The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-10-07

Judge RANNEY, being introduced Dy
The Chairman, Mr.. Nathan p. Payne,
addressed the meeting as follows:
FELLow-CITIzENs 1 have net at
tempted to make public address up
on political subjects now for long
time. come before you tonight un-
der the most discouraging circumstan-
ces. Like the rest of you, l am OBJ
liged to work for my living, and it SO
happens we are now in the midst of
our Courts, and I have been obliged
to speak nearly three hours to-day
am therefore completely exhausted,
and without the slightest preparation
to appear before you tonight. The
utmost that 1 shall attempt to do is to
give you my sentiments upon some
few matters of public concern which
l feel you and L would do well to
ponder upon. I-shall not attempt to
square my opinions with the opinions
of others, for have read so little on
political subjects lately that l hardly
know what others entertain. But l
know this, when we express freely our
views, and an opportunity is given to
canvass them together, we shall then
have better opportunity for ascer-
tanning who is right, and what is true
in the end. The only value of public
speaking, the only value of writing,
the only value of canyassing public
questions, is to enable men to compare
their views together, and if they are
honest, when they arrive at conclu-
sion it will be an honest conclusion,
and will ordinarily be right. APP
plause.l
citizens, we are in critical
condition. In my humble judgment
the country was never in a more crit
ical condition. 1t has passed through
the perils of long war, but questions
of peace, questions Of liberty, ques-
tions of equality, questions as to per-
petuation of our public institutions
meet us on every hand. They must
be fairly and fully solved by the
American people-solved right too,
or we are in great peril. Lying back
of all questions of governmental poll
cy, there is one consideration that,
must be attended to OF all systems of
policy will be unavailing to restore
the country to happiness ana prosper
ity. The fact is the country is in a
gulf of corruption, which underlies
everything, which moves everything,
and man can hardly say, in any sta
ton of public affairs, that he stands
.on solid ground. Stealing must be
stopped, mere plunderers upon the
public must be driven out as the mon
ey changers were driven out of the
Temple, or it is useless to talk about
Governmental policies one way or the
other.
What is the fact, my tellow-citizens
Somebody who has taken the trouble
to count them up tells US there is in
the employ of the Federal Govern
ment, 10000 office-holders-I think
that the number is understated rather
than overstated-in all sorts and con-
ditions, engaged in every department
of public service. AS CO INJECTED will
the Administration of this army OF
office-holders, everybody knows that
corruption has everywhere prevailed
During the war and during tht
time the public money was squander.
ed in every direction, an immense
public debt accumulated. One-third
OF one-half of the obligations of tho
Government arose out of mere larce'
nies upon the Government. But pass
ing that by for moment, because i
is patent to everybody, we come t.
those considerations which are upo1
US now. How Is this office-holdins
army constituted? Upon what prin
ciple are office-holders made now P
l don't know what General Grant ma,
have thought in bringing into hi
councils, the highest offices in the Gov
ernment-those who had conferred
immense gifts upon him, his relatives
and those with whom he is connected
in some way, OF with his family il
some way-I say don't know wha
may have been the motives that move,
him to confer those important place
upon persons who stood in that rela
ton to him, but can say to. you, m
fellow-citizens, that of all the PERM
cious examples ever set to the peopl
of this country none can compare wit
the action, i'll this respect, of the Pres
ident of the United States. Al
plause.] What is it but saying to a
men in minor situations-struggl
for place-why, that it is honorabl
and honest. There is the example Q
the President of the United States.
have the dispensation of office and t
the cheerful giver shall be given i
abundance. That is the tendency {
things, and whore the example is gi'
en- in such high quarters, what al
you to expect, or think, will be in IN
nor quarters? elf this thing can L
done in the green tree, what can W
. expect in the dry?" If this can
done by the President of the Unite
States and those standing immediat,
J, ly around him, what may be done b
Collectors, and Assessors, and the
: ten thousand subordinate officers P
My fellow citizens, what would hay
IS been thought of o President of tt
United States, i'll the carly stage I
our republic, who had received gif
and bestowed high offices therefor ?,
: Why, Was going to say, in the earl
a, and better days of the republic Il
public man who received large gif
= and in return bestowed high otfic
e upon the givers, would have consi
I'd cred himself degraded and disgrace
beyond redemption before the Amer