The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-01-30
TIE Present Da.ty CT the Demo
cFatjc Party.


tenn to the government of the people.
Free government is founded on them, and
the superstructure will surely topr!e over
Whenever these principles are undermined
or destroyed. No people are tt to be free
who are not capable of maintaining them:
and when they are lost or overshadOwed
by men in power, free government is gone.
The leading Democratic principle is that
n.en can and should govern themselves, by
laws Of their own making, and through of
fceis of their own selection. The converse,
which of late years has made such alarm
lug eucroachmeuts, is that certain men in
ctiice can much better govern the people
than the people can govern themselves.
This is the modern Radical doctrine 4; and
it has been the practice rs much as posi-
bic and it was rapidly running our coun-
try into despotisn.
\ cardinal feature of the Democratic
doctrine is strict economy in the adminis-
tration of government. Another prime
feature is strict accountability of all Off
GERS accountability to the people. This
has been terribly disregarded during the
cxtravagant reign Of Radicalism.
Another feature is, to grant no more
power to officers or government depart
meuts than is absolutely necessary to So
cure proper government; aud not to sub
nit willingly to usurpation Of power by the
peoples servants.
Another feature is to hold the military
absolutely subordinate to the civil authori-
ty; whereas since tho wal, the Radical
theory seems to have been, that the people
could have, BY permission, as much license
as the military power chose to allow them,
and no moIe especially III the Southern
States.
These, and others cOgnate to these, are
the principles of the Democratic party.
Al men, by whatever name they may
choose to be designated politically, who
advocate these are Democrats, in our un-
derstandiug Of the term.
4 lie object of the Democratic party is
to bring back our government, national
and State, to the original principles upon
which alone true self government must
rest. To remove from official positions all
individuals high or low, who oppose them
selves 70 these principles or who, for sell
fish or ambitions ends, do not hesitate to
deride and defy the people, and by their
conduct say, You are not capable of gov
erning yourselves ; we know how to govern
you, aid we propose to do it" The pri-
mary Object of the Democratic party is to
get rid of all such men and in their place
70,
Constitution, and conform carefully to its
requirements. This is what the country
needs the removal of demag0gues, and
the substitution of fair men willing and
able 10 represent the real wishes of the
masses Of our population, aud not merely
those of rich minority.
The duty of the Democracy is, then,
perfectly plain. Wemust adhere unflinch-
iugly to our or organization. \ party with
out well defined, living, acting organiza-
tion, cannot succeed. No petty consider
atiUns should be permitted to enter in and
divide us. Men are nothing excepting so
far as they may be ready to advance the
great principles for which our party has
always contended. All men of every party
Wiling to support sound Demo ocratic
principles can unite with our organization
IN the present effort to bring back the ac-
tion of our government to its true normal
condition. 1t is folly to look to any other
political organization in the present emer-
gercy for the requisite political strength
to bring about the needed reforms. which
are of such vast moment to the interest of
all our citizens of every shade of politics.
The reform must begin with the primary
elections. 1t is plain and simple Elect
honest men men who are not too selfish
OF too aspiring but who will look first to
the welfare of their constituents to the
general veal.
If the Democracy will be careful in their
primary elections, and in all their nomina-
tions to chose honest men who heartily de-
sire to see sound economical government
take the place of :he present loose system.
the result must be beneticia 1t is better
to suffer defeat with proper candidates,
than to achieve victory with rascally nom
inces. L Geraiity Of feeling aud action are
essential to harmony and to success.
1t should not be forgotten, that it is not
merely the exercise of brilliant talent that
is required to administer government;
steady honesty Of purpose is of indefinitely
moIe value. II is astonishing to see how
in these better days this important cousid-
Grafton has been overlooked. Whenever
people like ours shall depend upon the
tiashy, superficial, brilliant men as guides
they will meet with just such results as we
now have upon US in our national affairs
houndiess extravaganza, and confusion
worse conf"unded. Give US good, honost,
substantial men.
Mn. CowLEs, a distinguished mail rot-
Der of Iowa, being a connection by mar
riage of Mir. Colfax ard having always
been faithful to the party, telegrapLed to
hir. Culfax, says the Eor!d. to become