The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-08-07

"Mr. Chairman and Feilolo. Citisens:-
congratulate you on this auspieious and
imposing demonstration. 1t is the bugle-
call at the centre Of the line on the morn
ing Of the battle. II is not the voice Of
Tammany IL is not the voice Of Irving
Hall. Il is the trumpet-tongue of the rc-
united Democracy Of New York calling to
their brethren everywhere to rally for the
light. 1t win echo back from Aroostook:
twill oyerleap the .Alleghanies, the Rocky
Mountains, the Sierras, and viii rouse to
united action the patriotic masses who de-
sire aud demand a change in the admins
traiion Of the Government. Gentlemen.
the most obvious fact to-day ia American
politics is that decided majority of the
people in nearly all the States are sick and |
tired Of the Republican party. That
party elected Grant in 1868 by popular
majority Of over half million. Eight
years Of Republican rule followed, and on
a much larger popular vote in 1876 the
Republican party was defeated by quar-
ter Of million majority. Though through
fraud and bribery it has since held on 10
power, its thinned ranks have never been
recruited, and two years ago it held pop
nlar majority in only six States Of the
Unicn. And now comes another Presi- |
DENTAL election. Has the Republican
party done aught TO win new lease OF
powerf Does its rape of the Presidency
and its reward Of every accomplice in the
crime commend it TO public favor? On
the contrary, has it not, by its desperate
resorts to retain power, sufficiently warned
She people that their safety demands that
it retain 1t no longer2
For three sessions Of Congress the Demo
erats have had desperate struggle with
the Republican party. About what ?
About any ordinary question Of public
policy or civil administration No, gen
tlemeni but to keep bayonets from the
polls, to keep partisan marshals from using
the common treasure to bully aud bribe
electors; to keep elections where they have
been from the foundation of our Govern
ment down TO 1872, under the exclusive
control Of our State governments. We
have, in short, been fighting the Repubi-
can party to preserve from its assaults the
ancient liberty Of our race and the essen
tial and immemorial methods Of our per.
feet system Of government Why has the
Republican party inaugurated the mon.
strosity in government of Federal super
vision Of State officers while exercising
powers and performing duties under valid
State laws, and Federal control of cleo
tions BY bribing and bullying electors? Ii
is because its command Of popular maiori-
ties is gone and it is now struggling to
overcome those majorities by operating on
the fears and cupidity Of the people at the
polls If this policy Of Federal suparvi.
sion aud control Of elections be acauiesced
IN and established the choice Of both the
Electoral College and Of Congress will fall
under the sway Of the President. The
Presidency will thus become selfperpetu.
ating, aud the Congress a mere organ o.
the Executive. The Republican leader.
are driven to these desperate measures. MOI
50 much by wish to change our free in,
} stitutions as by extreme love and Ions
habit OF power Twenty years Of absolut,
control Of the General Government and O
its vast patronage, measured. as tha
patronage is, by hundreds of million,
annually, is something to fight for. Sc,
the multitude Of men who, since 1860
have risen to fortune and position by it
Half the great wars which have drencheS
the earth with blood we're fought to win
less treasure than annually falls within the
disposal Of the ruling party ia the United
states. An unwillingness to surrender
less than half this power and patronage
was, at least, one Of the causes which fired
that shot on Sumter, which so changed the
fortunes Of white men and black through
out America. When fresh in power The
Republican party recognized the people as
masters; but holding on and on for half
generation it gradually mistook itself for
the state and regarded opposition to it as
treason to be defeated at all hazards. The
grossly partisan rulings of majority of
the Electoral Commission; the troons and
marshals and spies at the polls: the hustle
OF armament here and at Washington in
December, 1876, to sustain Mr.. Ferry's
proposed pronunciamento declaring Hayes
President without the action of the repre-
scntatiyes Of the people, all attest that at
least the chief leaders Of the Republican
party place their hold of power above our
liberties, and warn the people 70 turn that
party out while they can, lest the time
come when, aggregating, combining and
directing with one aim all the influences
not only of the Government but also Of
the classes who profit most by its patron.
age and privileges, il will defy an peaceful
attempts TO expel it from power. But.
my fellow-citizens, aside from the consider.
ations which go to the safety of our free
institutions, the people ought to elect
Democratic President as a mere matter az
business Seven or eight thousand mil.
lions Of dollars have been paid by the
people in taxes since 1860, and disposed
of by the Republican dynasty. Who has
looked at the books ? None but members
Of the dynasty which spent the money.
Who can tell whether the account Of money
received and expended, and Of bonds and
greenbacks issued, cancelled or on hand
is within an hundred millions OF being
!. A@N-'S yNoAo hkV lhoft was Duu- u
lished here a series Of articles in one of
your financial journals purporting to show
from the reports Of the Treasury them.
selves that hundreds Of millions of the
public moneys and bonds were missing or
unaceounted for. Such partial glimpses
Of the Treasury books as a Democratic
Senate Committee has obtained showed
them too full Of erasures and insertions to
at all reassure the doeblers. It is only
common business sense to submit the /
books TO the inspection Of party which Is
not responsible for them and therefore is
certain to find and expose any existing
deialeations, 50 that If frauds have been
committed 10 addition 10 those already ex-
posed the perpetrators may be punished BY
arrest or exile, aud SO that If no further
frauds are discovered the people may have
at least the melancholy satisfaction that
they know the worst. Aside from con-
Of public virtue, considerations
of economy demaud a change Of admins
iration IN March, 1878, after fifteen
years Of complete controllby tho Repabli
IAN party Of tho executive Departments
md both branches Of Congress, the Dsino.
,rnfie Houea nf Renrnan,s il fi,-. 49, ~