Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1884-08-07
DEMOCRATIC ADDRESS.
a DOCUMENT THAT Ev ERT VO-
TER SHOULD READ.
a Glance at the Situation and Some Words
of Counsel, by. the Democratic
State Committee.

-.
RALEIGH, n. c., July 1G-It is fit
ting that, before the beginning Of a
campaign, those who, in sense, are
| entrusted with its direction, should
utter some words of cheer and counsel
to those who are. fighting the battles.
While much depends on the skill of
the leaders in these battles, the result,
victory or defeat, is dependent at last
on the courage and faithfulness of the
rank and file To them, therefore, we
would address few words.
There are in this State and in the
United States but two parties. OF the
few disappointed or misguided men
who have deserted from the Demo-
cratic ranks, after skirmislling awhile
under the name Of Liberals against
the cause to which they had pledged
their allegiance, some have. become
fully incorporated in the ranks Of the
enemy, while others have returned
and are again in line with their old
column. These two parties have re-
Gently held their State and National
Conventions, adopted their platform
The contrast between the two ma
tional platforms is striking. The Re-
publican is in the main but repeti-
ton of those of past campaigns, deals
in vague generalities and offers no
warrant that the corrupt practices
which have disgraced past adlninistra-
tions are not to be continued. Worse
than that it contains deliberate at
tempt to revive the issue Of ciuH
rights, after good men everywhere
were led to believe that question had
been settled, as well by enlightened
public opinion as by a decision Of the
highest court Of the land. Thus to
throw firebrand between the two
races at the South now friendly and
yearly becoming more SO, is desper-
ate venture or political crime. The
National Democratic platform after
arraigning the party in power for its
frauds and shortcomings, pledges those
who are to fight the battles Of the
campaign upon it, ''to purify the ad-
| ministration, to restore economy, to
| revive respect for law, and to reduce
taxation to the lowest limit consistent
with due regard to the preservation
of the faith Of the nation,' and de-
mands that in laying the tariff it
should be made to bear heaviest on
articles Of luxury and lightest on
those of necessity. While insisting on
a reduction to the revenue standard
SO us to avoid surplus in the treas
ury, it freely admits that IN changing
| the law to effect. this end, care should
be taken that American labor is not
deprived Of the ability to com pete
successfully with cheaper foreign Ia
| Dor, and that some regard must be
had for the capital invested in indus
tries which have relied on legislation
| for successful continuance. The very
existence of tariff negatives the idea
of absolute free trade, and the intent
of the platform is to approximate that
ideal standard for the good Of the
many, as nearly as may be, without
injury to our home industries and
those who make an honest living (and
not great fortunes) out Of them.
A similar contrast can be observed
in the Republican and Democratic
State platforms, and careful study
of them is recommended to all who
have the opportunity. We only call
attention to. the fact that ours de-
mands the Immediate and uncondi-
tional abolition Of the odious internal
revenue system, and adlsits the neees-
sity of retaining the present, or adopt
ing a similar system of county govern
ment, for the protection of the white
people of our eastern counties. The
contrast between the candidates Of the
two parties for the offices of President
and Vice-P President is not less striking.
While the country, alarmed by the
frauds and corruptions in almost ev-
cry department Of the national adj
ministration was demanding reform,
and tired Of long continued strife, was
signing for peace and fraternal feeling
between the different sections, the Re
publican party, as if in defiance, offers
for the sutfrages of the American peo-
pie James G. Blaine, convicted by
public opinion of corruption in high
places, himself the champion of the
corrupt elements of his party and the
embodiment of machine methods in
politics and John A. Logan, whose
hatred of the South is his chief ground
Of support by his party. Against such
men the Democrats offer Grover
| Cleveland, the tried retormer in the
government successfully of a great
city and great State, and selected
because he has given evidence that he
has the ability and the courage to re-
form the existing abuses in the gov
ernment of the Union, and Thomas A.
Hendricks, an experienced statesman,
upon whose honor there has never
been breath of suspicion, and the
very man from whom the office now
about tobe pressed upon him, was
stolen by the great national crime of
1876.
Between the two tickets many OF
the great and.most influential Repub-
lican journals of the North impelled
by high sense of public duty and
spurning party denomination, have
not hesitated 10 choose Cleveland and
Hendricks. That these potent lead
ers of public opinion haye large fol-
lowing of honest Republican voters is
certain. One of these Journals per-
haps the ablest of them, puts the issue
| in these words: s'Shall the next Pres