Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-05-09
JrFFEssoNIAN ASSOCIATIONS.
Their Aid IN Party Organization.
LANCASTER, Pa, May 1, 1883.

JEFFERSONIAN ASSOOAAIAONss l
LANCASTER, Pa, May 1, 1883.
To the Members Of the Jetersonfan Democratic
Association Of York;
GENTLEMEN: acknowledge the notifi-
cation by your president, Hon. Chauncey
F. Black of my election to honorary mem.
bership in your organization my appre-
citation of the honor conferred by your
partiality and my acceptance of such
membership are quickened by an examin-
alton of the documents which l have re-
ceiyed, setting forth the objects of your
association and the testimony of the dis
tipguished Democrats who have been in
vited to its fellowship.
Bearing the honored name of him who
was the author Of the Declaration, the
foremost exponent Of our constitutional
system, the founder of the Democratic
party and who never abated his faith IN
the government of tho people by them
selves. YOU may with righteous confidence
in the perennial efficacy of his principles
reassert them as living political faith.
NV present official concern for the most
nearly perfect organization of the Demo
cratic party in this state will justify me.
in expressing the high estimate which L
set upon the influence of net work OF
such associations as yours. If their organ
ization were extended throughout the
state their rolls would represent a great
body of its most intelligent and active
Democrats, whose united thought and &C
tion could not fail to powerfully aud bene.
ficially influence the sentiment of the
party. The effect would be to educate
speakers and writer's who could appeal
with conviction to the individual judg
ment of the voters at time like this, when
in the reaction against political "bosses'
and "machines" the power of such appeal
to common sense and common honesty is
greatly heightened.
1t is the happy fortune of those who
hold to the Democratic faith that they can
afford to "go up the river Of time to the
first fountains of good and evil" 1t only
needs that the generations should know
the Jeffersonian principles to vote them
into effect.
The time has come in this state to prove
tho superior wisdom of an organization in
detail, "from the people up" In that
work recognize no more important factor
than associations which will not disband
after an election nor wait for tho busle
of a convention to call them into action
but which will labor increasingly, month
after month, and especially in the season
when mems minds are least intiamed will
party zeal and most open to the truth dis
passionately stated-to spread the funda-
mental ideas of Democracy.
Besides the immediate practical ait
furnished to the regular party organiza
ton, such a system of voluntary associa
tions would promote party unity by direct
ing the attention of Democrats every
where to the vital, underlying basis of thei
principles they would present open door
to those who, through Labor, Grange, o
Anti.monOpOly associations, now with hon
est purpose, but scattering and ineffectua
force protest against evils which have beel
infused into our institutions only by de
partures from the Jeffersonian ways the.
wOulG successfully appeal to the pride ant
interest of the individual voter in the ex
ercise of his rights and privileges as tn
unit in our political system foreign bori!
as we'll as native citizens, would speedil
recognize the distinction between tha
party which has maintained the inheritanc
of JeffersOnian tolerance and freedom, an
that which is the legitimate heir to tn
spirit of prescription and tyranny that LA
periodically appeared under new name
and forms, but with unchanged purposes
and has never failed to meet with popula
condemnation when fairly submitted
the decision of the ballot box g; and til
Young men of the State and conu.r!
disgusted with the debauchery of Repul
lican rule, would naturally flock with a
enthusiasm to a standard which has EN-
blazoned upon it tho promise and the p'
tency, as well, of better things.
You have anticipated one Obiectio
which might arise to your association b
the declaration that you will Gas an ol
garized body. take no part in struggles {
primary or delegate elections, nor sulfc
any person, under any circumstances,
make his membership stepping stone
public Office"
With your purposes thus clearly define
and approved by the eminent authoritii
who have united with you to promote then
it is no occasion for surprise that sint
your first organization there has been SUE
general response of approval. Simil;
and sister associations are forming in dill
ferent quarters of the state, old establis
ed party societies are taking on the nan
and taking up the spirit of yours, UNI
their example has excited emulation ev'
in other states.
With a general Jeffersonian reviva
there must be assured the fidelity OF tt
party to itself, and in that is the certa
promise of its trump. Such resu
we can forecast with far less gratificatio
because Of approaching partisan adva
tages than because of the vindication
will afford Of the high faith in viii
those illustrious men lived and died VII
when they had founded our free instit
tions, established the Democratic party
protect and preserve them.
Yours truly.
w. U. HENsEL