Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-05-21
Ohio Democracy Illustrated.

ONCE In ten years the people of Ohio
try the experiment of electing a Demo-
cratic Legislature 1t is dear concession
TO the party of reaction and despotism,
but Its results are ctfectual, so far AZ salts
lying the public mind rs to the quality of
the legislation TO be expected from such a
source is concerned IL serves the rising
generation as an awful example, and II
may be that once in decade is not too
often to enforce the lesson. In the case
OF the General Assembly which has ad.
iourned, the lesson has been costly one,
and ought to be well conned by the tax.
payers. Our Columbus correspondent
mentions the least item of expense in
giving the direct outlay of mileage and
per dfelp which reached the unprecedented
amount OF over quarter of million dol.
lars-or tritle less than one hundred per
cent increase on that of its Republican
predecessor of 1867 We have had oc,
casion heretofore to oommeAt on the
character of it, visible admixture and
other distrauohising acts which were such
enormities upon the statute book that the
Supreme Court set them aside for glaring
unconstitutiOnality. Instead of repeating
this infamous legislation at the adjourned
session, they went further, and while they
utterly ignored the gross abuses of the
elective Franchise which had been perpe.
trated during the canvass of 1868 by means
OF FRAUDULENT naturalization papers, they
sought TO wreak their paltry and vindic-
tive spite upon an innocent class by pre-
scribiDg penalties of unheard-of severity
for such infractions of the law by colored
citizens as were only punished in the mild.
est form when committed by others. Thus,
while assuming the name Democratic,
they put on record an unprecedented dis
unction in the penalties prescribed for an
ipfraction of the same law by different
classes.
In bringing the power of the party eau.
Gus to bear in favor of Il law changing the
basis Of representation in the State Board
OF Agriculture, and even passing a bill
for that purpose through the House, which
only failed otsuccess in the Senate for want
OF time, they made the first attempt known
70 the legislation of our State, to give a
partisan bias to the Board.
BY passing a law to tax the bonds OF
the State Of Ohio, they deliberately violat-
% q solemn agreement made with the
creoitors OF the State, and by extending
this act TO include the bonds of the United
States exempted from State taxation by
acts Of Congress, sustained and enforced
by the highest judicial tribunals in the
land, they place themselves on the record
as repudiators of the most solemn oblipa.
uons, and enable even the least obseryant
20 see what might be expected if the party
doing this were entrusted with the Nation,
a Government The highest possible eyi
dence OF the utter disregard of the Demo
cratic party for the plighted faith of tn,
State and Nation was thus given
by this act they again exhibit the utter
reckiessness OF the party which committed
1t OF the Interests OF the middling and lower
classes OF society. The tax payer is re.
quired 10 list the amount of bonds for
taxation which have been declared by the
highest authority exempt from taxation
The large holders of bonds, such as bank.
ere, brokers, moneyed men living in easy
competency and Others who have invested
considerable amounts in bonds, are ex
pected to find ready immunity from this
democratic law, just as on a former oc.
casion the proprietors of the leading Demo.
cratic Journal Of the State escaped the
tAxAuon OF several bushels of greenhacks
put the soldiers widow and the every day
iAporer who happen 10 have a few hun
oreds saved by IN national securities car
not afford TO contest with the great Stat,
OF ONO by expensive litigation, ana they
D - NA viz bNAAdn III lull. IDn
IL the kind of protection which the so
called Democratic party gives the mass O
the people, much as the wolf protects tn,
lamb.
We might extend the catalogue, but tn,
ecA We have mentioned viii do As sam
pies An Tor party capital and .nothinI
ioi the people has been The practical mottS
oi inc majority IN ue Fifty eighth 0ener
al Assembly of Ohio. The members nav,
been frequently complimented for ihei
personal character and fair talents w,
do not propose 10 attack either. MANY -
them We know personally 10 be air-gniud
ed mentn everything but politics, and theI
ottclal history affords a strong llustrAtio
OF how utterly pQwerless of resistance ar
individual virtue and ability in men elec
cd by the Bourbon Democracy 10 abii
the action OF Democratic caucus. w
have seen, dUrihg tue three sessions whic
IL pleased the majority 10 Thold-oue ,
which was ordered for the ayowed pul
pose OF "impeaching Congress - tbs
all the character for independence whic
. Democratic candidate nominated Id
availability may seem 70 possess viii
awaiting the snffrages of his neighbol
disappears forever from view when h
takes his official seat, and he becomes onl
. link in me Democratic caueus-chai