The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1890-11-22

ent myself with recalling the most promi-
ent and significant. The wonder is that
hese things were addressed by Americans
o Americans.
"What was the occasion OF these con-
of cheapness, and what had
lonest American men and women done, or |
What were they likely to do, that they should |
De Threatened with the epithets cheap,
nasty and 'un-American !!
at is hard to speak patiently as we an
,wer these questions. Step by step vast
number of our people had been led on, fol-
lowing blindly in the path of party They
had been filled with hate and sectional pre-
iudice; they had been cajoled with misre-
and false promises; they had
been corrupted with money and by appeals
to their selfishness. All these things led
up to their final betrayal to satisfy the de-
mands of those who had supplied the fund
for their corruption.
PAYING FLOATER FUND OBLIGATIONS.
This betrayal was palpable; and it was
impossible to deny or conceal the fact that
the pretended relief rendered to the people
in fulfllment of promise to Tighten the
burdens of their life, made by the party in
trusted with the Government, was but
scheme to pay the debts incurred by the
purchase of party success, while it further
increased the impoverishment of the masses.
''The people were at last aroused and
demanded an explanation. 1ney had been
taught for one hundred years that in the
distribution of benefits their government
should be administered with equality and
Justice. They had learned that wealth
was not Indispensable to responsibility and
that it did not enttle its possessers to cspe-
cial governmental favors. Humble men
with scanty homes had been encouraged by
the influence and the spirit Of our instltu-
tons. to practice economy and frugality to
the end that they might enjoy to the utmost
the rewards of their toll. The influence
of the American home was still about
them. In their simplicity they knew
nothing Of new dispensation which made
cheapness disreputable, and they still loved
the cheap coats of Lincoln and Garfield,
and hundreds of their countrymen whom
thew held in veneration. And thus these
unsophisticated Americans, unconscious of
their wrong doing, demanded the redemp-
ton of party pledges aud clamored for
cheapness, in order that they might pro-
vide the necessaries and comforts Of life
for themselves and families at the lowest
possible cost.
"The leaders of the party, which was
caught in the act of robbery, and which
was arraigned by the people for violation
of its trust, were forced by their sad pre-
dicament to IL desperate expedient. To
attempt to reverse the current Of true
Americanism and discredit the most honor
able sentiments belonging to American
manhood, were the disgraceful tasks of
those who insulted our people by the an
nouncement of the doctrine that to desire
cheapness was to love nastiness, and to
practice economy and frugality was I'M
American.
PATRIOTISM AGAINST PUBLIC PLUMBER
Thus do we plainly see that when the
path pointed out by patriotism and Amerl-
can citizenship is forsaken by party in
power, for schemes of seliishness and for
INSCRIPTIONS conspiracies for partisan sue
cess, its course inevitably leads to unjust
favoritism, neglect of the interests of the
masses, entire perversion of the mission OF
Republican institutions, and, in some form,
to the most impudent and outrageous insult
to true American sentiment
st cannot be denied that political events
in the past have gone far toward encour-
aging arrogant party assumption. Every
thoughtful and patriotic man has attames
been disappointed and depressed by the
apparent Indifference decentralization Of
the people.
HB4t SUCH reflections have no place in
t.I.so fluctuations of tonight. This is time
when faith in our countrymea should be
fully reestablished. The noise Of recent
political revolution is still heard through,
out the land; the people have just demon,
strated that there is point beyond which
they cannot be led by blind partizanship,
and that they are quite competent to exam,
inc and correctly decide political questions
concerning their rights and their welfare
They have numerically resented every
attack upon true American manhood, and
have taught party leaders that, though
slow to anger, they take terrible reyenges
when betrayed. They permit us to for,
give our honorcd guest for all the cheap
coats he has ever worn, for they have de,
clared them to be in fashion. They have
also decreed that the decalogue has place
in our politics, for they have enforced the
command, Thou shalt not steal, and have
rendered an emphatic verdict against those
who have borne false witness
HONOR THURMAN's LIFE AND METHODS
Nothing could so well accompany the
honors we pay our distinguished guest as
the celebration on his birthday of the vic
tory which has Just been achieved in vim
dication of American citizenship-fOr in
him we honor the man who has best illus
trated true American manhood. Our re-
joicing and his are increased, as we also
celebrate tonight the triumph of Demo
cratic principle for which he fought and
fell but two short years ago; and to COM
plete our joy and his We are permitted to
indulge in true Democratic enthusiasm
over the steadfastness and devotion to its
creed exhibited by our party, which, kno =
ing no encouragement, has fought to vic
tory in the peoples cause.
"Who can doubt our countrymen' appre-
citation of that trait, so well illustrated in
the character of Allen g. Thurman, which
prompted him throughout his long career,
at ali times and in all circumstances, and
without regard to personal consequences,
to do the things which his conscience and
judgment approved, and which seemed to
him to be in the interests of his country
and in accordance with his Democratic
faith? Who can now doubt that con-
science and courage point out the way to
public duty?
'If we entertain more solemn thoughts
on this occasion, LET them be concerning
the responsibility which awaits US, as our
fellow countrymen place in our keeping
their hopes and their trust. We shall fail
in our ohlioation IN them If we stihe con-