The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-08-28

developed upon the representatives Of all the
States in the Congress assembled. And the
drafting Of National party platform upon il,
TO be snbmftedt % The people, is the Office OF
National Convention representing the party
in all the States. Such Convention Of our
party will meet next year, and its deliyerAnce,
we may fairly presume, will reflect the opinion
and manifest the will Of the entire Democracy
of the Republic. Il Is somewhat amusing 70
read, in the light Of history, some ofthe criti-
cisms that are daily seen in the newspapers
upon the subject am considering. One class
OF these papers denounees, with great severi-
~, the hardmoney Democrats OF Ohio be-
cause they do not unite with the Republicans
TO defeat the ticket, forgetting that even Hor-
ace Greedy, then chief Wing editor Of the
United States, exerted all his power and in.
fiuenee 10 elect Gen. Scott 10 the Presidency,
and, at the same time, TO use his strong but
certainly not courteous language, "spat upon
the platform
Another class ofeditors deuounce US because
we do not surrender our convictions aud sup
port paper-money and imitation as well as the
ticket They are not content that we shall
help to elect the ticket-they require that we
shall also abandon our faith forgetting that
not three years have elapsed since they were
themselves among the most ardent and Ell
Gent supporters Of Horace Greedy for the
Presidency, upon the most pronounced and
unambguons hard-money and specie resump-
ton platform that could be written. But let
as pass TO more important considerations.
have no desire TO speak of the inconsistencies
Of politicians. / an content il can maintain
my own consistency and at the same time do
what believe 10 be right
The Democratic party Of the United States
has existed for more than three-quarters Of q
century. 1t has survived all other parties
except the comparatively modern party with
which il is now contendin', and the signs of
the time indicate that ere long it will survive
that. Now, there must have been, and must
yet be, some mighty boad Of union 10 first
create and then preserve for 80 long period
a party so powerful and persistent That
bond cannot be "the cohesive power Of pub
lie plumber" as was once said by an eminent
statesman and President of another party /;
for the Democratic party took its rise
when its opponents were in power, aud
II has maintained its organization intact
for many years when deprived of all authority
in the Federal Government and in the gov
ernments Of most of the States. Besides, no
party can long exist in free country that has
no other foundation than power and plumber
Were that possible, it would prove beyond
dispute that the people are incapable Of self
government, and that free institutions are con-
sequently failure. We must look, therefore,
to other causes TO account for the existence
and vitality Of the Democratic party And
these causes we find, first, in the general fact
that, more strongly than its adversaries, II is
imbued with love Of free, Democratic insti-
tutions that, more firmly than its opponents,
1t believes in local self-goyernment, and is
therefore more conservative of the rights OF
the States that, more ardently than other
parties, 1t is attached to the liberty Of the in
dividual, and therefore defends the reserved
rights Of the people against all encroachments
Of power, whether Federal or State; that its
legislation has been marked by greater liber-
atty TO immigrants, greater respect for liber-
ty Of speech and of the press, greater regard
for the rights of conscience, more determined
opposition to monopolies Of every kind, SCUM
der views Of currency, commerce, and trade,
and stricter adherence 10 simplicity and
economy in every department Of government,
Federal or State, than has characterized the
measures.of its opponents. Add TO these, that
its principles make it the enemy OF all shams
and false pretenses, and inculcate the dignity
as well as the usefulness Of labor, and we can
arrive at no other conclusion than that the
Democracy is the natural party Of free insti-
tutions in Republic like ours.
We have, then, good reasons for the rise
Of our party, its long and unbroken existence,
its many years of unsurpassed usefulness in
power, its fortitude, and perseverance when
in minority, and its undying faith that it is
again destined to rule and shape the destiny
Of the Nation. II is not party, my friends,
TO be abandoned for tran.itory causes thai and ,
denly arise and AZ snddeplv mass away Its
fonnda,;ons are TOO deem. 4. nr;nc;nIe. TOO
closely interviewer with The very nature q
man, to permit its dissolution so long as free
government shall exist. And without it free
government in fact, whatever might be its
name, would soon cease itself to exist. De
mocratic principles are the very lite-blood OF
free institutions; without them, freedom would
have no place on the earth.
I do not stand here TO denounce whole
classes Of men as villains because they hold
Offices, whether Federal or State. But do
stand here to say that, in the light Of indispu.
table proofs, corruption has existed, and does
now exist, to degree that requires the cor
receive hand Of the people in the mode have
indicated. II had time would present
much Of this proof to you to-day, though q
single day would scarcely suffice 10 read q
nuuufeuln part VI " Cauuott thctciOfe1 ~
this time do more than allude to certain mat
ters that have become almost too notorious
to need reference of proofs. Is there o
man here who has not heard Of the Northern
Pacific Railroad Company and the Credit
Mobiher? Is there one of you who does not
know, by sworn testimony taken before Con-
gressional Committees, that by the frauds Of
these companies principally ruled and gov
erned by certain members Of Congress, the
people Of the United States are absolutely
certain to loose not less than S5O,O0O,OO0.
Has any one Of you forgotten that over
1896, 900 we're used by these companies TO
procure the passage Of an amendment 70 the
railroad charter BY the corruption Of members
of congress--an amendment that surrendered
the most important rights of the Government.
and, in the end, ensailed upon the people the
loss 10 which / have referred7
,.ts ~ - -. =: - - r~.. ~,
ns 500 ~ @ 900 @o ses..Yn a .E I.ss
NJ NJ %.vo,ooy ~ s.np.eye. - sas .a sN
Taa. s.sa'ns.p SoaPal2 Sre nT NJ.
Ionsaess IN lm M" '.; paDne SUBSIDY nus
reaa " you ans 'essnony sissu psiole
,sas h.;ko.a ~ sw W. c s.s, u sso~
ofIicers had become an established ussge :
Or i il necessary TO more than mention he
4