Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-10-21
THE R.sUNros TO-DAY.

The Republicans of Sacramento have in
vited the people of the surrounding coun-
ties to meet them to-day in an old-fashioned
political and social reunion. Sacramento
keeps open house this day, and asks none
of her visitors what their political creed
may be. Republicans, Democrats, Green
hackers, all are assured hearty welcome to
the hospitality which is extended with un-
stinting hands There will be enough and
to spare of all creature comforts. Every
thing possible will be done for the ease and
convenience of our guests. And when
they have refreshed themselves at the
bountiful tables spread for them, they will
be afforded an opportunity to hear the
great questions of the hour discussed by
able and eloquent speakers. That the &C.
cssion will be interesting and inspiriting is
certain; but we hope that it may also be
that it may serve to swell the ranks of those
elear-sighted and patriotic hosts who are
advancing to preserve the government OF
our fathers from the dangers which men
ace it. For assuredly there has never been
time since Buchanan basely surrendered
his high trust to the traitors in his Cabinet,
when the keen instinct of patriotism was
more urgently needed to guide the voter
Alright, than at this moment. We are ap-
preaching the crisis of a Presidential can
vass which is separated from all the polit-
ical contests before it by a broad line of
demarcation. In the past, though party pas
sion might run high, and selfish interests
might discredit great movements, and cal
umny and SANDER might be abroad, the peo
| pie had the assurance that however the
struggle eliminated the victory would
rest with the lawful majority. But
that supreme assurance exists no longer.
The contest is no longer carried on upon
equal terms and conditions. In fourteen
States OF the Union the foundations of free
government have been uprooted. In those
fourteen States the ballot is not free. In
those fourteen States numerical minority
has usurped the government, and by sys-
tematic fraud, and when that fails by sys-
tematic violence, has reversed the normal
order of things, and so stifed and sup
pressed the majority vote. The result is
that the Democratic party enters the con-
test grasping the electoral votes of these
fourteen States, and openly Boosting of the
crime by which it has made farce of the
elections through all that region. In the
light of these facts, the truth of which no
conscientious Democrat dare gainsay, we
affirm that the first and greatest duty in
cumbent upon every American citizen who
comprehends the conditions of free govern
ment is to restore the sanctity Of the bal
lot throughout the Union. 1t has been
said-and anonymously enough by DEM
g free ballot is a right preservative of all
"rights, and the assertion is profoundly
true, though in this case it is hypocritic-.
ally advanced by a party which places its
sole dependence upon organized repudia-
ton of the principle it processes. Until
this question is settled no other can be in
order, for how can any issues be discussed
proftably while the power OF determining
them by the voice of the majority is de-
MED and withheld by one OF the parties to
the controversy: