The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1901-10-03


credentials committee on a contest
for the seats of the Blair county
delegation. The Notification meet
ing in Philadelphia on Wednesday
brought these great events of the
past to mind. 1t was not because of
a bitter contention in the meeting
for there was none. 1t was for the
reason, however, that the same
hopefulness, the exact confidence,
the similar earnestness was notice.
able on every face. In fact a num-
Der of the distinguished leaders of
those days were present on this oc-
casion and as that splendid repres.
entative of pure democracy John
Denton Hancock of Franklin, The
nursery of great men" observed,
the old war horses invested the
affair with a peculiar interest.
There was all analogy, moreover,
i'll the intellectually Of those who
actively participated in the proceed
'ings. rhe speech of Hon. Lucian
w. Doty, of Westmoreland county,
notifying the condidates,of the honor
which with singular unanimity had
been bestowed on them was up to
the highest standard Of the best days
of Pennsylvania Democracy. 1t was
classical in the purity and force Of
its diction and one might we'll have
imagined that it was the voice of
the late Judge Black that was ex-
pressing in the purest English the
kindly message of the Democrats Of
the State to those upon whom a
great honor had been conferred.
Nor were the responses of the candi-
dates less worthy of consideration
Referring to similar event in which
he participated nineteen years ago
the distinguished jurist, Hon.\Har-
man Yerkes, said: "then as now
true Democracy feared not to taint
its loyalty to party principles by
waging the battle for better govern:
ment hand in hand with sincere and
independent Republicans against
the selfish oligarchy, fortified be-
hind an immense party majority,
which through two decades OF un-
bridled political license has abused
the confidence of great party"
1t was a magnificent scene that
was presented as the enthusiasm Of
the audience burst forth in response
to that sentiment. In the patriotic
vein he continued and at intervals
compelled the most enthusiastic ap-
plause. But it was not until near
the close of his address that the
depths Of enthusiasm were sounded.
"My only pledge" he declared, is
that if elected l will devote all my
strength and ability to a faithful
discharge of the duties of my office.
/ will obey and uphold the constitu-
tion," and the full significance Of
that pledge was appreciated by
every man i'll the hall. The in
strument which should be held
sacred by every public official has
neither been obeyed nor upheld in
recent years and as every man felt,
that with Yerkes the pledge will be
held inviolate to the last hour of his
life, there was such a storm of ap-
proval as had never before shaken
the old building in which it was ut
tered.
Representative Palm of Crawford
county was no less happy i'll accept
ing the nomination for State Treas.
urer Let us hope" he said,
that the time may soon come when
the honor of nomination to a high
Office in Pennsylvania shall not de-
pend entirely on the size OF the sal
ary attached and the chances OF be-
ing able to secure it, but rather on
the motives that animated those
who aspire to it." What a grand
consummation that will be when the
sordd impulses that makes public
trust species OF merchandise III
which men trade as hucksters deal
in wares in the market places. "The
issue in the coming campaign is so
plain, continued Mr.. Palm, that
a waytaring man though fool need
not misunderstood. " The platform
upon which we stand denounces ex-
travagance, bribery, perjury, legis-
lative robbery and political corrup-
ton of every sort. The platform o.
our opponents declares itself amused
at the efforts OF honest citizens to
make fraud, perjury and bribery
odious in the public sight" Is it
any wonder that such speeches un-
der such circumstances inspired en-
thusiasm and created hope?
The meeting was splendid in
every particular. 1t not only brought
together distinguished lot oI
Democrats but it inspired them with