Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-08-07
Tho Republican Platform.
The second resolution of the Repub.
lican platform reads as follows:

Democratic party, which insists upon
| placing the National Government under
the dominion of men who but lately
| fought to destroy il, and who are now
| plotting to give triumph to the doctrine
they failed to establish in the field, the
establishment of State sovereignty by
the overthrow of National supremacy.
The above is not very clear or
precise statement of any principle or
policy, but confused tumble of words
for the purpose of satisfying the un-
thinking portion of their party that
some patriotic purpose is to be served
by the election of the Republican can
didates in November. Thr Union
loving people of Pennsylvania" to
whom this appeal is made can include
but few, if any, of the managers of the
Republican party, for they now as
ever hate the Union and all who hon
estly and sincerely uphold it. From
the organization of this party to the
present time the whole effort of the
managers has been TO instill into the
masses prejudices and hatred toward
the people and institutions of one.half
the country. Let hatred for the peo-
pie of the South disappear, and the
Republican party would disappear
with it. The pretense that the stall
warts are Union loving men is as bald
and hypocritical as any statement
could be.
The doctrine of State rights, as
taught and practiced by the Democra-
tic party from its organization to the
present time, is simply the doctrine of
tho Constitution. We admit now, as
our party always did, that the Federal
Constitution and the laws enacted in
accordance with it, are the supreme
laws of the land, and that no State,
either by a statute, constitutional pro-
vision or resolution of n convention,
can nullify or suspend either. The
alleged right of secession was an en-
tireIy different thing. The Democra-
tic party upheld the rights which the
States had under the Constitution and
the Union; the South claimed the
right for the States to 90 out Of the
Union and annul the Constitution.
We claim now, as we always claimed
just what the Constitution in the 10th
article provides: "The powers not del.
egated to the United States by the
Constitution, nor prohibited by it to
the States, are reserved to the States
respectively, or to the people" Wher-
ever the people of the States have del.
egated to the Federal government any
power or jurisdiction the Federal gov
ernment is supreme. Whateverpow-
er has not been delegated to the Fede-
raj government, remains with the seve-
raj States, and in the exercise of those
powers the States are supreme.
The whole policy Of the radical par
ty is to consolidate oil power in the
Federal Government, not because they
love the government of the Constitu-
ton, but because it removes the pow
er further from the people. With To-
cal self government the people are
brought into actual contact with those
who govern, and will, sooner or later,
apply the proper remedy in case Of
misgovernment. When powers are ex-
ercised by Federal officers the people
have no such direct remedy for their
misconduct. The radicals desire that
all power shall emanate from Wash
ington, and be welded in the interest
of their party. The Democracy desire
all power and authority to emanate
from the people, and be welded for
the general good. This is the simple
issue.
The "mad career" of the Democra-
tic party which they want to have ar
rested is the reduction of unnecessary
expenses, our objection to letting Uni
ted States .marshals pack juries, and
our refusal to appropriate public mo-
ney to pay marshals and their depu-
ties for interfering with and debauch-
ing elections. The people are not in
terested to stop this kind Of career,
even though the stalwarts do call IL