Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-11-14
SPEECH OF
MATTHIAS MARTIN, ESQ,
At the JolIification Meeting at the
West Front of the Capitol, Sat
urday Night, November o, 1867.

uruay Night, November D, 1867.
FELLOW CITIZENS: came here to-nigh
as listener, not as speaker; other gem
tlemen having been designated by the
Committee of Arrangements to do the
speaking 1t has been, of late years, more
my habit of speaking on the political
questions OF the day before the elections,
than at rejoicings over victories,-outside
of our own county and city we have had
but few victories over which to rejoice /;
but here in Columbus and Franklin coun
ty. during the darkest hours, the old Dem
ocratlc banner stood erect. But in the alb
sence of some of those designated to speak |
to us. and in obedience to your call will
in few words express to you my feelings |
at the result of the October and November
elections, in the several States.
We have great reason to rejoice; such
revolution as has taken place this Fall is |
seldom witnessed. When we met in Janu-
ary last and unanimously nominated our
valued friend and fellow citizen, Judge
Thurman, for Governor, it was regarded
by many as mere matter of form for the |
purpose of maintaining the organization
OF the party. l confess i was more SAN
guine than many of our friends. thought
that the time was at hand when the people
OF Ohio, as well as of the whole country,
would show by their votes that they were
tired of the misrule. and destructive legis-
lation of tue Radical element of the Re-
publican party, that had controlled the
legislation of the party. 1 was satisfied
there were unmistakable signs, visible
to the naked eye, in the political horizon of
a revolution in public sentiment and look
ing upon things as they were, l thought
could not be mistaken; but, on the other
hand, we had been so badly beaten year
after year, since 1860, that the stoutest
hearts had almost given up in despair, and
but for this feeling in the minds of so many
L T.
a triumphant majority. Yet the Democ-
racy resolved not to ''give up the ship"
Judge Thurman accepted the nomination
with a majority of 42,696 staring him in
the face, and entered the campaign with an
earnestness and confidence that strength
ened his friends and alarmed his political
adverSarieS, and conducted such a cam
paign, in conjunction with the very able
phalanx of Democratic speakers, as COM
manded the respect and admiration of all
the people, and obtained a substantial vic
tory for the party.
For myself, acknowledge was more
sanguine than many of our friends. did
think that Judge Thurman would be
elected, and that we would have a Demo-
cratic Legislature. l was mistaken in the
result for Governor little, but not in the
legislature. l confess i was led to this be-
lief by the indications around me in the
gallant old county of Franklin. l told
election he would have 2,610 majority in
Franklin county, and he had 2 655; but
while all did well, few other portions OF
the State did not quite come up to the
mark, and we were defeated bv less than
three thousand votes, leaving glorious
gain of nearly 10000 i'm one year.
My Democratic friends, it was not to be
that We should stand alone in this great
gain to the Democratic cause. Every State
that mas voted this fall has given unmis-
taxable evidence fthe decay of the Repub-
lican party. 1t was TO be expected; no
party could live long. and be sustained by
the people with such record. 1t was
true, they thought the Democratic party
was dead, and that consequently they had
nothing to fear from dead party; but, my
friends, if the Democratic party is dead it
is the liveliest corpse ever heard of. They
were mistaken. The Democratic party is
not dead. 1t may be defeated year alter !;
but it will never die while the people are
determined to maintain a Republican form
ofgovernment. When that is gone, if ever,
the people will consent to Monarchial or
Consolidated government. Then the Dem
ocratic party will die; it will be of no fur
ther use but not until then. 1t has lived
for over half century; parties, too numer-
GUS to mention, have contended with it for
the supremacy, and at times have been sue
cessful; but their lives have been short.
The Republican party, some ten or dozen
years oid,has lived two or three years longer
than the time usually allotted tor opposi-
tiOn parties to live, in consequence of the
power assumed by its leaders during the
war; but the day has arrived when, like all
other parties opposing the Democracy, it
must uie, without hope of resurrection
The handwriting is on the wall in letters
as large as the columns about this capitol.
1t makes no difference whether the candi-
date is Gen. Grant, Judge Chase or any
s.0thpr 10
man,-but the party and its principles
No party,-Democratic, Republican, or of
whatsoever names can be successful in the
next campaign with such a record as the
last two Congresses have made up tor the
Republican party. The people of all the
States have given unmistakable evidence
that they were tired and disgusted with
such legislation. Even old Massachusetts,
the never failing citadel of opposition
to the Democratic party, has nearly given
up the ghost, and fallen into line. 1t is
perhaps well that she has not entirely done
so; she may be left as monument of the
departed, as she always has been Of all
parties that have opposed the Democracy
She has stood fire and maintained her posi-
tion at the head of the Opposition phalanx
under all names and principles assumed by
that opposition; but the legislation of Con-
gress and the Legislature of Massachusetts,
have been so outrageous that even they
have given unmistakable signs of discon-
tent, and rebellion against the Republican
party. Now, my friends, if Massachusetts
gives up, what may be expected of other
States? When such men as Adams, Salt
enstall. Winthrop, of Massachusetts,, turn
| their backs on the Republican party and
| join the Democracy, then surely something
must be radically wrong.
New York, the Empire State, has re-
| sponded by $4,000 majority, and the grea,
| city of New York has given 6l000 major.
| ity, and left the once triumphant Repub
| lican party with but $4,000 votes in thai
great city. Why is this? 1t is because
the business men of that great metropolis
are tired of the foolish and suicidal legis.
lation of the Republican party, which
keeps this great people divided and enc
mics. They, as you, want the people of al
the States united; they want business re-
vived; they want the white people of the
Southern States to feel that we are one
| people, mutually dependent upon eacf
other. They want the people of the South
to assume the government of their re-
spective States under the Constitution O
the United States. They want the people
| of all the States once more to be repre-
sented in the Congress of the United
States; and, from indications, one yeal
more will bring these things about.
| 1t is useless to particularize. Tht
people OF all the States that have voteC
| this fall have recorded their disapprobation
of the present deplorable condition of oul
| country.
| Our Republican friends are now casting
about TOR a candidate for the Presidency
One portion Of them insist that it shall be
| Judge Chase, because he is known to be IN
favor of the most Radical policy, on the
suffrage question and all other matter,
tending to Africanize the South by Con-
gressional legislation, while some of the
most radical insist that he favors the same
measures for the North, Notwithstanding
the emphatic reputation by the people al
| the ballOt-bOX.