Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-11-13
Prepare for 1880.


Democrats of Pennsylvania the abso-
Lutte necessity of thorough organiza-
tion Of the party for the contest of
1880. The party, says the Harrisburg
Patriot, no doubt recognizes the fact
that without such organization it will
be vain to hope for success in the
State. There are those, however, who
are too willing to regard Pennsylva-
MIA rs lost to the Democracy and who
are therefore ready TO abandon the
State to the enemy. To such we
would say that the voting strength of
the Pennsylvania Democracy has not
been fnlly exhibited at the polls for
many years. The party has not been in
thorough voting drill since 1868 when
in spite of the popularity of Grant,
on the test vote in October the Repub-
licans had but beggarly majority of
about nine thousand. Since then the
Republican party has been greatly
weakened in many counties, notably in
the central, northern and western por.
tions of the State. But superior disci-
pline still gives them numerical SUI
pcriority at the polls. There are
about 100000 voters that can be
brought TO the election in a prcsiden-
tial year. A change of two votes in
every hundred of the 100000, from
one party TO the other, would make
difference, in the aggregate, of 30
600. 4 change of four in every
hundred against the dominant party
would wipe out majority of 10000.
Now there can be no question that if
the Democratic party is properly or
ganized and disciplined for 1850 that
a change Of to,r rotes in crery hundred
against the Republicans and in favor
of The Democrats can be made ut the
presidential election. Suppose that
active Democrats of each election dis.
trict were 10 resolve 10 make this
change Of four in every hundred
votes, who doubts but that it would be
done ? But in order that the workers
IN the election districts NAV be en-
couragcd TO undertake the task there
must be head Of the organization
who will show them that the work can
be done, how it is 10 be done, and
who will see that it is done And the
sooner this work of organization il be.
gun the better. The State convention
for the election of delegates to the
National convention and the nomina-
tion of the State ticket ought there
fore to be held at an early day. 1t is
important that the State committee
which is to conduct the canvass next
year be chosen as soon as possible, 50
that the preliminary work of organi-
zation may be completed before the
speaking canvass which is inevitable
in presidential year shall have be-
gun. The organization of Democratic
clubs, the placing Of Democratic
newspapers in the hands of the voters,
and like preparations for the cam.
paign ought not to be neglected be-
yond the first month of the new year,
but it is more than likely that they
will not be generally thought of unless
the State committee take the matter
in hand and adopt and enforce SONG
system in regard 10 it. These
gestions are made simply becas
think there is no sense in
battle when with proper BR d.
rected effort il can be woI
Perseverance, Lodge A. Y. Ma
sons of Harrisburg celebrated its Cen
tennial anniversary on Tuesday last,
having been instituted on the 10th of
November, 1879. Officers of the
Grand Lodge, with other distinguish
ed Masons were present, and made ap-
propriate addresses. DIR. w. II. Ia
gle read an interesting history of the
Lodge since its organization.