The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-10-11

Those who have been charged with
, the direction of the conflicts have
thus far done hardly anything more
than to study the ground of the bat
tie, have manouvered for position
have selected points to be taken and
held by the several corps and divis-
ions and we come tonight simply
to deploy a skirmish line in front OF
a column that | am certain Is to win
a glorious and decisive victory in
this city for the State
Does this audience look like a
beaten army? Have | the appear
ance of a defeated standard bearer
1t is true | am somewhat battered,
but | am ready now, as | have been
from the first day of the campaign,
to lead the charge which is to win
the victory for the great party that
for twenty years has never heard
nor needed ''the trumpet that sound
ed for the retreat" and which has
made this nation great in itself
and respected by all the empire OF
the earth.
There is a story, which has the
merits of being both typical and
true, that in one of the battles of the
war the colors of the Pennsylvania
reserve regiments We're intrusted to
a youthful sergeant, who was impul-
sive as well as brave. In making Il
charge which had been ordered by
the colonel, the young standard
bearer carried the colors far in ad-
vance of the regiment. The colcnel
called out to him : Sergeant bring
back those colors to the troops.
The sergeant, fired with youthful
enthusiasm and feeling sure ofevent-
ual success, shouted back: Colo
mel, bring the troops up to the colors.
His enthusiasm was contagious the
regiment caught the inspiration. 4
cheer and a dash forward and the
victory was won.
But there are certain limitations
upon me tonight which | must
observe, and, therefore, | hasten on.
There is the limitation of
time, for We have lis
tened to the discussion of weigh
tier questions than any | shall pres
ent. There is the limitation imposed
by my subject. | am advertised t.
speak, | am told, upon State issues.
There is the limitation of the semi
confidence which prevails among
gentlemen, which will forbid my
saying many things which might
throw light upon this canvass and
the conduct OF certain persons en-
gagged III it. There are the limitations
which the proprieties of my position
as a candidate and The dignity of the
office for which | have been named
impose upon me, and, finally, there
is the limitation of truth, by which
| desire and intend to be scrupuous-
! ly governed in this as in all other
utterances | shall make during this
campaign.
PARTY POLITICS DISCUSSED.
There is a place undoubtedly in
our form of government, and in all
forms of popular government in
which the people have voice and
vote for what is known as party pol
itics. Parties based upon organiza-
ton cannot exist without law.
There must be principle underly-
ing all voluntary partizan Organiza-
tions. A political party is simply
an aggregation of individuals who
believe in carrying principles into
effect. No man is under any obi
cation to join a political party. He
is not bound to espouse its princi-
pies nor take part in carrying out
It's practical methods, but if he, of
his own volition, becomes a member
of a party he is bound by the law
and usage of that party until he
shall voluntarily surrender his rela-
tions to it and his connection with
it. What is the law then which un-
derlies party government? 1t Is the
same as that upon which popular
rule is based. The old Plymouth
covenant, made by the voyagers in
the Mayfower before they landed
upon these western shores, declared
that ''the will of the majority shall
be the law of ALL" 1t is the principle
which William Penn announced
when 200 years ago he declared to
the world that in the colony which
he founded that the people should
govern and the majority should
rule
With this fundamental principle
settled and admitted, it follows that
all honorable men who claim to be
members of the Republican party
who have in any way taken part in
county meetings or in State conven-
tions are bound by the results of
those several ways Of expressing the
popular will; or failing to consider
themselves so bound and under an
obligation to end their relations to
the party when sundering their al
legiance to it. Any other course Is
alike subversive of law, destructive
to organization and a declaration
that there are no binding obligations
under our present methods Of party
government.
THE ENSIGN OF REVOLT.
We fnG ourselves at this juncture
in this State confronted by a new
phase of an old malady. There is a
considerable body of men in Penn
sylvania claiming to be Republicans,
organized under party laws, pursuing
party methods, whose avowed aim
and object is to compass the defeat
of the Republican party, and crown
with success the banners of the onl,
party which in this State is the open
and declared enemy of Republican,
ism. The standard borne by this
party is the ensign of revolt. Its
tactics are those of rebellion. Its
methods are suited to its declared
purpose, and question which con-
fronts thinking, conscientious, care
ful men in Pennsylvania is whether
or not these methods shall prevail,
whether this rebellion shall be sue
cessful, and whether in following
this flag they shall be taken bodily
into the camp of the enemy.
| very frankly admit that the