Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-09-27


! Black, OF Pennsylvania, 10 reply to the invita-
to attend tho great democratic demon.traticn
in New York last Thursdsy Eight.
"BRoCKiE, York, Pa, Sept. 81, lS81.-
Ge5tlemoa cannot attoca TIC meeting ct tho
democratic republicans at the city Of Now York
on the 2%i inGt. But can assure you OF my
ooncurrcrc, 10 its ol jaoL and il time and space
permitted could give you reason Tor the
faith that Is within me. | trust wo nre APP.
preaching the Cud Of our long struggle agairs5
| the oppression end fraud Of The INIT coDs!ltu'
lional party. They have sought the Jestruc-
ton or our goscrnmeDt By every possible mcans
10 their reach. BY CIR gorcrnnlc1t | mean the
whole system Of fundamental law undor which
VIC live, including the granted powers OF tho
Federal Union, the reserved rights Of the States
aud the personal liberty of tho ctiZ:n. These
thrce arc all vital poin's OF our political crRall
zatioU, aud the lie of tho nalioo d,ncuGs 90
much upon enc as another. ltyou want ID Kill
q man it makes 60 difference whether you
knock out his hraios, stab hm through tho
heart or tear cpen bis b)Wels-elthcr way lie
is demo Tor. Certainly 60 American who iOrc!-
bly, tramp!os Oh civil liberty. or by violcGco cx'
tinguishes tho rights of the Statca, il no: less
traitor to his county than oao who rGsIsiA tho
IL need not ramicd sou With what manifold
lreachtry our opponents got possession of tho
power which they have 80 lighfn'ly ab:sed.
At tho bcsinDiug of tho var they soemnIy
pledged themselves to use the torc2s PIT into
their hands for the solo purpose OF defending
the Federal government and maintaining tho
supremacy Of the oonstltu.Ioq sad laws, with
all the rights of tho States and The people To
impaired; and they promised that when this
was accomplished the var should Instantly
cease 10 consideration o! this special pledge,
SUPP rsdded to their osths. The men aud the
money were pus ino their hands which com
ploely sutdupd tho armed opposition OF tho
South TO tho Unl0p. But wien The oortl.c:
was over they announced that tho victory in-
stead OF defending he government had reVo'
u,ioniz:d ard overthrow il; that tho whole
doctrine Of State rights was exploded and per
soaal liberty was c)nst quoDly thing OF the
pasi; that tho military Was above the civil au-
thovly. and through that insrumcntali;y they
1.-THE cantral o!igarcby) might kidnap, lnpIlson
and kill clIiZ.rs for political clteosts without
Judge CT jury Tho right of suffrage had
ceased TO exist except when 1t was exercised by
their permission end 10 a way which suited
their purposes. Destroyi5g oil tho election
laws Of hsIf the States 10 tho Union. thc9 filled
tho State Offices With notorious tEl:v2s ED
crowded Congress with rcdsmD toolc5s rcgueg,
} who did not pretend to a3g iii!e except what
they ret by force md ffaul upd 10 all tho States
they clsimt tho right TO b, represented ut State
elections by the bay oDc!s Of their standing srny.
Would you have me enumcrate the corrupllons
generated by this Infamous system? C0uGt the
s!crs il sou con; Try to number tho sands OF
the seas h0rc.
Their idea Ct stiosg covtrnnrut was iuilQ
developed. SXyoafs after tao wa, fraud aid
Io,c, had made il 80 much sroueer than llber
~, Justice and law that the constitution hal
but seven friends iu the Stualc and less than
q third of tho members 10 the lower house.
But tho principles of FREQ and honest govern
} ment were not destined to b. crushed out Tor.
eytr The moral i6tluenc, of tho democracy
was itself power which absshed the anil con-
sliuIiorat leaders aId benumbed their i-cuy
Of evil dCnr, Thousands oil truo meu. VINO in
moments Ct error or alarm had wandered FROM
the track Of their principles. 'hn:tsnCd to ro
ttnoo th,ir steps and regain the road which
alone leads 10 pesos. honor and safety. Truth
and justice sradully rcgs!agd their natural
a!c!utatc7 10 the popular heart. Elrst. tho
Federal House OF Representatives wDs r.
de, med: then tho SENATE, and III 1876 an ever
! wheIming mbi ,riIy CT the people attCs;cd thor
devotion to free principles By voting for demo.
cratic President. Tits l>tked like successful
viadcalion OF treo government, but II was Doi.
The anti constitutional party has an advantage
which mors than c)unterbsIancGs thu strength
of tho people. |. can cheat at el:c ions, il can
falsely tho count, it Gin torgo rcIurD:. There's
tho respect thst makes calamity OF 10 lnnC n
life. We arc nb1ut TO repeat the cXEtilment.
We may be sHindlcd again. In. there ls not any
doubt ilGt our honest mf lriy 10 greater than
IL. ali ri,l, ,rl
the acciJtnN arc not against us. Oar can
didatc is rot Of y uacXccp;ianab'e. hut 40.
mitate, ard has tho uEbcuhded cjIllic0oc OF
the whole county 10 his talcnls, integrity and
pa'rioli:m
The impulses of p,rsons friendship mi the
duics OF lair political opposition alike r,quiro
me to speak OF Gen. Garfield. Intellectually
no is first smopg tho politicians Of his part5-
not the sharpcst or strongest, but the most
gifted and best cultivated. His private life Is
stainless, and 10 everything uEconncoed with
politics his behavior ia regulated By principles
Of the souudes; morality. Blu. 10 public affairs
he does not act upon his convictions; when he
passes into the domain of politics his con-
scierc, lases lis grip, and for his parry he ls
wiling to do any wrong which will promote
their interest, or play any cird hcy ialse sosVer
which will win them power. This surrender CT
his moral and mental integrity IS tho coDdlloo
upon which no holds his high place 10 tho
affections of the patty be belongs to. Trcachery
10 bis country is fidelity 10 his faction. If ct
auy time 10 the last fifteen years be had given
way to his own sors, of right, supported tho
constitution ADD laws 10 a spiri! OF pure Justice.
refused to dc6lo himself with election frauds,
withheld his countensrca from executive cor
rupion or denounced the iorciblo instal!r' cpt
Of thieves 10 State Offices, he would have COO.
verified himself into q democrat aud been *
PEELED from the communion Of tho autl corstl'
tioral party.
ibis moral prostitution TO bad political pur-
poses is far from being uncommon. Men nstur-
ally good have yielded to it 10 all times aud in
oil countries whoro thsro is q party unprln>
ciplsd enough to demand it end strong euough
to le gard it. Bot Gen. Garfield public career
furnishes moro striking Examples cf it than
tho history cf any individual | havc known.
Let me give you case. After the war-at
time of perfect peace-iu the State of lndara.