The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1868-08-26

L |
State rights and centralizing uncon- t.
all powerat Washington.
This is as fatal to the liberty of the c.
citizens as was that other fatal to our II
left the Democratic u
party and took up arms against an b
ar..i,y and disorder. I now leave the p
.,ui!icau party and take up arms e
-.r...-n.. ,AIp!uuse.l 1
a,,>STuU.:GDS
,s.... .as l..e war came to end, !:
w..c. % dad with the dispersion of
the Confederate armies and surreu-
der Of their officers, there was press
ing demand for high craftsmanship
on the part of the political organiZa-
tion then holding control of the Gov
ernment, and this statesmanshiu
meant forbearance, forgiveness and
brotherly kindness. Had we con-
quered another people-had we over
run q foreign province, we might
have followed the course of war and
dictated punishment to the conquered.
But these were our own citizens
their country was part of our couA-
try-they were of our selves, and,
come veal, come woe,it is our destiny |
to win them if we wish to retain the |
Republic as it is and as our fathers
| destined il to be. Then our best poll
cy, may say our only policy, was
one of kindness. We should have
sought to heal the wounds, and quiet
. / Of -
san strife and deadly war. We might
have failed but il was our daty to try.
And there is that which responds to
The kindness of brave nature, that
YOU can always build upon. We had
conquered, we could afford to forgive.
We should then have been as generous
; as We had been courageous, and treat
Ing the brave men of the South like
men, we should have given them all
I, I their rights as citizens and said, come,
let US be brothers. r.s
That the South was prepared for
; submission to any reasonable terF4ls at
the close Of the war am prepard to
helieve. If any one doubts this, let
him read the report made by General
Grant to Andrew Johnson on return
e ing from the tour of inspection at the
= South, ordered by the acting Presi-
2 dent. am sorry that ] have no
= this report t. read nOW in support o
q nv position, Either General Gran
q - -1'neIy stupid or very dis
a was eAcee,.-- - is untrue. Hi
- honest, If that repU.. AZ eithe
followers will scarcely adm,
! supposition.
!, Instead of the statesmanship of love
f we had, in all its wrath, the partisan
q ship Of hate. We sought to degrade
the men wa had fought. and destroy
the very foundation of our Govern
I ment in our eagerness to punish
State lines We're wiped out and mill
iary districts formed aud put under
t;!% Control of men Ignorant of law.
and who squared their ACTIONS by the
regulations OF the barreck- room and
the drill. OF the same material courts
: were formed, organized 10 convict, and
property, liberty, and life itself, made
subject to the arbitrary will of a little.
mean, military desPot. States have.
in fact, ceased to exist. Why, gentle
men, 1t was but the other day that a
commission appointed by Congress
, went into Kentucky to investigate
! the characters of Congressman elected
elected from that State and report
upon the sort of voters that made
their constituents. They had the
same right to send committee to the
Fourth Congressional District of
Ohio, and DICTATE to you who should
be your representative, and the pro-
, cess by which you may become his
constituents. I raise my voice not
only IN behalf of the South, but for
all the States, and all the people. 1
protest against this usurpation, against
despotic Capitalization of power
, (ApplaUse.l | would have universal
amnesty and universal suffrage. l be-
| lleVe the white races are able 10 take
care of themselves, and if they are
mot, no legal disability can save them.
! With this change only, and it is one
OF the results Of the war, we could
not prevent, nor were We disposed to
prevent. " ould replace these States
precisely as they were before the war.
1t is the duty of the Democracy,
should it have power, to wipe out
! these so-called Acts of Rsconstruc-
ton, and dig down and bring to light
once more the old landmarks of the
fathers, (Loud applause This can be
done quickly and peaoeably, Fhank
God, we yet have the bailot-box and
the ballot, and If the American peo.
, pie can only awaken to reason, and
do their duty, the great work -the
real work-of reconstruction will be
accomplished. q - 3.
a PARTIES. rrt-
l return to you, nay old Democratic
: friends, to find still existing the old
Democratic principles that once made
/ US powerful and the same clear line
b. Of demarkatiQp that ran through the
! land, dividing the two political par
2 ties, yet exists. ! find still recognized
= the old doctrine that the only use of a
5 Government is to keep the peace, and
l the better sort is that which leaves
f the largest freedom of action to the
; citizen, 1t does not, therefore, seek
to Interfere with the laws of trade.
the religion OF the Church, or the Gus
toms of society. The Republican
5 party which is the successor Of the