Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1878-10-04
= o litital.
IMPORTANCE OF HARMONY.


speech of Mr.. Clinton, of New York,
upon the Importance of harmony in the
Democratic ranks fairly meet the issue
and should receive the attention of the
party in this State.
AS the assembling of this committee
is the opening of the fall campaign, |
have thought it not inappropriate to the
occasion to submit some views touching
the present condition of political affairs.
The ensuing election, in its far-reaching
consequences, is scarcely second in i'm
portance to any held within the recol-
lection Of any now present.
A new Congress is to be elected; a
body that may have to decide the most
momentous question which can ever
arise in our national affairs, namely who
shall be President of the United States
Such will be the grave responsibility cast
upon the next Congress in the event Of
no election by the people in $780,
Questions of the highest Importance,
deeply affecting the interest and pros
poets of the American people, must be
passed upon by the Congress so soon to
be elected 1t must be decided at the
polls, in November, whether the next
House of Representatives will have such
q decided Democratic majority as to insure
continuance of the system Of retrench-
ment and reform which has characterized
the Democratic party there from the first
session after it obtained ascendency, when
it reduced our national expenditures over
thirty millions of dollars per annum.
With Republican Senate and Repub-
lican President, the only wonder is that
Democratic Congress has achieved so
much in favor of retrenchments and good
government.
No one can measure the consequences
which may flow from the apathy or ne
glect of duty on the part of a single DEM
ocratic voter. Not many years since a
Democratic Governor in one Of the East
ern States was elected by majority OF
one. The Electoral Commission by a
majority of one in effect decided that the
present de fttcto incumbent of the Presi-
Dental office had majority of one cleo
toral vote. Let every Democratic voter
exert himself as though his vote would
result in majority of one for every Dem.
ocratic candidate for whom he casts ;
ballot In view of the momentous In
terests at stake in the coming election
| hope--sincerely trust--that all Demo
Gratis, in every part of the State, viii
heal up all divisions among themselves
close up the ranks and press on to vic
tory. The Democratic party stands St
well with the people, is so powerful il
numbers, so strong in the justice of it
cause, that it cannot be beaten by i'll
legitimate and ancient foe, the Republi
can party. The only question is whether
the great Democratic party will be gull
ty Of the stupendous folly--the down
right insanity-of defeating itself. How
much more sensible; how much more
worthy the occasion for Democrats to ac
tremendously and devote the next two
months to organizing victory instead o
occupying perhaps a twelve-month aftel
election in wrangling over the question
as to what party, faction or clique wal
guilty Of precipitating defeat at thc
polls.
1t is the part of wisdom to look ex
isting facts squarely in the face. -
Two years ago 1884 65 citizens
cast their ballots in favor of thu
Democratic nominees for President anC
Vice President. Our candidates were
elected. They had not only large
majority of the popular, but Of the cleo
toral vote BY the nefarious conduct Of
returning boards, and for the reason that
a majority Of the Electoral Commission
shut their eyes to actual facts, and would
not permit the truth to be proved, the
great majority Of the people Of the United
States, who had lawfully elected Pres.
ident and Vice-P President, were cheat.
cd out of their choice, and, to all iutenti
and purposes, robbed Of the right o.
suffrage. The rights Of the majorit,
were awarded to the minority. Those
who brought this result acted upon tho
same principle which governed Tweed
and his companions in crime, in tho
palmy days of repeating, ballot boz
stuiIiDg and false counting. When othel
attempts at fraud failed, they gave tho
votes Of the victorious candidate to biz
opponent who had been defeated at The
polls and thereupon certified that he had
| been elected