The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1879-12-13
IHEDElNOCRAT
SITURDA Vs. Dec. IS.
4 Plea for The RepubNc.

preservation oil tho constitutional
republic. Shall tho American
principle remain? Shall the Dem
ocratic idea continue? Shall the
simple. farmer republic last? All
other questions are less than these
in the politics of the next twelve
month. The Democratic principle
has large majority Of the people
Of this country rs its..adhcrentS.
Local sclt.governmcnt. home rule.
cyalting the individual, keeping
the Government rather than mcn
in subjection-this is the American
principle. For this the fight is 10
be made in the year ahead OF us.
The peril Of one-man power over
hangs the republic. In this great,
free nation there is Z demand for Il
strong man" n man stronger than
the constitution. When that de-
mand is i1Gor ed by an emphatic
majority Of the voters ofthe United
States the end of the republic is ut
hand. lh' CROWN: power OF cor
poration+, the growth Of the power
Of great cities, the alarming ten
denotes toward the Capitalization Of
power in Washington, are dangers
10 the republic. There must lie q
union of all its friends to save it
from these pcrils. Men who three
or four years ago were shocked At
the suggestion that one man
should be President Of this repuO-
lie twelve years now surround the
silent man as he marches across
the continent. and hail his candi-
dacy for a third term as lovely
thing. There is q longing for n
Government, not within the con-
stitution, but outside of ii and be-
yond it-for n man and 4 Govern
ment Stronger" than the constitu.
ton. This longing is an enemy Of
the republic and u foe Of free gov
crnment on this continent. 1t is
to this danger. or these dangers,
that the efforts of the friends OF the
republic must 10 unitedly adj
dressed. The existence Of Tho re.
public rs it was is the great end.
And we will not believe that the
American devotion to the American
principle has been oxtinguishcd.
The same impulses that srnt So
many thousands Of men into the
war for the protection OF the Union
under the constitution will impel
men to cling to the constitutional
republic in time Of peace.
The Democratic party has been
tho traditional party Of discipline.
Since the beginning Of the century
the Democratic devotion has been
lofty and admirable. The discip-
line has apparently relaxed some
what within few years. For
nearly twenty years the Republican
party has held the Spoils: and
spoils, to.a great extent, make dis
Ciplinc. The Democracy no longer
have an unorganized or a Gisorgan-
lied foe 10 contend against; but, on
the contrary, party with all the
machinery OF Government, with nj!
the patronage; party audacious,
INSCRIPTIONS and terribly rcsulutc.
The taking of the current Presi-
dellcy ny INC republican party WAS
Il wound inflicted upon free govern
m"nt, not so much because one
man rather than another was
p1aced IN the W h!te House, but be-
cause the methods by which a pArty
took power were such as to dIH'in'
lsh RESPECT for Republican or Dem.
ocratic institutions. The purity Of
the republic WAS, ut least, brought
IN question. Her chastity WAS dis
puteI. The virtue ol the republic,
which, IN ITS carly days, was 4s
ih"!E IS WHEY ilde!ity or maldcniy
honor Is become a topic tossed
from Scoillng Iips I" lips more dis
Ie"Pcct'ul' anu lnsFc ar" men III
hgh pI"Srs who, l!E" respondent
harIot, boast Of the shame All
this Is dGinorallIlng; The love for
the simple republic is diminishing;
The respect tor the constitutional
powers is growing less. The Dem
ocSrallc princlpIG5, the American
lI"n' Il weakened IN thH affections
OF Americans; In" holders ut no.
!IticaI power have IN "rdcr to OBJ,
tam power, 20 in!Iamcd sectional
passion 'iiat There IS almost q Will