St. Paul daily globe., 1888-08-18
The Magnificent Address Of
Daniel Buck to the
Democracy.
Written Two Years Ago, and
Which Invokes the High
est Principles.
Freedom of Thought, Action
and Speech Demanded
for the Party.
The Democracy Is Greater
Than the Man at All
Times.

That there might be no question as to
the fact that Eugene Wilson is Demo-
crat after the heart of the great mass of
the people, inside and outside of his
party, the GLOBE published yesterday a
letter written by him in 1885.
Now that the Democracy of Daniel
Buck may be fully appreciated and hon
ored by party that will not submit to
any ''boss" rule, the GLOBE submits an
address to the Democracy of the state,
penned, by Mr.. Buck July l, 1856. 1t is
the appeal of a magnificent specimen of
independence to the honor, patriotism
and principles of great party. Mr..
Wilson and Mr.. Buck stand Oh the Ipeo-
pies platform, as these documents dem
onstrate. Let every loyal Democrat
preserve them:
To the Democracy of Minnesota: We
have assembled here for the purpose of
discussing the political situation in our
state and to call attention to the OdiOuS
political methods which are rendering
pOwerleSS the voice and joint will of
the people. And we declare that this
movement did not originate with dis
appointed office seekers, but with men
who have not asked or sought Office of
the Federal government in any manner
whatever. 1t is the outgrowth of great
discomfort and dissatisfaction amongst
the mass OF the Democracy OF this state,
who feel ashamed and diSgraced by the
political methods Of few men whose
proceeding are without authority or
precedent in the political history of
the country. That there are among
us to-day some persons who have
asked for official positions is true; but
they are independent American citizens,
possessing the inalienable right to take
part in the governmental affairs of this
republic. 1t is heritage dear to peO-
pie that prides itself upon its right of
self-gOvernment; and those who under
stand and duly appreciate the institu-
tiOnS of this country will never consent
to the destruction of this autonomy, nor
tamely submit to have their rights
trampled upon OF desecrated by brace
of committeeman of any committee,
either state or national. Why has one
man a greater right to seek office than
another if ne is equally honest, faithful
and capable? The highest offices in the
gift of the people, whether executive,
legislative or judicial. are sought by
many of our ableSt, purest and most
eminent men. without cenSure, and the
sneer OF being disappointed Office
seekers comes with bad grace from
those who have crawled into
the position of Office brokers through
usurped power and the gross violation
of the Inherited prerogative of every
citizen of this republic. 1t is time for
the assumed leaders of the Democracy
of this state to understand that this is a
10 of f,.nn nd 4, r.,
and not monarchy where all power is
collected at common center, where
the public voice is stitied and liberty
crushed by uSurpation and centralized
power. Our national constitution guar
anteeS the freedom of speech and the
right Of the people to peaceably assem-
bic for redress of grievances; and our
state constitution provides that govern
ment is instituted for the security. ben
eft and protection of the people. in
whom all political power is inherent,
and that all persons may freely speak,
write and publish their sentiments on
all subjects. These rights and privi-
legeS constitute
THE VERY FOUNDATION
upon which we have built democratic
and republican form of government,
and they are essential to its perpetuity
forever. When these rights are ignored
and denied to the people then DemOc-
racy and RepublicaniSm cease to be
governments by the people and for the
people. and the bOasted supremacy of a
republic becomes deception and impo-
sitiOn. Liberty once crushed and lost
is not easily regained. Attacks upon it
by an inSidiOuS foe Or by an open and
defiant enemy should be met and pun
ished. The strength of liberty-loving
nation lies not only in its infused spirit
of public liberty, but in its courage to
hurl from actual or assumed authority
those who betray its rights and at
tempt to build up central
ical party baSing its right to rule
upon the principles of free speech and
obedience to the popular will should see
that its practice is in full accord with
its asserted principles. If BETRAYED and
temporarily robbed of its power it
should never tamely submit to be
robbed of its honor. If its leaders.
actual or assumed, betray it then it
should arise in its might at the first op-
portunity, retrace its steps, purify it's
life-bloOd and dethrOne its traitors.
There should be no corruption of blood
in party bOasting of civil service re-
form, and that the voice of the people
is the automatic principle of it's exist
ence. And so believing, we come
here to-day to declare our adherence
of bOSSiSm and our hatred of CEN
tralized power i'll every shape. We de-
sire peace and harmony in our party.
but not peace purchased at the price
of our manhood and self-reSpect and
the sacrifice of our political faith. We
come, not to destroy or diSorganize, but
to purify and to save. We are not the
messengers of political hate. but we
want treason to the voice of the people
made odious and the blood prisoners of
our party dethroned until they shall re-
pent ana reform. What is the record
and its results? On the 18th day of
April, 1885, about twenty Democrats
met in the city of st. Paul and passed
the following resolution:
Resolved, That Hon. P. Fl. Kelly, member
of the Democratic national committee. and
Hon. NJ. Doran. chairman of the central com
mittee, be and hereby are authorized to act
for the Democracy of Minnesota in indorsing
and transmitting to Washington applications
for appointments to federal positions. and
that we request the president and heads of
departments to recognize no other indorse-
ments from this state.
The candidates for presidential elect
OrS were intentially excluded from that
meeting, because if present they would
have denounced such resolutions with
Indignation as monarchial creed un-
worthy of the Democracy of this state.
If any body of men in Minnesota had
authority to represent its Democracy, it
was the candidates for presidential
electors, together with the
DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL CANDI.
DATES.
although we believe that the primary
choice of officers should rest with the
Democracy of the community where the
office is located. The fairest and best
government is that which comes nearest
to the hearts and voice of the people.
The policy pursued under that resolu-
ton has been to have an autocrat in
each COMM unity who seems neithnr to