Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-04-02
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, THE
ONLY M TIONAL ORGANIZE TYON.


Grand in its very conception, simple and
chaste in its proportions, Graded in the
primitive days of the Republic, nursed into
fullfruition by such massive and intellectu-
al giant as Mr.. Jefferson, its determined and
energetic adherence to principle, its con-
tinuous and vigorous struggles to break
down every barrier thrown in the way of
its development and progress, have fully
demonstrated and entities the Democratic
party to be regarded as the only National
organization in the country.
The offspring Of great national emer-
gency, the period ofits birth was necessarily
a stormy and momentous one. In courage
and persistency and in all the elements of
perpetuity and strength no party has sur
passed it-whilst its history has shown, that
of all the organizations that have had their
source in the politics of this country, it is
most truly representative of the great masses
of the people 1t has witnessed the utter
humiliation of Federalism, il saw the sud
den growth and rapid decay of the gallant
OiN W Aib dnu
by Webster, Clay, Adams, and host of
other pure and patriotic spirits. 1t met the
Native American party, with its visor
down" and drove it screaming and bowling
from the land, and for nearly twenty years
it has been fiercely contending with the
maddened triumph of Radicalism which is
entrenched behind fraud and supported by
bayonets. Its defenders have been the ablest
and most gifted men which the country has
ever produced. Among its aggressors and
calumniators are numbered as bold, desper-
ate and wicked men as those who figured
in the bloodiest hours of the French revolu-
ton. 1t has been arraigned and assaied
under false political philosophy, it has
been detied and driven by force of arms,
when the illegal and unconstitutional EN-
ployment of federal bayonets to carry the
election in the Southern States was only the
entering wedge to future and grosser usurpa-
tons in the dark conspiracy against the
rights and liberties of the sovereign people.
Time and again it has felt the heat and mad
ness Of battle ON many closely contested
field and has come forth from the fury of the
storm, chastened, invigorated and strength
ened. II has worn the wreath of victory for
years, but the hours of its triumph were the
hours of its magnanimity in ameiorating
the condition of the people in tightening the
burden of government and perpetuating the
blessings of civil liberty Its pacific policy
ever indicated that peace, prosperity and
fraternal affection might prevail unbroken
and undisturbed from the GRANTEES of the
North to the III Dorado. At the head of
the Government its splendid powers, its in
MIGRATING spirit, its warm and genial influ-
ence were so brought into requisition that
the faithful execution of the laws, the hon
est discharge Of official duty and the admin
istration of public affairs might conduce to
the happiness of the people as wisely in
tended and meant by the trainers of the Con-
stitution.
1t has fallen in the dust of defeat. but its
energy has never been weakened its spirit
never been dampened, nor the fire of enthu-
cAe1h lbo DOSOIl ever ceased
to burn. truer, more earnest, or more
devoted band of men never stood guard
around the affairs of liberty, or gathered to-
gether TO defend an imperied country.
Greece, the earliest home of freedom, is as
sociated with every sentiment that can charm
the eye, animate the breast or engage the un-
derstanding. We can recall the tabled
statue of Pygmalion as it stood before his
rapt eyes, swelling with the first gentle tide
Of life and motion, and the cold marble take
form and expression from the chisel of
Phidias. The mind still fires at the elo-
quence of Demosthenes and fingers willing
pupil at the charmed feet of Aristotle We
read with throbbing hearts the glorious
story oil Marathon. We still kinde at the
names of those patriots, who have devoted
their lives in the service of their country
and the interests of humanity, and we lnger
with equal pride and rapt enthusiasm over
the trials and struggles of that political or
ganization which accepting the sacred trust
as committed by the founders of our Repub-
lie have guarded it zealously for future gen
erations.
During that long and unfortunate era of
successive change, when the stately crimi-
mails of the country did not hesitate for a
moment TO barter away the liberties of the
nation by boldly and openly dcnouncing
and disregarding every obligation and re.
straint Of the Constitution, the Democratic
party never failed TO march boldly forth in
the deience of that sacred instrument even
at the cost of bitter and angry vituperation
and the sacrifice of popularity. When the
great civil war. with its grave and bloody
issues, its sad and violent innovations and
IFS long train at attendant evils had Gubsided
and passed into history, and the nation vt
tied back into its quiet and peaceful moor
ings, this great historic party manifested lis
fitness and capacity for supremacy 10y the
quickness OF its sympathy with popular dc
sire. and the readiness with which it waf
willing 10 bring about such system of re-.
irin rs would correct the abuses, prohigacy
and corruption existing in every branch and
oNP.si'hs1hh VI Wv Sohishi S'NNihhhNhts Ht
people cannot have forgotten how and to
what extent fraud existed in high places
how desperate and reckless men were dolly
pundering the treasury. and that its chosen
guardians were approving the mopstons
crime. They cannot have lost sight OF III,
fact that honor was ignored or dead IN tho
Republican ranks, and that honesty was No
longer letter of recommendation, and thai
fitness and capacity were no. recognized
that the blacklist criminals held high contfo
over aud around the several departments
They cannot but remember how near oul
Republic came 10 an Empire, and how
swiftly the Footsteps Of despotic power were
treSding in the pathway og our freedom
They canno; have forgotten how ti,a Dem