The sun., 1890-01-31
The Democratic Doctrine.

It fs fortunate for the reformers In thii
town, and particularly for the bogus bailo
reformers who are the noisiest of all JUS
now, that they are possessed Of memories
far shorter than those whom they aspire K
lead. II 1t were not for this fact they would
probably occupy themselves with matters
not connected with politics. A few monde.
scripts. possessed of neither influence mol
following, have set themselves up as leaders
| In q movement having for its ultimate aim
| the disfranchisement OF thousands Of Dem.
! ocrats, whose unyielding support has al
| critical times saved the party from the dis.
| asters which these enemies Of its principles
and purposes have sought to bring upon it.
A few Democrats, discredited by reason oi
the defeats they have brought upon the
party, yet hoping to keep their names before
the public, have joined in this odd crusade
and that is about all there is to 1t. But the
great Democratic party Of the State stands
to-day, as 1t has always stood. firm as q
rock and true as steel in opposition to every
scheme against universal suffrage.
At the Democratic State Convention held
in this city on May 49, 1888. over which
Mr.. FREDERIC r. CoUDERT presided, the
principles Of the party were duly and de-
hberately defined. In the presence of an
enormous throng Of delegates and visitors,
IN the face OF the impending national and
State elections, the profession of the party's
faith on the subject of the franchise was dis
eussed, formulated, and unanimously as
sented to by delegates present to the num-
ber OF nearly 400, representing the Democ-
racy OF every county In the State:
"The called sAxroN Electoral Reform bill passed by
the legislature and before the Governor for Bxee
utys action, partisan measure subversive Of Demo
cratic principles destructive OF the secrecy ballot
sfeaciOus to promote fraud and corruption opposing
needless and useless obstacles to tho suhaEOs OF the
busy and hard working voter intended the rst blow
universal suffrage Of citizens by digfranchsinR tho
unleArnsd electors and introduces into simple sys
TEN OF elections q method which may be necessary
under the rule OF the British empire but is desirable
among froe people"
That was Democratic principle in 1888; It
is Democratic principle to-day. The pres
ervation Of manhood suffrage is one of the
cardinal points Of the Democratic faith, the
keystone OF the arch erected by the founders
Of the Constitution.
No declaration antagonistic to this has
ever been made by any Convention repre-
senting tho Democracy of New York, or en-
powered to speak for its 100000 voters, so
many OF whom tho Saxtonians seek to dis
franchise. The great. overwhelming body Of
Democratic voters in the State are uncondi-
donally opposed to any such scheme or de-
vice; and any one who attempts to pretend
otherwise adds the insult of fimpeaching their
Democracy to the injury he would do them
by depriving them Of their votes.
In recalling to mind the declaration of the
Democratic State Convention of 1888, 1t Is in
teresting to observe that several OF the gen.
tlemen who voted for the resolution We have
quoted, and who accepted tho posts OF dele
gates to carry forward that principle and
other principles then enunciated, seem to
have forgotten the occurrence. But the far
greater number have continued faithful to
their trust and to the principles OF Democ-
racy as declared by the Convention which
made them delegates. Among the delegates
whom the Convention which denounced the
6AXToN scheme chose to represent 1t were
DANIEL DoUdHKRTY. HUGH J. GRANT. w.
BoURKE COCHRAN, MAURICE J. PowHR, WEI