Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-08-26
A MASTERLY EFFORT.
Mr.. Joseph Pulitzer's Speech at In
dianap0lis.
THE COMMANDING SUPPLEMENTARY IN
SPIRIT II NOT IN roRM-DANGERs OF
PRosPERITY---THE TENDENCY TO
cpNTu Al ~ ATfog oF POWER

| PRosPERITY--THE TENDENCY TO
GENERALIZATION OF POWER.
Special Dispatch to Washington Post.
INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 15.-One of the
ablest and strongest speeches that has
been heard in Indianapolis for many
day, was delivered by Joseph Pulitzer,
of st. Louis, Mo-, at the wigwam, yes
terday evening, in English, to very
large audience. The following are lib.
eral extracts:
The real question is not whether q
change in Washington is polite, but
whether it is possible. The issue is not
to ascertain the will of the majority,
but whether that well known will can
be permanently delied. It's not why
should the people want change but,
can they have it if they wantit2
Thrice in six years the American
people showed unmistakably that they
wanted a change in the character of
their National Government. In 1874
they elected a Democratic House. In
1876 they elected another Democratic
House. In 1878 they elected still an.
other. In 1876 they also elected Dem.
ocratic President. The result of these
successive elections also changed the
Senate until that body too is Democrat.
ic to-day. Thus there are
FIVE GREAT HISTORICAL RESULTS
in six years, the election of Democrat
ic President, Democratic Senate and
three Democratic Houses, to show that
the majority of the American people
desire a change in the character OF their
! National Government. Yet, has there
II l. ha tasr 80.
the ruling spirit at Washington not un-
changed? Does the majority govern to-
day? Does not the fraudulent Execu.
tive, by the abuse OF the veto power,
tbwart every measure OF reform, retain
every partisan abuse and defy the will
of both Congress and the American
people?
The Democracy is not only now, but
really never ceased to be, the majority
party in this country.
Is this still n representative Govern
ment? Is this still n real republic?
DO the people truly govern themselves?
Is political party in this country still
responsible to the peoplef Is there no
accountability, no day of judgment?
Shall those who stole the Presidency
retain il indefinitely? Shall fraud and
political wrong be indorsedl Is this to
become personal and permanent
| Government? Is this a Government
based upon law and public opinion, or
on fraud and perjury?
LESSONS ny FRANCE ASD ENGLAND.
Not long ago we read that the
French people ordered change in
their National Government. 1t was
n great crisis. The marshal. president
had a conflict very much like the one
We had in this country-between place,
force and power as against public opin.
ion-the will of the people. IL was
said that MacMahon would never yield.
TBoops were ordered out. Paris was at
fever heat. It looked like another
revolution. The unarmed representa-.
tives of the people seemed to be power.
less against the fearless military Presi.
dent with the half million soldiers at
his command. But there was no blood
shed. Marshal MacMahon submitted,
He vacated the Presidency and stepped
into oblivion. IL was triumph OF
public opinion. 1t was victory of the
will Of the people over military force.
1t was self government.
4 few months ago we read that the
people of England too, ordered a
change in their National Government.
England has Queen and Empress, and
no Republican institutions. Tho Eng
lish Queen vas known to have a strong
personal dislike to Mr.. Gladstone-an
aversion which the whole royal family
had frequently and most Extensively
demonstrated IL was said that the
Queen never would submit, never
would yield, never would send for Mr.
Gladstone to make him prime min.
ister. There was no law, no line in
the constitution requiring it-only Gus.
tom and public opinion-the will Of the
people. We heard of great excitement
and another great crisis. But the
Queen, after several efforts to the con.
trary, finally yielded. Mr.. Gladstone
was sent for. He is prime minister OF
England to-day.
In this case, too, it was great tri.
umph of representative institutions-a
triumph of popular self.government.
But how was il here in free America
when we last elected our President ?
Did public opinion, the will Of the peo.
pie, the voice of the law, the letter Of
the Constitution prevail here? Was
the choice Of the great majority not
kept out of his place by the greatest
fraud ever known in historys
WHAT Is fNPEREALIsx
II is often asked why is it those not
to the manor born should be 80 earnest
and unitei in their opposition to Grant.
ism and machine politics generally I?
But why has this Republic so many
adopted children Why has every
land and shore, every race and tongue
contributed fresh blood and Drawn and
brain to our rising Nation Why do
these millions of foreign born already
here still receive daily accessions by the
thousands
II Is the spirit of Imperialism.
And what Is Imperialism
Injustice, inequality, class distinc.