The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1889-04-18
AN INVINCIBLE PARTY.
HOW can We MAKE 1T so =?
BY PERMANENT DEMO
CRATIC SOCIETIES THAT
WILL APPEAL TO THE
PUBLIC MIND BE-
TWEEN CAMPAIGNS.
The Jeffersonian Touchstone.

The Democrats in Pennsylv a.
mia have organized q system of
permanent Democratic societies,
which propose to work for th e
party between campaigns, as
we'll as during the heat of the
contest. We have been of the
opinion, ever since we have been
old enough to observe the man
agement of political campaigns,
that some organized method of
steady and constant work by the
members of our party during
the intervals between our peri
odiCal contests would be m uch
more effective than the spas
mOGic efforts we make through
temporary clubs, ratification
meetings and parades just before
an election. Onr newspapers
also, just before an election, rage
and storm, produce startling
facts and figures, about the i'm
positions of a high war tariff
and the reckless S0uandering Of
money for pensions, jobs, etc.
All this is very proper, for the
cause is sufficient to Justify such
a course, but we damage the
cause Of our party 5y dropping
all such discussions jdst after an
election, by saying comparative
iy nothing to the people about
them till the next. Such in
Justices and inequalities as the
Democratic party condemn
should be constantly discussed
and continually kept before the
people until by the silent but
all powerful ballot, a political
revolution is effected. We know
CT no better means of effecting
this than by the Pennsylvania
idea Of permanent Democratic
societies. The idea is not new,
for it was through the agency of
similar organizations that JEFF
ferson, the great founder of the
party, swept the country in 1900.
To explain more fully the idea
and plan Of the societies, we
give you below an extract from
an explanation given to d World
reporter by ex-Gov. Black, who
is President of the Pennsylvania
societies. He says:
'The Democratic societies of the
last century were connected only by
the ties of fraternal correspondence
We think we have improved upon
thai. In our plan, now in very sue.
cessful operation, each primary soci-
ETY. is a member of the State society,
represented by deputies in its annual
general assembly, body choosing
all officers and possessing all leg isla.
tive authority. The entire system
is managed in cordial cooperation
with the regular organization of the
democratic party. It will not make
platforms or nominees, but vigorous
ly support both as they are made by
the ordinary conventions Of the par
Ity. 1t will, however apneal to the
public mind and Invoke public opin.
ion in the intervals between cam.
paigns as we'll as during campaigns
1t will, like the Democratic society
of Jefferson's time, discuss, agitate
and arouse the people to the perils OF
their situation. 1t will promote the
study Of fundamental principals anG
disseminate them, through these
neighborhood parliaments, where
every citizen may be heard as freely
and, if he has that to say which Just
ly commands public opinion, will
as mUch influence and power as if hi
were speaking in the Legislature o.
in Congress. 1t will print it; it viii
SOW the country with documents j
will educate swarm of speaker
and writer's on the true principles o
republican government; it will edu
cate the people to teach themselve
their rights and their duties; it will
array the Democratic party in har
mo 1i0us union upon the creed O
their forefuthers and place it in soiit
, column upon that road which, il
the language of Mr.. Jefferson, 'alon
leads to peace, liberty and safety.
Then the Democratic party will b
irresistible anu invincibie simply be
cause it ought to be.
"Looking at this brief form fo
the organization of primary Dem
ocratic society [Gov. Black here he'll
2 up the form in question:, you vii
observe that each individual mem
I Der signs single pledge, namely, It
. preserve, defend and advance th
essential principles of free govern
: ment as formulated by Thomas Jet
ferson and illustrated by the histor
of the Democratic party IF yo
can imagine system of Den. Ocrati
societies throughout the America
Union, embracing the intelligene
and activity of the Democratic Ial
ty, every individual member havin
+ signed this declaration, you can in
b agine the Democratic party in a stat
It of absolute harmony upon any ar
. every question. Every propositio
Of whatever kind would be instan
e ly brought to the decisive test of tt
Jefersonian teuchstone. The WI