The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1869-09-08
Gen. ROseernns, Letter.
san FRANCIsOo, CALIFORNIA, }
Aug. Sth, 1869. }

aug OlAg 4OOOs
GENTLEMEN On my arrival in this city,
returning home from Mexico, Mayor Nc
Coppin, Hon. Samuel ButterwOrth and
Judge McCOrkle, presented me your let
ter and very friendly notes from Senators
Thurman and Casserly, announcing my
unanimous nomination by the Democracy
of Ohio, as their candidate for Governor
in the pending electoral canvass for State
officers, and 1 have carefully read and con-
sideIed them.
have likewise conversed with Gov.
Haight, who takes great interest in the con-
sOlIdaiiOn of the Democratic organization
in Ohio, on that basis of constitutional
freedom and progress which, in the past,
gave unity to . party that has governed the
country for more than two thirds OF the
period of our national existence, and orig
mated, or carried into successful execution
nearly all the great measures which form
epOchs epochs In our history.
| Grateful for the hOnor. of this nOminA>
| ton by the Democracy of my native State.
much regret that imperious duties COM
! pei me to decline the canvass, as l tele>
| graphed you yesterday.
Yielding to none in sincere devotion to
| the Democratic representative government,
of which 1 consider your own the best
model the world has yet seen, At nearly,
with some knowledge of men, and some
| experience in governing them, am still 4
Democrat, from study, conviction, and :
sentiment of brotherhood with my fellow
men.
1 therefore deem it a duty, under the
| circumstances of this nomination, to make
few suggestions as to the fundamental
| principles which, I think, underlie every
local Democratic platform .I
What of old gave the Democratic party
in the United States its prestige and spirit
was its profound faith IN the capacity Of
man for self government and, progress,
under Institutions based on the great prin-
ciples of liberty, fraternity and equality be-
fore the law, and its courage in carrying
the logic of its faith INTO action. Themes
arose that discipline, order and progressive
originality which have marked its history,
and made its victorious banner the symeO
of hope to lovers OF freedom at home an6
abroad, while in the nature of things, il
became the rallyIng point of Office seekers
and political AdVenturers, whose timid anc
time serving counsels somstimes impaired
the energy of its action, and prevented the
vigorous development of its principles.
But after a great civil war, which hal
changed the face of politics, the instinc
tive Democracy of the American people
remains, and the events of the war have
increased its confidence in free institutions
and in the capacity of the people to adap
them to the exigencies of q national life
In spite of dreamers after imperialism o.
consolidation; in spite OF those whose only
political principles are the apparent expe
diencies of the hour, who, knowing tha
civilized man mast have government, ar
always contriVing tricks and schemes Il
, make themselves the favored few, OrdaiI
!. to govern and be paid for tin spite o
those Wh0s consider it = weak and feelini
. experiment, the heart of the great body O
our people beats Walmly, and its judgmen
! moves instinct with it's old Democrat
feelings and convictions.
Appeals should therefore be made t.
/ these instincts and convictions by asserting
, fundamental principles which ought +
! govern the future development of this grea
and free country, and at the proper time
and places, announcing such measures o
policy based on them as the exigencies o
tho nations life and action may require.
The country requires, and tee Demo
cratic party ought to be, party of prIn-
cIple, party of life, of action and of pro
gress. Fossils and fault finders do no
/ properly belong to the party, and, if founl
|
l Leaving to its opponents, of all shade
! andgrades, all narrow and sectional ground
all monopolies and faVoritism based o.
, class, creed, RACE, color, or National ori
gin, the Democratic party of the Unite'
states ought to hold high the banner o
universal freedom, impartial justice, "G11'
equality before The Ldi1' of all who liy
beneath the flag of our country.
A fact Of our history, expressed on ou
coat of arms by the words, 'tE Pluribu
Unum, many IN one, is that we hAv
. grown "mAny' distinct, substantially, self
, governing communities, under "one'
country or general sovereignty. To ceas
to be many, or,One, Rolld interrupt thi
law of our historic life. The self govern
, ment of the people by States, and the uAi
| ty of the nation are essential laws of on
: past growth, and life of which our writtel
Constitution is but the formal expression
and must be fundamental with the Nation
al Democracy, whose policy must be broa
and wise enough to maintain the one with
out weakening the other.
1t is the combined action of these tw
principles, which gives our democratic rep
resentatiVe system its power of expansion
and makes its work, to the wonder and ad
miratiOn of European statesmen and phi
| lOsophers. Leaving the right of self gov
| ernment to the people, and removing froI
: the States all the burdeds of armies, ne
=. Vies, lines of fOrtifcahons, diplomatic rep
: resentatiVes, coinage, postal systems, an
, that host of officials which substracts from
productive industry and devour its product
: in the States of Europe, it frees commerc
:. and travel from varying standards Q
, ! weights, measures and values, from Stat
! tariffs, passports and spying officislism
and provides that the citizens of one Stat
may obtain redress or payment of claim
from those of another, without the intel
minable operations and delays of diploms
= cy, by the Intervention of courts of law.
: Based on these laws of our life an
n | growth, and repudiating tho doctrine this
might makes right, American DemOcrac
holds lhat liberty consists in the obedienc
of all to Just law; that these laws shoul
be the feWest and simplest possible; leaY
9 ing the utmost individual freedom of tho
Il and action consistent with equal rights an
Q impartial justice, and where individual &C
!. ton must be regulated by law, seeking a
, always the greatest good to the creates
: number .
This Is the Democracy believe in, an
to which l am proud to belong.
Permit me, therefore, to indicate, anon
the measures called for by the present el
igencies. the following, in reference 10
D Our Public Debt;
d Currency;
4 Revenue and Protection;
Glass Legislation;
Offices and Tenures
Executive Patronage;
Suffrage;
(. And the Caucus System. ......
r The enormous interest On mr. nuhI
J. debt is producing the most fearful inequa
tiles in the distribution of capital, bringir
the Government into the money market
:, borrower, at an average of III per Gel
!. premium, say 80 on the coin, exemptic
. 2 40 from taxation IL so per cent
= compete with the private borrowers, ar
u moreover, giving to bankers holding
bonds, not only the interest but the rig
, tn issne notes on their credit and use the