Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-11-30
York's Jefferson Association.
SENDS AN ADDRESS OF CONGRATULATIONS TO
0oYERSoR.ELECT PATTIsoS.

SENDS AN ADDRESS OF CONGRATULATIONS TO
GOVERNOR. PArTIsoS.
To Robert Emory Plttison, GoucrHor.
elect-SIR: The jefferson Democratic
Association of York begs leave to mingle
its congratulations with the many thous'
ands which come up to you from this
redeemed commonwealth, which, IN
spite of power, patronage. and money
corruptly raised and corruptly applied,
has chosen you to be its chief magistrate.
We hail this result with peculiar salts
faction-becauie we recognize in you an
exemplar of Jetfersonian democracy.
There never was and there never can
be, any progress toward better political
methods, except that which springs
from the beni6cent philosophy, first
practically formulated on this continent
and crystalized into a system by Thom
a. jefferson, the founder Of the dem
ocratic party. That system is rs sim
pie, and IS plainly true and necessary,
AS any Law ever given to men. II con.
sists of q few principles, which being OBJ
served, secure the public welfare, and
being disregarded bring certain disss.
ter. Government is necessary evil;
the less we have of it the better; the
farther government is removed from
the immediate control of the people in
their primary capacity, the more luxu.
rious, corrupt. expensive, and oppres'
sive it becomes. Hence home rule by
the people in the state, strict economy
in the administration, a number OF otfi
cials sufficient to transact the public
business, and no more; not a dollar
taxed from the pockets Of the people.
except il be absolutely and Immediately
required for the public service no class
legislation no monopolies corporate
power duly restricted; protection to all.
favors 10 none a pure ballot box, and
elections free alike from federal intimi.
dation and federal corruption. This il
the creed of the democracy to-day, ~ II
was when Jefferson, Madison and Gala.
tin led the common people to the first
great victory over the bourbon federal
ists at the beginning of the century.
There Is really no practical difference of
opinion concerning the soundness and
necessity OF these principles, il we would
preserve our republican institutions.
The people have always approved them;
and they have uniformly endorsed them
at the polls whenever their sober judg
ment was invoked, and left TO decide
uuembarrassed by temporary issues,
such as those arising out OF the civil war
When the opposition has achieved pow
er, or held it, in a national contest, IL
has invariably been upon some false pre-
tense, while their measures in power
have been invariably of the sAmef char
acter-centrslizstion high taxes, rubsi
dies, bounties, q multiplication of Off.
cials, favored classes, monopolies, rings.
bosses, universal extravaganza and cor
ruption, followed by the inevitable dis
aster which overlook the federalists in
1900, and has now overtaken the feder.
.alist republicans in 1882.
This association Is formed to maintain
in its way those principles OF Mr. Jeifer.
son and 1t Is our hope that similar
associations will be formed everywhere
in the state Of Pennsylvania to discuss
public questions in the light Of funda
mental truths to back our representa-.
tives in congress in the great work of
decentralization and dretrenchment upon
which they will enter one year hence
10 prepare for the final conflict of 1884,
and make sure that the fruits Of victory
are not wrested from the people by
AnOkueE GitCAOfhl Ifhuu anu kO tuOst
ends TO support your administration in
the application Of the Jeffersonian test,
to state affairs. including the reduction
Of expenses. the reduction Of taxes, the
dismissal Of useless officials, the faithful
execution Of the constitution where it
touches great corporations as well as
where IL touches the individual citizen;
honest legislation in the interest OF the
people; and the fearless exercise Of the
pardoning power according to justice
and lgw, without reference TO the wishes
OF any ring however powerful. or any
man however high in place. No body
OF your fellow citizens within the limits
of the commonwealth has keener ap.
probation than we Of the high qualities
you have displayed in the important
Office which you have held and elevated
In the city Of your residence, and none
will take deeper satisfaction in doing
their part toward holding up your un.
spotted hands in the great work before
you.
CHAUNcEV +. BLACK, President.
JAHEs 4. BLAssER, Secretary.