, 1840-10-10
AN ADDRESS
To the Young Wen Of Ohio.

The state convention of the Democratic
Young Men of Ohio assembled at Mt. YER
non, ask leave respectfully. vet earnestly
to call your attention TO the state "i our
public affairs. We are in the midst ot n po-
liticaI contest of unexampei violence IN the
history of the republic at peace with all the
world, blessed with a harvest As abundant
as ever gladened the heart of the iabnrluos
husbandman. overshadowed and protected
by the freeeSt constitution upon earth. the
nation is vet agita.ed. deeply agitlied. from
one extremity of the country TO the other
In view of this scene of extraordinary COM
motion, it becomes US. as citizens ot the
United States as descendants OF those who
periIed their all to found a government on
the principle of equal rights. as Young men.
who already participate IN the exercise oil
political power; and upon whom that power
must ere long chiefly devolve. to seriously
inquire what is the cause Of this unparalleled
strife. Oar opponents boldly charge II upon
the administration of the General Govern
ment.
To their vivid imlrinatinns NJ rtin Van
Buren, would seem to be the prolific cause o.
all the evils that belal this widely extended
republic. His name is their stereotyped reply
whenever the source of misfortune Is sought,
But, fellow-citizens. is il true that 10 the dem
ocratic administration Of your choice are To
be Justly attributed the difficulties under
which we lahor. II so. the acts that have
produced these difficulties could surely be
pointed out. And vet what tongue OF the
thousands daily engaged in denouncIng the
administration. has ventured to do 50! IL
what PARTICULAR has the administration viola
ted the rights of a single citizen? Nha
law has been passed. BY the democratic pr
tv, to take from any man the proceeds OF hI
toll. or stint the rewards Of his Industry
No. fellow citizens, the cause Of these dIttl
cult,es. the source OF this strife. instead o
being traced to anv measure Of the state o
the General Administration are to be 'oun'
in the fact, that the federal party are once
more struggling for power with the energy
and desperation of the last and only hope
U~nrebuked by the repeated decisions OF tn
popular will for more than forty years, they
still alarm. agi,ate and conyuIse the nation
with their unbounded aspirations Tor poiItI
cal dominion. The sam men. who de
nounced Jefferson as Il jacodln and jackson
as a tyrant. now stigmatiSe Van Buren, a
an enemy of the American people. In ihis
thew are true to their ancient vocation.-
What measure of Jefferson did they ever up
prove? What act of president Jackson dl
thew ever fail to condemn? To secure theI
hostility to any system or law. II has ont.
been necessary that il receive the sanctIol
of a democratic administration. We are not
therefore, to be surprised al the bitter feeling
manifested towards our patriotic Chief ma
ristrate, or at the iudiscriminate COndemna
ton of all his acts. no matter how neceSshr,
for the public service or paipabiy beneiIcra
to the people at large. And now follower
zens, we propose to review, as fully as tn
brief limits of this address will permit, tn
plan Of operations adopted, and some of III
various means employed by the leaders G
the federal party, TO wrest your governmeu
from lis democratic basis, and rear the struC
ture of federalism in its stead. We say, tn
plan adopted by the federal leaders, for it
not our intention, much less Our desire, I
condemn, with indiscriminate censure, a
who serve to fill up the ranks of the party in o.
position. While we speak, with the boldnes
of truth in the mouths Of freemen, 1t shall
our effort to do Justice to all.
On the 4th Of March, 1897, Martin Va
Buren, was inaugurated as President of tn
United States. In the succeeding month
May, during the recess of Congress, an
before the new administration had perforne
any act that could prejudicialIy affect ther
the banks of the Union, with scarcely a si
gle exception, suspended specie payment
Apartial resumption took place in the follow
ing year to be followed in 1883, by anothe
though less general suspension. .
se But notwithstanding this unfortunate d
rangement of our monetary affairs, commo
tiles and labor Of the country continued
command the highest prices paid since Il
close Of the war. The products OF the 81