The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-01-17

not understand all that Jefferson wrote they saw and
knew what jackson did. Those who insisted upon
voting for Jackson after his death felt sure that
whether their candidate alive or dead, they
were voting the ticket Of true Democracy. The de-
voted political adhcrent of Jackson who, after his
DEATH became involved in a dispute to whether
his hero had gone to Heaven not. prompted
by Democratic instinct when he disposed OF the
question by declaring Il tell You, sir, that if An
drew Jackson has made up his mind TO go to
Heaven, you may depend upon it he's there The
single Democratic voter in more than one town
who year after year deposited his single Democratic
ballot undismayed by the number ofhis misguided
opponents thus discharged his political duty with
the utmost pride and satisfaction in his Jaeksonian
Democracy.
Democratic steadlastuess and enthusiasm and the
satisfaction arising from our party history and
traditions certainly ought not to be discouraged
But it is hardly safe for u.s. because profess the
true faith and can boast of distinguished political
ancestry to rely upon these things guarantees of
our present usefulness party organization, or to
regard their gloriication surely making the way
easy to the accomplishment of our political mis-
sion.
The Democratic party by intelligent study Of
present conditions must be prepared to meet all the
wants of the people as they arise, and to furnish
remedy for every threatening evil. We may well be
proud OF party lnSL4bSlsDlPs but w N'''44i'N
escape the duty which such membership imposes
upon u.s. to urge constantly upon fellow citizens
of this day and generation, the suthciency of the
principles of true Democracy for the protection OF
their rights and the promotion of their welfare and
happiness in all their present diverse conditions
and surroundings.
There should, of course, be no suggestion that a
departure from the time honored principles of our
party is necessary the attainment of these objects
on the contrary we should constantly congratulate
ourselves that our party creed is broad enough to
meet any emergency that can arise in the life OF
free nation.
Thus when we see the functions of government
used to enrich favored few at the expense of
the many, and see also its inevitable result
in the pinching privaton of the poor and the
profuse extravaganza of the rich; and when we see
in operation an unjust tariff which banishes from
many humble homes the comforts of life in order
that in the palaces OF wealth, luxury may more
abound we turn to our creed and find that ii e; =
Joins equal and exact justice to all men, Thea,
if we are well grounded in our political faith, we
will not be deceived. will we permit others to
| be deceived, by any plausible pretext or smooth
/ snphistry excusing the situation. For our answer
to them all we will point 10 the words which con-
denim such inequality aud injustice, as we prepare
for the encounter with wrong, armed with the
weapons of the Democracy.
| When we see our farmers in distress and know
that they paying the penalty of slothfulness
and mismanagement; when We see their long hours
of toll so poorly requied that the money lender eats
out their substance. while for everything they need
they pay tribute to the favorites of governmental
care we know that all this is far removed from the
| encouragement of agriculture which our creed
! commands We will not violate our political duty
by forgetting how well entitled our farmers are to
our best efforts for their restoration TO the indepen
dencc of former time and to the rewards of better
days
When we see the extravaganza ofpublic expendi
ture reaching the point of reckless waste and
the undeserved distribution of public money de
bauching its recipients, and by prenicious example
threatening the destruction of the love of frugaty
among our people, we will remember that "econo
my in the public expense" is an important article in
! the true Democratic faith.
| When we see our political adversarieS bent upon
| the passage of federal law, with the scarcely de-
MED purpose of perpetrating partisan supremacy,
| which inyades the States with election machinery
designed to promote federal interference with the
rights of the people in the localities concerned dis
crediting their honesty and fairness, and justly
arousing their jealousy of centralized power, we
will slubbornly resist such dangerous and revolu-
tionary scheme in obedience in pledge for "the
| rights
Under anti Democratic encouragement we have
seen n constantly increasing sellshness attach to
our political affairs. A departure from the sound
and safe theory that the people should support the
Government for the sake of the benefits resulting to
| all, has bred a sentiment manifesting itself with
astounding boldness, that the Government may be
enlisted in the furtherance and advantage Of pri-
vate interests through their willing agents in pub
| lie place. such an abandonment OF the idea of
patriotic political action the part of these inter
ess has naturally led to an estimate of the peoples
franchise so degrading that it has been openly aud
palpahly debauched for the promotion of selfish
schemes Money is invested in the purchase Of
votes with the deliberate calculation that it will
yield profitable return in results advantageous to
the investor. Another crime akin to this in motive
and design is the intimidation by employers of the
voters dependent upon them for work aud bread.
Nothing could be more hateful to true and gen
uine Democracy than such offences against free
institutions. In several of the States the honest
sentiment of the party has asserted ITSELF in the
support ofevery plan proposed for the rectifeaton
of this terrible wrong. To fail in such support
would be to violate that principle in the creed of
true Democracy which commands "a Jealous care
of the right of election by the people, for certainly
10 one can claim hat sunrages purchased or cast
under the stress of threat and intimidation repre-
sent the right of election by the people.
Since free and unpoluted ballot must be conee-
ded as absolutely essential to the maintenance of
our free institutions, may, perhaps be permitted
to express the hope that the State of Pennsylvania
will not long remain behind her sister States in
adopting an effective plan TO protect her peoples
suffrage. In any event the Democracy of the State
can find no justification in party principle, nor in
party traditions, nor in just apprehension of
10 duf for a fai 10
and advocate ballot reform.
have thus far attempted to state some of the
principles of true Democracy and their application
to present conditions Their enduring character
and their constant influence upon those who profess
our faith have also been suggested. If l were now
asked why they have endured and why they
have been invincible, should reply in the words
of the sentiment to which 1 respond -They are
enduring because they are right and iuyincible
because they are just"
believe that among our people the ideas which
endure and which inspire warm attachment and
devotion those having some elements which ap-
peal to the moral sense. When men are satisfied
that principle is morally right, they become its
adherants for all time. There is sometimes a dis
couraging distance between what our fellow
countrymen believe and what they do in such
case, but their action in accordance with their be-
lief may always be confidently expected in good
time. A government for the people and by the peo |
pie is eyerlastingly right As surely this is true
surely is it true that party principles which adj
yoeate the absolute equality of American manhood |
and an equal participation by all the people in the
management of their government and in the benefit /
and protection which 1t affords are also right Here
is common ground where the best educated thought {
and reason may meet the most impulsive and in
ylinctiyc AmeTicanism. II Is right That every man