Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1879-11-14
THE CHAMPAIGN or 1880,

The result Of the recent elections is such
as TO give conclusive evidence that the con-
Test in 1880 between the upholders of CEN
tralization and the supporters and friends of
constitutional government will be a close
bitter and violent struggle.
We may safely predict that should Grant
be the nominee of the Republican party it
will be a struggle which will involve the
existence of the Republic itself, for his cleo
ton would most inevitably lead to CEN
tralized imperialism, and no one can foresee
what the next step towards Capitalization
would be. Every barrier which the consti-
tuition holds up against the encroachments
of the central upon the local governments
win be swept away, all reverence for the
fundamental law will disappearand all the
checks and forms of our Federal system will
become the sport of political controversy.
The local rights Of persons and OF property,
the local conflicts of corporations, the whole
system Of local laws with the controversies
they involve and the passions they excite,
will become elements Of national politics,
and thevery organization Of society through
out the land will become the stake of ma
tional party struggles.
1t Is within the province Of the Demo-
cratic party to avert such dreadful calam-
ity. From It's organization to the present,
it has ever been recognized and regarded as
the fearless champion Of the peoples rights
and the unrelenting foe Of corruption in
every form. In the administration Of the
government il has never failed to throw
around the constitution every safeguard and
place in position men of exalted purity of
character, honesty and ability.
To avert the impending danger ii is abso-
lutely important that the Democracy be
thoroughly organized, its deliberations be
prudent and harmonious, the observance of a
strict party discipline be rigidly maintained,
its leaders men Of recognized ability and
purity of character and known popularity.
Private considerations, personal preferences
and party jealousies must give way for the
success Of the party and the maintenance of
the public good, and above all the popular
fallaog that the candidate must come from
New York to be successful must be dis
carded-the adoption Of such course will,
in our opinion, insure victory.
History, which somewhere relates that
''the knights Of 81. John, who seven CEN
turtles ago, were beset on all sides by the
Turks, but held their citadel with the flag Of
Of the cross flying over itduring seige last
ing twenty-five years." finds somewhat
parallel case In the struggle Of the Democra-
cy In the support Of constitutional sovereign
~ during period Of twenty years, In which
almost every provision Of the constitution
has been assailed, ignored, repudiated and
tramplcd upon; every vestigc Of State-rights
utterly abrogated, with the enemy cntrenched
behind fraud and supported by bayoneis,
still from some column OF the Federal arch
the old Democratic flag floats proudly tn
umphanL The same spirit still animaies
the heart and nerves the arm Of the Democ-
macy, whilst the result Of the election in the
North and West have not been altogether
encouraging, still by proper course. gath
ering wisdom from the sad experience Of the
past, and taking for our Captain In the great
l|eit such q man rs Bayard, Hendricks.
hancock or Seymour, the Democracy viii
Fe % witness tho full fruition ofall H. hopes.
trials and struggles, In the quiet and safe
ymenf Of the blessings which flow from
&prblican Government
20, such day
ktt, 10 followed and 70 fairly won.
Mn now. 70 dignity The times