Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-08-27

Ward at last evening" Democratic mass
meeting at this place
After prefacing hiprefnarks With some
| personal references as TO his willingness to
do his utmost for his country and party,
General Ward said:
"Fellow citizens, the cardinal principles
| OF our party have been the guide OF the
| nation during most Of its existence. Per-
| haps no filter time TO recsll thenrthan row
| could be selected. The country is in no
| ferment of excitement. 1t is not Presi-
more open to reason and reader Tor the
exercise OF $3.50.
than when some great national party
struggle arouses popular passion. The all
! pervading idea of Democracy is the sover-
eighty of the people. It's principles OF ac-
tion relate 10 their safety and welfare.
Those principles are naturally classified
into such as pertain to the Constitutional
organization of government, and such as
grow out of its administra ton Each class
springs from the central idea OF the peo-
ple's sovereignty, an1 each aims to secure
their safety and welfare.
The Democratic Pasty,
has ever held definite views AS to the
nature and proper organization OF our
State and National Governments, and as to
the constitutional relations between the
States and the Federal Union. These ques-
tions have always been, and still are, and
will ever continued TO be, while our poit-
cal system lasts, the broad and deep divid.
ing line between parties in America. Con-
stitutonsl questions abide, while questions
of policy are ever changing with the chang
ing wants OF society"
After enlarging upon the fact that the
fundamental constitutional idea of the
\ =. .Nf
ment is duaI-State and National, General
Ward continued:
Gentlemen, as a consequence OF this line
of demarcation the parties differ aS T. their
construc ion OF the meaning OF the Consti-
| tuition.
AStrict COnstructiOn
| OF the instrument is a canon Of the Demo
| cratic Interpretation. Our party treats all
government as a mere delegation of pow.
| er, and seeks to contine IL strictly within
| the limits Of that power. Government
must show its warrant before il exercises
authority. RepubIiCsnisni, on the other
| hand, claims liberal construction. OF all
| constitutional grants. Ii seeks TO accumu.
late power in the hands of the General
| Government and limit State power 10 the
nsrrowest bounds that astute ingenuity
can make plausible. With them defense
| OF State rights is provincialism, il not half
treason, while extension of national power
and activity of national control as against
the States ls high craftsmanship, lofty pa
| triotism."
Reviewing the course of the Democratic
| rarty in the past sixty years he said:
| "Ne Have Grown StrOag
| in defense of constitutional liberty and
| popular rights. Democracy is never old
and decrepit; it is new and living as the
| wants OF society. Democracy is never new;
| ~ ic old 90 tho lOya nf lhprtv One pf
the merits of our party is that it is at once
conservative and progressive. 1t has no
| dead past to bury. Its march is onward
| with steady step to the front. Whatever
| sustains the true life OF Democracy we ap-
propriate as We advance. Whatever begins
| 10 rot on our hands we cnemate to avoid
| contagion. He that lags in the march is
left by the wayside to ramb'e into some
other camp, and he that dies in battle We
| bury with the bOnors OF war.
Passing from National TO State politics,
| the speaker said of
The Temperance Issue.
"The questions for the people to decide
| in this canvass are, whether they will
require the General Assembly TO repeal
the Scott law or modify it, or whether they
will adopt one of the two constitutional
amendments submitted. This law is one
| OF the shrewdest pieces Of legislation ever
| invented. No circuml, cution Office ever
more adroitly studied how not to do il. Az
| ter striving all winter to carry water on
one shoulder and whisky on the other, the
ne plus ultra Of the jugglery was reached
in the Scott law. 1t was thought it would
be a winning card with the hard listed tax
| payer, and touch his pocket nerve
| And then 1t was thought il would
| Please the saloon. X Kesper.
| by giving him legal sanction for his bus.
l ipE kaon hin, m rf lha al NJ oh nf
| lrf r!rers or police officers And then it
| ',tuI 90. Il " iram.shop where the honest
| 30. ."r III could console himself with
| & al glass, with the proud conscious
| -. lat he was lessening his taxes at the
l same time. And then it was thought it
I would appease the stalwart temperance
| man, because IL would make shekels for
| the treasury without licensing the aocursed
| traflic-collecting tribute from the devil in
| the name of the Lord. Ii was intended to
| court the tax payer and the saloon keeper,
the tippler and The temperance man, at
the same time. But 1t is no settlement at
all Of the question, and while il may catch
stray vote it is mere party expedient,
and leaves on our hands the vexed ques'
tion."
The speaker then turned his attention to
the
Tariff and Civil Service Reform.
handling those subjects in an exhaustive
and mastery manner, claiming that the
party in power in national affairs had con.
clusiveIy proven Itself incapable OF hand.
| ling these great questions, and should
therefore be retired from the field. OF the
future of the country and the Democratic
party, be said: My countrymen you must
excuse me il / am something OF an enthu-
siast for the principles of my party and the
| future OF my country. 1 religiously be-
live in both. Even our party will endure
with the institutions OF our country, and
for many centuries 10 come, / confidently
hope, nay, profoundly believe both viii
This Broad Repubiic
With their benifcence and glory. II is the
habit OF Americans 10 boast OF their
country, but the patriot eau do no less
Cold, indeed, must the spirit that 10 not
warmed with admiration OF the grandeur
of the American Republic. Her mighty
domain, her uneXampled resources, her
matchless Institutions, her glorious history,
more than all-her people. Never before
in the worlds history was such an empire
of power brought into harmony under one
government, one language, one destiny:
And what party but the Democratic could
rule the Rolitioal destiniss OF such q
polcies but eyaDesceDt organisations TO deal
xith the accidents Of our progress, not 70
develop and harmonic the national life
Of the Republic? They come and 20, but
The Democracy Esdursa
Federalists. National Republicans, Whigs,
Anti-Masons, Abolitioni|ts, Barn-burners,
Know NoihiDgs, Free Soilers, where are
they? Dead and buried
"A school boys tale, the wonder Of an
hour"
They served temporary purpose, and
gave up the ghost. Aud 80 must the pres
ent Republican party pas away. The
| future Can not be entrusted 70 its guidance
| On the other hand, my Democratic
friends, our party is parental. It's prlBci
pies are suited to every phase OF national
progress, every need Of social DEVELOPMENT
II ciscsrds Capitalization and uaternal
government. 1t teaches that when hundre y
Of millions gather under our flag from
every cline snd nation no repose can b.
bed except under the dual system Of gov.
eminent which gives fpdestrHctible
suronomy both N the Union and tie