Il
has constantly defended the constitutional
and inalienable rightsof the people. Hon
esty and cafability have been the quaIiii-
cations which it required Of public servants.
Il has always advocated an economical
administration Of public affairs. II has
always opposed high and unequal taxation.
1t has advocated the payment Of only
adequate salaries to public officers. During
the sixty years that il was in control Of
public affairs, the entire annual expenses
Of the Government were not equal to that
now paid as salaries to Grant and his su-
bordinates in the Executive Department.
Under Democratic rule no citizen ever
heard of a Federal Taxsgather, Internal
Revenue Assessors, collectors and spies,
stamp duties, or assessments upon the labor
and commerce Of the country. With the
Democracy in power, the Constitution Of
the United States was universally recog-
nized as the supreme law Of the land
binding alike upon officials and private
citizens, the General and the State Gov
ernments. The grants Of power in that
instrument--which was regarded as simply
the bond Of union between the States
were strictly construed; and all its limita-
tions regarded as binding upon every citi-
zen, officer and department Of the Con-
federation. II was not until, unhapily,
the government passed out Of Democratic
hands that the Reconstruction Of State
Governments by the power Of Federal
bayonets was invented. In the good old
Democratic days, if a Federal Judge had
undertaken by his writ to oust the Cover
nor Of State, duly elected, and install q
graceless pretepder, he would have found
his official head in the waste basket as
soon as it tcould by lawful process, be taken
of. There were no Durrells, and War
mouths, and Kelloggs, and Pinchbacks,
and Bullocks, and Shermans, and Pome-
roys. and Carpenters, and Howards in Office
in the times when the Democracy guided
the ship of state. In those days there was
no necessity for farmers granges to resist
the expressions Of mammoth railroad and
other monopolies. Then the public do
main was sacredly set apart as homesteads
for our growing population, or sold, and
the money applied TO the legitimate uses
of the Government t---and any surplus dis
tributed among the States and not, as
now, squandered BY the millions Of acres
on monster railroad companies, to form the
basis Of Credit Mobiliers, syndicatex, and
all manner of schemes Of robbery. There
were no kackpay steals in Democratic
times. Allithese things, and many more,
like them and Of kin to them, have grown
up under the fostering care Of Radicalisn,
and its tender, Liberalism which occu-
pies its abandoned camps in the march Of
progress against Constitutional freedom.
The difference between the two has puzzled
many 70 discover. Really, there Is no dif-
ference but this the first Is in power and
the second out. liberalism Is Radicalinn
out Of Office, and consequently with sore
head. The latter clamors for reform 4
throughout the United States because Il
Is out Of power everywhere The former
wants to reform Kentucky, and one or Two
other States where it has failed Is secure
q foothold. The handspring Of the motive
is the same in both--a desire to get place
for the sake Of power and pelf
II is the mission of the Democratic party,
to-day, as il was at its organization, 70 res
cue the Governnent from the hands, Of
such spoilers; To bring back tie admins
tration Of public affairs . constitutional
basis; to save the people from The despotism
Of rings, and cliques, and johs of al aorta;
to preserve what is lei} Of constitutional
liberty on this continent Oors Is the
party Of true reform, and about ils stand.
ard the people Must .'faIly once again, If
our union Of eo-equal Stales h to continue
IF thepeople are 70 remain free Io>i<.
vile, Ky' ledger