Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1900-10-04
Democrats are Free to Choose.

Sthhupolht, W oHc eulbOI VI VIC
Venango Spectator, published at
Franklin:
If I understand it, the Demo-
cratic party had it's origin in the
contest between the principles of
Alexander Hamilton and Thomas
Jefferson. The former wished to
mould this government after the
forms of monarchy in every way
possible, while the latter wished to
rid it of every vestige of monarchy
and make it a pure democracy,
with no privileged classes, no gov
ernmental distinctions, but only
the will of the people the supreme
law, and equal power, as part of
that will, in each individual voter.
| also believe that the same princi-
pies are now as much at issue as
ever, and that the hope of this ma
tion is more than ever in the Dem
ocratic party.
For this reason | cannot give my
consent to sacrifice or weaken the
Democratic organization by any
make-shift to gain a position of
temporary duration and doubtful
advantage. I have seen many fu-
sions of discordant political ele-
ments organized by unprincipled
leaders, with no other object than
the temporary enjoyment of the
spoils of Office. / have seen the
old-fashioned Democrat who stood
by gold and silver as the only
money basis the Populist who
held that the money of the world
could stand on nothing and the
Prohibitionist who maintained that
all the principles of political sci
ence worth anything were involved
in the liquor license question, all
sandwiched into a bundle to boost
a trio or more of scheming politi-
clans into Office, and l have never
known the Democratic party to
fail to thereby sacrifice it's self-re-
spect and make many of its men,
bers lukewarm in its support.
At the present time our party
managers have made some kind of
an "unholy alliance" with Lewis
Emery, Jr., of Bradford, a very
rich man who has been ranked as
a Republican and who, like most
of the rich Republicans who want
office, is reported to be willing to
pay for getting it. They have thus
sought to give the Democratic vote
of this district to Emery for Con-
gress. 1t is not alleged that he has
one principle in common with the
Democratic party, yet we are prac-
tically ordered by our managers to
give him the solid Democratic vote.
Who has clothed these men with
such authority? Why have we not
IL candidate of our own? We have
candidates in Nenango county for
every other Office to be filled. Why
have we no candidate for Congress?
We have a full ticket for everything
from President to Jury Commits
sioner, except Congress. Why not
for Congress also? The time has
passed when this could be. done,
but the time is opportune for call
ing attention to the unauthorized,
not to say suicidal, action of GER
tain Democratic leaders, in refus-
ing to demand the candidacy of a
Democrat for Congress, and adding
insult to injury by assuming au-
thority to transfer the Democratic
voters as job lot to the support of
a Republican. If there is hope of
electing Democratic members of
the Legislature there is hope of
carrying the county for a Demo-
cratic candidate for Congress, and
having such candidate for Congress
would unite our party solid in sup
port of our ticket and strengthen
us in our professed principles. We
would have confidence in our lead
ers, and if defeated would preserve
our self respect and the respect of
our opponents.
1 have an abiding faith that the
evil times now upon us will pass !;
that the time will return when
worth shall have some hope in a
contest against wealth ; when edu-
Gated statesman like Senator Hoar,
of Massachusetts,, will not rank in
the Presidential presence second or
third after Mark Hanna, the pOlit-
ical purveyor of Ohio, and when
the principles of the Constitution
will again appear above the scum
of the whirlpool of corruption un-
der which they have been, it is
hoped, temporarily submerged.
With this result in view the Dem
ocratic party should maintain its
organization under all circum-
stances, and whether in victory or
defeat should always keep in form