Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1869-08-04
a RepMOticGa's Opi1siOn Of
the Republican Party.
Col. .DOnn Piats's 4th Of July Ora
ticn.

Xenia, Ohio, by nm oration in which he declared
HIS independence Of tho dominant party leaders,
and bis disgust at the marmpr in which the Gov.
ernment is now conducted by corrupt Radical
demagogues, in the following style:
There are two disturbing elements, sense
less, Boosting, irritating elements, would
like to geo suppressed. The one is the
New England element, that is snid to have
come over in the MayAower, that modern
ark that carried all that was Ileft of vir-
tuous hum.nity; and the other is the
chiyalry Of the South, that, originating in
Virginia has spread over half our oonii-
nent, and makes itself obnoxious to all
the world. Now, il one win sit down to
o calm, impartial study ofhistory, he will
find that tho Purltaus that settled New
England were narrow minded bigos that
fleeing from persecution in Europe, went
to prosecuting the moment they landed,
while the boaslcd chiyalry of the South
dates its origin from penal sett lements or
colonies made up OF rogues who fled from
home to escape from punishment, or to
avoid conviction. II we can establish
these two important fnots, we have taken
the wind from two.thirds of the Fourth Of
July orations. II is bad~wind, on east
wind and tho sooner we have done with
it the better, do not know that the fact
is anything to boast Of; it is certainly
one not 10 be ashamed of, that our fore
fathers were humble laborers who sought
in the wilds Of America for homes in
which to better their condition. But it is
q fact we must recognize il we give this
day its pure significance and better celc-
bration. When Jefferson penned the i'm
mortal word that you have but now heard
read; that "all men are born equal,'' he
meant to assert that no accident Of birth
or wretchedness Of poverty could deprive
q man of his rights as o citizen. Is car
ries in 1t the great truth that all honest
toll is honorable, and puts TO shame the
boasts Of ancestry, whether they come
from the rock bound coast or New Eng
land, or the ignorant and somewhat bru.
tai chivalry of the South. Toiling in the
wilderness, our forefathers were not trana-
lated into the purest, bravest and great
est men Of the earth, but they we're placed
go as to think over and justly consider
certain theoretical truths, and when the
proper time came they were SO far removed
from the influences Of societies and gov
ernments worn into grooves, that they
could reduce their theories to practice,
and give the world in brief their basis Of
a government.
The fathers, in creating our govern
ment, told us that its success depended on
the virtue and intelligence Of the citizens
We have wisely dropped the first qualif-
cation, and run on the intelligence. | say
wisely, for there seems to be such sing.
ular lack Of the article that, if it were
necessary, our free government would
come to an untimely end. Fortunately,
we have intelligence left US, and have,
there fore, made tho school-master our
sheet anchor. sLetstheA people only read
and write, and we are safe. Let common
schools. abound and flourish and the con-
stitution is secure. Now, as there is
nothing in the mere fact of being able to
read and write that will keep man from
stealing or lying, or cause him TO regard
the right Of others. fear our founda'
ton intelligence is rather unsubstautial.
You must not understand me, my fellow
citizens, rs advocating any other form Of
government than our own, as it came from
the hands Of the Fathers. an only
striving to show you how far we have de-
parted from the landmarks and founda-
lons prepared by the authors of the Ro.
public. If you or 1 can not go TO the
polls without danger Of being shot or
knocked dOwn-if my property is render
ed insecure by unjust legislation and une-
quail taxation-if dare not express an
opinion unless that opinion is in accord.
ance with the governing element, our
boasted freedom exists only in name, and
our SO called Republic is curse and q
mockery. We can have Dictator and
call him President, or the majority we
can have d0spOtism and call 1t demoC
racy. Names are nothing; it is the sub
stance | look to and strive 10 possess
Last fall o distinguished journalist sent
me to Washington, with instructions to
look impartially at the transactions there,
and write the truth, regardless Of conse
quences, l did my best 10 comply with his
request. l strove to lift myself above
partisan considerations and feelings, and
give to print a fair statement of oil that
could bo seen. say it now, as wrote it
then, with sickened heart, that we have
the most corrupt government in the world
1t is ruu by rings, There Is no moneyed
interest in the land that is without lis
ring in Washington, They fill the hotels
throng tho avenues, and crowd the lebbies
The old Greek with his fabled lantern
wou ID die exhausted in his search for one
honest man. | would exhaust NY hour
ana your patience were TO attempt even
to enumerate these interests. We have
the railroad rings, land jobbing rings,
the Indian Bureau rings, whisky rings,
the protection ringt, that branch off into
every conceivable direction. And they
were intriguing, oaucusing, boring and,
through wine and women, batting without
cessation.
Not the least dshcartening part Of all
this 10 to be found in The utter indiifer-
once with which the public at large regard
all this. 1t is no longer shame to steal.
It has ceased 10 be dishonor 10 defrdud,
| saw Senators who came to Washington
with scarcely money enough TO pay board
ing house bills, rolling over the street in
splendid equipages and entertaining So
ciety in palNtial residences. They are now
and not only tolerated but
followed, fiattercd, sought and sued BY
men and women who would be honest
wero Il tho fashion TO affect that virtue,
and If you turn frOn men who have made
their fortunes out Of their placos IL is TO
stare Of men who bought their way in.--
These Senatorial chairs are put up at
auction, aud knocked down, TO the highest
bidders. The longest purse brains the
opponent, and the Hon. IngoL or The Hon
stalks in with just brains
enough to make up, through a sale Of votes.
tho money lie has expended in securing
his seat. 0lm
Al tho risk Of offending some over sen
sitive people, will call your attention TO
. fact that is becoming every day more
evident to the philosophical observer, For
many years our country was TO the labor
Dr. che Aapp lest home known 10 humanity
Tho abaenoe of debt the CONSEQUENT liaht