Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-09-07

himself and his political principles 10
the wonderful development Of our ma.
| tonal life. lie holds that IN the JefIer.
| sonian philosophy are the germs Of all
| political progress.
| In the system originated and dcclar.
| ed by those iilustrious men who settled
our free institutions and founded the
| Democratic party 10 preserve them, he
discovers certain fundamental princi
| Piles by which all later day issues may
be fairly tested, and departure from
which can only be safely yentured upon
when 1t has been determined To subyert
the principles OF the fathers.
THE IETrEEsoNIAY SOCIETIES.
IL will be remembered that in securing
their rights from British tyranny and
aiterward in preserving them from
insidIous enemies at home, Jefferson and
his cOmpairIois Of the revolution Always
trusted IN the power Of popular associa.
ton, IN committees Of vigilance aud lib.
erty clubs. The evils which they were
organized 10 uproot and the dangers
which they averted are thas graphically
pointed out in an address Of the JeiIrr.
sonlan Society OF York. Pa, Of which
Mr.. Black is president:
How did the Republicans Of that day
face and avert the first grand conspira.
ey TO destroy the republic? BY the es-
Enlistment, wherever possible. Of what
we're called Democratic Societies. in
which the people met. discussed the de
| signs OF their enemies, couiriyed the
means oi defeating them. encouraged
each other IN the good fight for liberty
and directed and concentrated public
| opinion so as TO make it not elfectual.
These societies were mighty engines in
tn" politics Of that gloomy period. Their
| Influence was widespread and and ire.
sistlble. They spoke the voice Of the
people and made it respected. The re.
| suit was the complete overthrow of the
Federal party the sullen abandonment
ofthe dark schemes Of the 'monocrats :
the election of Jefferson and the Put.
ting of the ship OF state on her Rel ub.
lican track again They saved the
constitution'-to use the expression Of
Jeiierson-'at the last gasp"
APPLICATION TO MODERN POLITICS.
Aud, applying the same remedy to
existing conditions, this address written
by Mr.. Black. proceeds:
Will not the same means be equlllv
effective now2 There can he no doubt
ot IL. Imagine Jeifersonian Democratic
Associations established al convenient
points in every district, wherein inteih.
gent Democrats might meet TO discuss
the affairs Of the country, to express to
each other the dangerous character Of
the measures with which we are threat.
encd, and 10 notify by resolution. by ad.
dress or by deputies TO their fellow lie.
mocrats and to the public iheiropinions
and their will What power OF perver.
ted government, of patronage, OF
monopoly, OF corruption, however com.
bined or maumuvered or combined by
greed and ambition, could siihstand the
thunders OF the popular clubs "
Again 1t IS beyond measure i'm.
| porlant that the Democratic party, be.
ing the party OF the people, should be
managed for the people and not by pro.
| fessional politicians and bosses, as the
so-called Republican party is mana.
| ged. These associations would afford
a ready, convenient, and regular meth
oil of expressing the peoples wishes
with regard to party concerns. local.
state and national but without
] ttela"NthE oA4 lWtA w tht usual anu
necessary machinery.
Upon one thing at least we are all
agreed, and that is that the teachings Of
Thomas Jefferson are the ONLY true and
| iutailible touch stone OF faith. Let Us
then, by assooiatipg together, under his
name, and pledeng anew our allegiance
10 the sacred principles which he formu
lated. erect common standard OF doc.
tfine and thus insure the complete har.
mony and early success OF the Demo.
cratic party.
. j do not recommend that these as.
sociations be incorporated with the reg.
ular organization of the party, but that
each association shall be independent
Of every other, aud that they be connec
ted mainly by friendly correspondence.
Established only by the voluntary &C
tion of the Democratic voters, they need
not be expensive or burdensome in any
way. Their meeting would be regulated
By the desires Of the members, or the
exigencies Of public affairs, but the or.
ranization once established would be
there and available for any emergency.
like the vigilance committees OF the
revolution, aud the Democratic societies
which contributed 50 much 10 save tha
Constitution in $500, dissolved the Fed.
eral conspiracy of that day, and gave ~
the glorious Democratic Republican I'd.
minislratious of JeiIera0r, Madison,
Monroe and jackson.