Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-10-25
The RaScn'S shown Up.
PLAIN FACTS wurcH Voters SHOULD READ
BEFORE TuE ELECTIoN.
-snecI,I % Th. PIlt.Lnreh rg.t. ]


Special to The PItsbnrrh Post
Mnrox, Pa October There wasa
large turnout of the Democracy OF this
section ut thi- place this evening to hear
Messrs. Gordon and Taggart discuss the
issues oi the campaign in this State.
Both Of them de ended the course Of
Gov. Paltison in calling the extra ses.
sion To apportion the State In obedience
to the command Of the Constitution.
aud handled the Republican ohstruc.
tionists without gloves. Their remarks
were frequently applruded. Mr Cor.
don devoted his effort entirely to thu
elucdatlon of the Legislative situation.
in which he clearly showed that the
Democrats are right and the RrpublI.
cans wrong. lie said
SENATOR GDRDuS's SPEECH.
FELLOW ClrIzESs: When was asked
to spe X NJ tins mretrng Wa 'equesird
by the State Chairman TO devote my re
marks principally To the sul I"ct OF the
apporrionment contest and The rxIrA
session OF the Legislature. mean tn
strictly comply with that requ"st. aud
though the .u'i~ct may not be- an inter.
e-ting one for popular speech, yet Il ~
a mo,t important one for the people Ia
he lnlutmrd Auout. tear the "a jet
Is not As generally UNDERSTOOD ss n
ought to hr. A, briefly AS possible let
me- review this qurstluD.
TINS Is the first campaign within my
knuwledge when the voters OF the STATE
have teen brought iace 10 iace with thr
gu. s,ton whether their c Institution or
a decree OF parry CAucu- II the strong.
ct. II has teen no UNUSUAL thing tur
constitutional principlr- or QUESTIONS ul
construction tu Ice involved IN poIiucal
contest-. ln such instances fairly d"
batahlr proportions upon which
thoughtful men differed have been sub
mlttrd tor drc,sIun TO the people. Ia
all such c.-es. hoSever. the -uppurt al
the Constitution aud obediruc- to II
have been admitted as uncuntested ia
tip--the d-cu.sIou- has proceeded
upon other lines. Now, however. thu
nakpi is-ue before the people l. whelh.
or they will Justify party that drltb"r.
atsly, aud tor parti-an purpose, d.
Oheys the mandate and r--ists the OK
eCutIOn of the Constitution. purpn-.
showing that stripped oi all m"qu",
and drCeplIons this u the simple Hnh
important is.us before the people. For
the purpose of an orderly presentatlnn
of this subject | shall first discuss
the constitutional command. then the
constitutional Obligation resting upon
tn" legislature iur oh-di-ncp to that
comm u /. then the Deliberate tnnpr
in winch the S'alw.rt Republicans have
refused to dl.chargr their obhg,Ion-.
and last the reason for this dispbrdl"uce
aud lts result TO tue people. shall
embrace what | nave to say within these
five prominent Thoughts:
FIr-t n To- the comm aud. That there
mry be no question raised as To the &C
curncY Of Huy words or statement ui
mine upon this subject ! shall go To the
ioun AIn hPAd aud read the exact Ian.
Ru.ge Of the fundamental law. The
Constitution adopted hy the people in
1874, 10 the 18Th section OF the ~ srti.
Gle contains this direction to the L"grs.
lalurp The General Assembly NJ It's
first sesslon after the adoption Of this
Constitution and immediately alter each
UnIted States drcrunisl ceuru- shall AZ.
portion the State into Senatorial aud
Representative districts agrpeahly to the
provisions OF the two next preceding
sections" This 18th section. il will bp
observed, is n clear, direct and uncond.
tional Command that the legislature
shall do sprcIiic thing. II contains no
qu IL fication, IL lrzvrs nothing to the
discretion OF the Grneral Assembly aud
is couchpd IN the most direct. positive
ami IUandstory Terms.
NV as TO the obligation resting upon
the legislature to obey this vital com.
mand of the Constitution. There IL
first the obligation which arises from
the duties at citiEenship In the ab'
sPnce Of any more specific sanction the
duty which devolves upon all citizens 10
obey aud maintain the laws OF the land
would make IL Hn imperative ohliga ion
that Legislators should observe 10 letter
aud spirit The command oi the Consli.
tuition. Those charged with authority
and entrusted with lower 10y the people
are the last who should ialteT In faith
ful obedIence 10 the law. They are
trustees, whose duties are clearly d. fined
and polemnly euj1incd hy the written
instrument from which they derive their
powers aud whicb creates the trust they
are appointed 10 execute. BY ordinary