Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-04-30

Dechert for Auditor GeneraI-Dele-
gates to the National COnven-
ton, and Electors.
In the Democratic state convention, yes
terday, VIM. II. Sowden, of Lehigh, from
the minority committee, offered a substi-
tute for the last resolution striking out
that portion relating to the unit rule. The
previous question was called by Mr.. Sow
den, when Senator Wallace arose and de-
manded to be heard. He spoke as fol-
lows:
''Is it possible that III Democratic
convention, on great principle, the gag
law is to be applied? l am astOunded at
the Democracy of man who will attempt
to call for the previous question upon the
principle involved in that proposition. Is
it Democratic in any man to undertake to
call the previous question upon a question
of principle ? [Applause.] Sir, this is a
convention of Democrats, representing
400, 600 of the Democracy, who people
every hill and every valley, and live
by every rill and stream in our broad
old commonwealth. [Applause.] l come
to speak for them. 1 come to speak for
the integrity of my state. l come to speak
for the majesty of her people, and to de-
mand [applause] that her voice, when pro-
claimed in the national councils, shall be
heard with the majesty and the power that
belongs to her. Applause and cheering. ]
| come, sir, to bring to this convention the
memories of the past-tO call up the fact
that from the first inception of Democratic
conventions, the unit rule has been the
rule of the Democracy, except in two men,
orable instances. The first was the in
stance of 1860, when without the unit rule
the delegates from this great common
wealth entered steampship at Baltimore
and quarreled with each other until they
got into Charleston, and continued it there
and until it ended in Baltimore i'll diSrup-
ton and disunion. [Applause. If
the Democracy of Pennsylvania at
| that very hour had acted united,y,
and as one voice, the influence of the Key
stone state on the country would then have
saved us civil war. [ Applause. ] The
second instance of failure to adopt the unit
tempt to place upon the ticket a man who
is not Democrat-when Horace Greeley
was nominated and when you, sir, and
voted in the convention against his nomin-
alton [applause], and voted for that illus
trious and talented citizen of our own
state, the Hon. ]. S. Black. [ Applause.
| With the memories of these two instances
of disaster before the Democracy of Penn
| sylvania, l rise up here to plead for the
unity of our state delegation and come
here to plead that no trading delegation be
sent to Cincinnati. come to plead that
| we 90 there as unit and cast our votes
with solid majesty and power. Applause.
81 trust the amendment will not be
adopted, but that the Democracy will fol-
low in the path it has always trOdden,
casting its vote solidly for those whom the
majority of the delegation may select"
| [Great applause].
Mr.. Sowden followed:
"The gentleman who has Just taken his
seat should be the last one to make so
harsh an accusation against your humble
servant, SO far as the application of the
gag rule is concerned. [Applause. There
| is no one in this body ever experienced the
harsh application of this rule more severe
| ly than myself i'll the Erie convention.
[Applause.] l am willing to meet the
honorable gentleman in his august majesty
upon the floor of this convention upon the
principle [applause] involved in my propo-
sition. l called for the previous question
simply out of Difference to the majority of
the committee, which l represented as a
member Of the minority and because of
the great anxiety of all the members l
take it, who have been here from dis
tance, and staying here for several days
awaiting an amicable and harmonious
adjustment Of our difficulties, in order
that we might go home united and
ready to meet and combat our COM
mon enemy. [App!ause.] call for
the previous question, not because we
feared the question of principle, but be-
ho nIn 0ff 1v;l
give perfect equality and local independ-
ence to every gentleman in the delegation
sent from this state. The gentleman has
seen fit not only to intimate but to say that
the course would be un- Democratic, carried
out in this way. He has referred to my
Democracy. Sir, by my Democracy 1
never held public place. [Applause.] The
question now is before this convention
and are we to be told, for the sake of har-
mOny, that because perchance the great
state of New York, independent in its SOW
ereignty from our own glorious common
wealth, has seen fit to err, therefore we
shall err. I have seen the application
of that doctrine before. When our sister
state of Ohio erred in her policy on the
question of finance, Pennsylvania unfor-
tunately followed III her footsteps and met
with defeat. [Applause.] Then let us
now, as an independent sovereignty, exer-
else the power and independence that we
rightly have ON the part of our state.
[Applause. 1t is to be said that if l am,
perchance0 chosen as delegate TO the
Cincinnati convention and my people in
their congressional representation see fit
to advocate a great warrior or distin-
guished civilian from within her borders,
that shall be compelled to vote for an
other man and be denied the right of free
dom of choice? Great applause Are we
to be held down by the iron heel of despo-
tism, which was so successfully applied by
the cavalier of the opposition party. Zap
plause. Are we to be held down by the
unit rule. Is our right of choice to be
denied? Are our several constituencies
to be denied the right of representation
upon the floor of the Cincinnati
convention by the adoption of this tyranni-
cal unit rule? Applause, and shouts of
No, mol hope not. think it is un-
Democratic to think of such a course, be-
lieving as we do in our magnificent theory
of local self-government. AS look at it
we are independent, and not to be tied
down by the majesty of delegation
Is it rights it incumbent upon us-is it
matter of principle with us-that we be
not allowed to individually speak, act and
vote? Then do we want to prevent speak
ing on this point ? No! We are ready to
meet the issue squarely, and in the inter-
ests of harmony, good will and peace. This
is shown all around us. and am proud to
see this spirit. and that it has been deter
II