Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-09-16
Young Men and General Han
cock.

country to dignity themselves and as
sure their political future by support
ing the candidates of the Democratic
party in the current presidential con-
test. There are obvious reasons why
the young men of the United States
should give their political adhesion to
the party of constitutional liberty.
The young progressive voter cannot
possibly find anything alluring in the
attitude or principles of the Republi-
can party. 1t represents issues that
have no place in the history of the
present. 1t stands in the way of pro-
gress, a monument of the past, and
looking backward instead of forward,
it offers nothing for the future. 1t is
a sectional party and aims to control
the thought of the one-half of the
country by ostracizing and ignoring
the other. II seeks by the revival Of
the animosities of half a generation
past to array the people of COM
mon country in deadly hostility to
each other. Instead of accepting re-
suits that are as firmly rooted as
the riven hills, it yet invokes the
imaginary presence of hostile armies
and assails the perpetuity Of gov
ernment which is the priceless heri-
tage of this people and ever will be.
Instead Of seeking by every means to
cultivate friendly intercourse with the
States lately in rebellion, and thereby
encouraging immigration and opening
up TO the young, active and eDterpris-
ing men of the country, who only
await the opportunity to throw the
resistless force of their will and
energy into the rich and fertile
fields of the South. the Repub-
iicau party denounce the people
of that section as traitors and dis
courage interchange of opinions and
trade. Instead of offering induce
ments to young men to train them
selves in the school of state craft as
the future directors cf the affairs Of
the nation, the Republican party re.
pudiates the claim of the young voter
and showers its honors upon the chosen
instruments of its policy. 1t refuses
to infuse the rich, red blood of youth
into its councils, prcferring rather
that the civil service should be un.
der the control of men stepped in
crime and ready for the perpetration
of any iniquity that the behests of
party may demand. Wherever they
have unlimited power the old party
dependents are the ones upon whom
the mantle of choice falls, and the
young men who contribute to party
success are chagrined and insulted by
being put to one side to make room
for one Of the many who has long
rioted upon the spoils of place. 1t
holds up for the inspection of all men
a record that embraces such venality,
corruption and general political de-
bauchery and prohigacy as finds no
counterpart save in the history Of
the dissolute, depraved and vicious
rule which marked the latter days of
the Byzantine Empire. The banner
borne by the young men in the race
of life bears the strange device, "Ex-
celsior," and surely that banner can
never rest under the deadly Upas tree
of Republican corruption. On the
other hand the Democratic party and
its chivalric candidate offer every In
ducement in its claims for the allegi-
ance of young voters. II is essentially
the party Of progress, and aud it
has always been indebted for much
of its success to the active efforts of
young men, and it has never failed
in making fitting recompense to Its
young champions. It recognizes in
the youth of the land those who
have the destinies of this nation most
at heart, and as they prove them.
selves capable of great trusts their
hands and brains are enlisted where
ever they avail the most. In General
Hancock the young voter finds bis