Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-01-26
THE JEFFERsONIAS REVIVAL.
A Prominent Philadelphia Democrat
Approves IL
273 SOUTH 4th STREET, PIMA. |
December %, 1881. (

273 SOUTH 4th STREET, PIMA. I
December %, 1881. I
HoS. CHAUSCEY +. BLACK, Pres't.
Dear Sir Your letter notifying
me that / have been unanimously elec.
ted an honorary member of the JeiIer.
son Democratic association OF York,
has been received.
Please convey TO that association
the assurance OF my high appreciation
of the honor thus conferred upon me,
and accept yourself my sincere thanks
for the very kindly terms in which
you have communicated information
of its action.
Ny recent address before the Young
Mems Democratic association of this
city, to which you refer as "in sub.
stance aud spirit" such an exposition
of Democratic principles as accord
with the views of those who compose
the Jefferson Democratic association
of York, was delivered without notes
and was not reported. | cannot, there
fore, furnish you with a copy of it,
The principles of Democracy are
immutablc. New issues constantly
present themselves; new principles
never. The Democratic party is par
ty of principles, not OF issues. Its op.
ponent is II party of issues, not of prin-
ciplcs. Hence, Democrats find the
rightful solution of political questions
in the correct application Of underly-
ing principles ; but their adversaries-
avoiding discussion of fundamental
doctrines-appeal to passion, to pre-.
judice or to material interests. That
they have frequently done 80 with sue
cess, has, | venture to suggest, resulted
from the fact that we-regardIng only
supposed cxpediency-have ourselves
too often tolerated political heresy, IN
stead of boldly asserting and fearlessly
maintaining the faith delivered by
Thomas Jefferson to his disciples.
Your association may contribute
largely to the avoidance Of this error
in the future. Such societies are the
seminaries fsouud political principles
and from them they may be most po-
tently disseminated. Never has the
necessity for them been more urgent
than now. The teachings of Jefferson
are disrcgardcd by the old and are un.
known TO the young Men boast OF
the possession of liberty, who reckless
~ hazard its loss They prate of love
for the constitution, who have no con
ception Of its spirit! They blauiently
assert their loyalty to the Union
who utterly mistake its character aud
those who most loudly proclaim their
"iealty 10 the government are most
profoundly ignorant of its nature
That party which, under coloring Of
supporting the riehiul authority OF the
federal government. seeks to draw to
it the reserved powers of the states,
maniiestly threatens not only the ex.
istence of the latter, but revolution
ary and destructive alteration of the
former as well, aud yet the leaders Of
that party profess that preservation Of
the general government is the object Of
their most earnest solicitude. They
insist that their devotion TO the consii-
tuition shall not be questioned, and yet
they design to substitute n "Sirong
Central Government for that which !
the constitution established with wise.
ly restricted authority and jealously
limited powers to the end that gov
ernmeDt erected ito secure liberty
might not itself become an instrument
for its subversion. They seem, too,
TO have forgoiten--or 20 desire that
Others shall forget it--ihat the consii. !
tuition was ordained "to form more
perfect Union'-not to annihilaie it
by consolidation Ito establish justice
not to concentrate power; "to insnre
domestic trauquiliiy"-not to promote
sectional animosity; "to provide for
the common defence"-not to subvert
the governments of the states; and "to
promote the general welfare" to
advance the interests Of part at the
expense of the whole.
] believe that such associations rs
yours can greatly aid in the good
work of securing a return in the ad.
minisiration of the government to the
principles upon which it was founded;
and | beg leave to express the hope |
that the Jefferson Democratic associa.
ton, of York, will endeavor to bring |
about the formation Of other similar
societies; and that it will take the ne.
cessary initiatory steps to secure frater.
nal relations, harmony ofcounsels and
unity of action among them.
Your obedient servant,
GEORGE NJ. DALLAS.