Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-09-04
AN ADDRESS
TO THE
DEMOCRACY OF PENNSYLVANIA

tain the integrity of Democratic princi.
Piles, and, by your action and votes, es.
tahlsh their supremacy in the State.
The hi to and record of tho party in
all past time has been consistent. and
its force has always been expended in
defense of the rights OF the citizen.
guaranteed to him by the organic law
OF the land.
Your fealty to the party is not the
result of subserviency to the dictates of
any one man or set of men, but rests
upon conviction, that its policy and
principles, when fully carried out have
ever contributed to the prosperity and
material wealth Of the State. To this
end it has invariably resisted the en-.
croachments of political power directed
against the rights of personal liberty
and property. IL is fundamental
principle of the Democratic party, that
the majority shall rule-that the will of
the people, fairly and freely expressed
at the polls, is the supreme law Of the
land, and should be maintained at all
hazards. and that any attempt TO set
aside that will so declared, is crime
against the State, and subversivc of the
rights of the individuals constituting
it. To establish n government based
upon tnlN HIlutlIlt NpNA lllt btNl ulbti
OF the patriots of the Revolution, and
base and degenerate would he their
children if over they should permit il
to be impaired. The highest privilege
that can be exercised by a freeman is
the right of the elective franchise; its
enjoyment is secured to him by the bill
of rights, which declares, That "elec.
tions shall be free and equal: and no
nt..il or Yr,tiifart- alal Of
time interfere to prevent the free cxer.
else of the right of suffrage In the
exercise of this right, the elector is n
sovereign, and tame submission to any
cncroachment upon il would speedily
hasten condition Of seryitude. In tho
exercise of the elective franchise. all
are placed upon the same level, without
rcgTd To the conditions Of life or for.
tune. The poorest voter, in the use of
this privilege, wields power equal TO
that of the richest and most powerful in
the State The ballot makes them
equal, and its Importance is OF no great.
er value to one than the other, and
hence in the perfect security Of It's
free exercise to every votcr-rests the
permauencv Of our system OF self gov.
ernment. To its free and untrammclI.
cd enjoyment the Democratic party
pledges its unfaltering support. Under
Republican rule this guaranteed right
TO every citizen has been hagrnntlv vio-
lated. not only in this. but in other
states of the Union. But it was the
heroic devotion Of the Democratic par.
Is in the last Congress that re affirmed
and partially restored the right Of the
elector to free ballot.
That was not n contest for political
supremacy, but struggle for lost
right. and accomplished for the people
what in other times could not have
been gained without an appeal TO arms.
In this State, for years you have sub.
mitted to the rule of the Republican
party. and not only by intimidation and
fraud have electors been deprived of
their suffrage, but in moro than one in.
stance you have been disfranchised. the
legitimate honest. vote Of the State hav.
ing been c0tHici ont. More than one
State official has held his office against
the honestly polled vote Of the people.
In the city Of Philadelphia it is notori.
ous that the most fragrant outrages have
been perpetrated upon the electors, by
REPEATER, ballot-box suffers, and the
paid minions Of the National govern.
ment, and the right to free ballot has
been trampled upon within the shadow
of Independence Hall, where the spirit
of liberty was first given birth. think
/ mistake not the temper Of the Demo.
cratic party now, in that. they will not
again tamely submit to such an invasion
Of their rights, but in the approaching
election they will see to IL that there
shall not only be free Jaliot but an
honest count.
other elements. equally dangerous to
the rights Of the citizen and the pros
perity Of the Commonwealth, exist
The Republican party for years has
been in the keeping of an organized
ring, that generously has relieved the
masses Of the party from the RESPONSE
bility of taking an active part in its
management. It has organized its
State conventions, selected and nomi.
mated candidates for high political po
sitions, and appointed Senators to rep.
resent Pennsylvania in the Senate Of
United States, used the power Of the
lobby to control important legislation.
and by the potent influence Of money
and position, its baleful influence has
found its way into every fibre OF our po
litcal system. Whenever il became
necessary to accomplish purpose. it's
power was irresistible. II pervaded
every department Of the State govern.
ment, and in the House and Senate
were found its efficient representatives.
In the lobby IL was omnipotent. The
treasury was regarded as the object Of
Legitimate plunder, and tho representa-.
tiyes of the people as the mere instru.
ments to give legal form to robbery.
The most iniquitous measures were
conceived and executed. The sentence
Of political death, without reprieve. was
imposed on any adherent who hesitated
to carry out the decree Of the ring. and
his place filed by more plant and
supple tool. In the name Of loyalty the
State was plundeTed. The public works.
costing The people millions. were given