The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-09-26
CAN WE BOLT 2

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the subject further, and TO show that
what has been said is founded upon a
correct understanding of party prlnci-
pies and regulations.
Political parties have existed since
the foundation of civilized government.
They have been based upon certain
principles, and governed by certain
rules, and so long as these have been
the guiding stars of the organizations,
the parties have continued to exist and
flourish. When principles have be.
come corrupt, or dissensions have
arisen among the leaders and their fol-
lowers, then the power of the party
has begun to wane, until at last the old
organization has disappeared, and a
new party has taken its place. The
Democratic party is nearly as old as
this government. 1t has been opposed
by numerous parties which in time
have risen, fourished. and fell, but it
has withstood them all, and now after
twenty-four years of successive defeat
in Presidential elections, it still exists,
and sees before it every prospect of
final success Why has the Democrat
ic party continued to live through so
many defeats and discouragements 7
It is because its principles are sound
and Just, and are based not upon one
single idea, nor upon any question OF
Importance only to the present, but are
broad and comprehensive. They are
principles of true and honest govern
ment for the people and by the people,
and will continue to exist so long as
the American Republic stands.
There have been occasional dissen-
sions; petty differences among poll.
ticians have arisen, but they have not
weakened the principles, though they
have injured the party. Twenty-four
years ago there were internal dissensions,
the Northern and Southern Democrats
failed to agree, and the result was the
nomination of two Democratic candi.
dates for President, and the
election of Republican. Then fol
lowed the civil war, and by the time il
was over the Republican party had
gained so strong hold upon the gov.
ernment that it has been impossible tc
overthrow their power. Internal dis
sension then led to Democratic defeat,
just as the Republican dissensions Of
1882 led to the election of Democratic
governors in majority of the states
which has been followed up by the
large revolt of Independent Republi
cans from Blaine, and will end in the
election of Cleveland, and the over
throw of the Republican party. If de
feated this fall, it will never gain the
ascendency again in this country. And
this has been the history of party from
time immemorial
If dissensions in national affairs have
weakened the parties, and brought de
feat and disaster to them in turn, tht
same holds true in local politics will
equal force. In county like ours
with large majority one way or tn
other, the defeat of single candidate
on the ticket means something NOR
than disappointment to him. !
creates factions, it stirs up strong feel
ings of resentment, it incites many t.
be on the watch to pay off old scores
and to seek for political revenge.
breaks up the harmony of the party
and as in union there is strength, so i
disunion there is weakness.
But, we are told, when an unfair Q
unlawful nomination is made there
no other remedy than bolt. w
agree now. and have always urge(
that man who obtains his nominatio
by improper or unlawful methods
r ought not to be elected; but our part
a machinery provides that somethin
$ more must be done than simply to az
e sert that this one or that one was III
fairly nominated. We insist now, an
shall always insist that no true Demo
crat will bolt the ticket until the part
|. regulations have failed. The convel
!. ton of 1878 adopted the following re
:. olution:
: Resolved, That the Standing Committt
4 be authorized to examine any charge
t which may be made to them, of violatio
! ! of law o, Democratic 'ules by any cand
>. date in connection with the delegate ele
/ ton or convention, and If such charg
n shall be sustained to take all necessal
s. steps to vindicate the law and the rules
!. the party.
e. This puts it in the power of the cor
a mittee to withdraw a candidate ar
e. name some one in his stead, whenev,
=. y. good cause is shown them for such a
i. ton. The committee may be Gale
(. together at any time, and proofs su
= mitted of the action of any candidat
A simple allegation of unfairness is n
n enough. If it were, no candida
es would ever be elected, for no one ev
AS received nomination for any Off
W. who was not accused by somebody
having secured it unfairly. If the
la be any Just cause for the removal
any candidate, let the committee
,s ,si called, and make thorough investig
IN. ton, and if the proofs submitted
et- them be sufficient and yet be met wi
ns refusal to act on them, then, and n
till then, will bolt be justifable. |
W. to this time no substantial charge
lu- been made against anyone, no requt
for meeting of the committee h
noe been filed, and in this way the par
c. machinery that was created for j.
such cases is ignored, and the party
A's put in jeopardy by men who profess
be Democrats, but who openly a
evi knowingly refuse to submit to t
- rules Under such circumstance
bolt most assuredly is not justiiable.
ga But, again, the objection is rails
Ia that the committee was elected by I
IN same votes that instructed for the s.
lgs cessful candidate, and therefore wol
be predisposed in his favor. This
answered by the fact that the comm
Ak teemen are elected by popular vo
es and as the candidate against whom
I'VE fight is proposed received fewer vo
Tell than his opponent, it is not possible
the committee to be packed in his
vor This point is further objectio
m BILE on the ground that it presumes
ort the unfairness of the committee, {
on the proposition to rush into /
the without first giving the committee
lch opportupity, is an open confession [