Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-11-03
A Few Things Which the Demo-
cratic Party has Done.

The Hon. Erastus Brooks, who
was permanent chairman of the New
York Democratic State Convention at
Albany, recently, made a ringing
speech on taking the chair. We take
the following extract from his able
and eloquent speech:
"Taxes have been exacted from the
American people since the civil war
ended to an amount nearly four times
the entire national debt. The public
domain has been sacrificed by millions
of acres and tens of millions of dollars
in the interest of corporations and mo-
nopolists the result of whose admins.
tration has been to make the rich richer
and the poor poorer. The true Demo
cratic doctrine is equal and exact justice
to all men, giving the laboTeT wages
worthy of his work, and to capital that
protection which belongs to money hon
estly earned and fairly acquired. The
real hope of the State and nation rests
upon pure elections and capable and
faithful men in office. Under Demo
cratic administrations in the past 3,0OO,
600 of square miles have been added to
our national territory. Some OF 1t
came by war, but most OF ii came by
negotiation and treaty, and the whole
ct a cost of about $50,000,O0O. With
this history and these examples. the
people were told at the recent Repub'
lican State convention by its President
that "the best party and the best prin-
ciples and the best men were OF the
Republican faith" The Democratic
party has no boasts to make or preten.
sions to submit. IL knows of no way OF
judging of the future but by the past,
and judging by the past, it IL ready TO
submit its history, its principles, its
candidates and its party as a whole TO
the fair consideration of the people of
the State, asking of them only what Is
justly due 10 private character and pub
lie integrity.
Gall around us in the State and be.
yound the State the signs OF the times
give hone Of better future for the
Democratic party. The people. 81 they
are intelligent aud independent, will
abandon the blind guides who have so
long been kept in place by the cohesive
DOWGT VI
like those Of the Star routes, running
through a whole Republican Admins
tration and costing the Government
more than 81 900, 600 unnecessary taxa
tion each year, command the attention
Of the people. The Democratic party
has had no supreme power in the Fed.
eral Government for twenty years or
more; hence these abuses, many OF
them without example in the history OF
the country. When partially in power
in Congress ID did reduce the appropria-
tions 10000. 600 in . single session OF
Congress. and demanded still larger re.
ductions which the Republican Senate
refused TO grant. In like manner il
sought to reduce the rate of interest
upon the bonds OF the Government and
failed by the combinations and machin.
ations Of leading men in the Republi.
can party. In this State when in power
during five years of control IL reduced
the State debt from ISL 600. .000 to 60.
100000, and the State taxes from $46,.
0Oo,OO0 10 sT00O,OOO. Civil reforms
commenced in all the State service un.
der Democratic administration, and
public opinion since their loss Of power
has compelled decent respect for
Democratic example"