The Russellville Democrat., 1882-08-03
THE STATE DEMOCRACY.
An Address by the Democratic
 State Central Committee
Urging Organization and Un- te:a.sing Work tor the Suc-
 cess of the Ticket.


 tea.ssing Work tor the Suc-
 cess of the Ticket.
 Since the meeting of the demo cratic state convention in this city on the 18th of June last, the repub lican party has met in convention and nominated candidates for state offices. That party has for several years abandoned all contest in this state, seeing the hopclessness of their cause by reason of the large democratic majority. Not until they were emboldened by anticipa. ted dissenslons in the democratic party did they renew their organi- zation. Having been disappointed Tn their hopes of q division Tn the democratic state convention, they yet hope by the apathy of the masses of the democratic party, and by local prejudice and dissatisfaction with candidates, where such exists or can be created by artful and slanderous misrepresentation, to weaken the democratic ticket and possibly secure the election of one or more of their candidates.
 For this purpose they have gone outside of their party in search of men whose records would render them presentable as candidates, and then adopted nigh sounding and spacious resolutions, condemnatory or election frauds, official peculations and other corrupt practices Tn which that party was so skillful while in possession of the state government. Our past experience teaches us the hollowness of these pretenses. While the republicans have renewed the contest with their old zeal and activ- ity her work, especially as to local organization in the counties, is neg iected; that vigilance which is the price of political supremacy, as well as of party, is relaxed, not from a want of interest, but from sense of security growing out of the workings of our political enemies; and to this disorganized condition of our party, and apathy, is due, in great part, the renewed activity of the republi- cans.
 They do not hope to elect their ticket this year, if they shall sue eeed in impairing the strength of the democratic party by reason of dis cord and differences within the party, or of apathy and want of organlza, tion, or if they shall succeed in de- feating any candidate on our ticket, it IS the entering wedge; they will then be in position to apply for as- sistance in the same quarter from which 1t was obtained to Mahonize Virginia.
 In view of this state of affairs we have deemed it our duty to call upon you to organize and prepare to con, front and again defeat the republi can party so overwhelmingly as at once to overthrow and destroy all pretence to political supremacy Tn thiS state.
 Their methods arc too well known to need rccounting in this address. Their organization is thorough, in cluding all ranks and grades of their party. It is secret in its operations, and is absolute and despotic in it's control of their numbers, the rank and file, of their party Such is the foe you have to meet.
 We urge upon all democrats to con slider these matters gravely, to renew and strengthen their local organlza- tions, and to see to it that the fuil democratic vote of each township, ward and county in the state is cast for every candidate on our ticket. We earnestly hope and recommend that personal or local dissatisfaction as to any of our candidates, if any such exists, may, for the good of the party and the welfare of the state, be laid aside.
 The committee has arranged for a canvass of the state by the nominees of our convention, and we do not deem it necessary to enter upon any discussion of political issues in this pePCt) oi eo Oolh paiS bHG ICSpCCtlNC platforms of the parties. The most of us lived through the period of re- construction, when the same party with the same leaders, now seeking to regain con trol of our state government, wielded political power; and to such it is only necessary to compare that dark and gloomy period from 1868 to 1874, with the eight years that have since intervened. From disfranchisement and oppression, maintained by the republican party, by fraud and force, this people emerged into freedom and security under democratic rule, and peace, prosperity and good will have taken the place of strife, dis cord and dscontent.
 The withdrawal of Hon. J. l.. Den ton from our ticket made it neces- sary to choose some one to fill his place as candidate for superintend- ent of public instruction. We have selected Hon. w E. Thompson, of Monticello, and we commend him to the party as one well qualified to perform the important and delicate duties of the office and worthy of