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

d pidCG Wuef0 lHG llOuilndLIOH 10 S4uif-
alent to an election. What docs he
have to say in order to secure the
He says to A. and B,
who belong to his party, g Struggle
for me; do your utmost for me, and |
will take care of you and yours.
His own family and kindred are pro-
yided for; then comes in those fol-
lowers for the loaves and fishes, who
have helped to get him into the place.
Then, fellow citizens, what do you
expect when they get into the place?
They have got into possession of the
spoits trey are. receiving its emolu-
ments. How does that member of
Congress stand when the country talks
Of cutting down salaries and lessening
taxation? Why, he must look out for
his own household and particular
friends. To say less shall be paid to
ofiice-holders is just simply to say that
his friends will get less from the rev.
enue collected by the Government.
But, my friends, ] did not intend to
speak upon this great feature of our
politics-the corruptions of the times; /;
but do say that l feel that all ques-
tions of mere governmental policy
will become utterly useless unless
some radical change is made in re-
spect to the corruptions i'll which the
Government has been indulging. You
honest men must stop the depreda-
tions upon the public treasury in eve
cry form. | see it stated that the Re
publican party isentitled to very great
credit because they have passed law
giving homestead to- every man.
My God They opposed it just as
long as they could, and l always sup
posed that the Democrats having con-
tended for it. as long as they could,
it may be said that it originated with
them.
They will give you homesteads but
where are they going TO get them p
After few years where are the poor
men of the country to go to find a
homestead /? Why, my friends, Con-
gress for the past few years has abso-
lutely given away the richest public
lands under the face of God AL
mighty's heavens to, the railroads and
other. stupendous polies-more
territory than=is contained in the boun-
daries of France, containing popula-
ton of thirty-six millions [applause. ]
Yes: did you ever consider, my fell
ow-citizens, where you are drifting
Up to the present time the poor man
could travel off into the West, and for
very small amount of money, settle
on piece of land of 160 acres that is
eqnallin fertility to that of the valley
of tile Nile; but how long is that go
ing to last? We have already gone
through to the Desert-to that great
plain which lies on this side of the
Rocky Mountains. There has been
alternate sections of 40 miles wide
cut out of that domain for the whole
length of the road and given to the
railroad. In addition to that. those
men who voted immense tracts to
those railroads have been careful to
get a slice for themselves located
along the railroad lines, so that when
men in public life have taken of the
government domains all that are
worth having, you will find yourselves
compelled to buy of land 1nonopoli,
zers OF stay and work for some one
else in the older parts of the country
where the poor man finds it imp6ssi
BILE to provide himself farm. Ny
citizens, l wish I had the time
and figures at hand to show you. how
immensely profiigate has been the ac
tion. of the government in squander
ing the public domain, as well as tht
public money-running the country
in debt nearly S3,O00O0O,oO0. The!
have at the same time given away t.
corporations nearly all 1.-THE domain o
the United States worth having. Tha
is,a fact, and that is the thing to b.
looked into by the American people
1t is pretty late day to stop it now
but it must be stopped. I have onl!
time to go over very briefly with few
of the public questions to which th'
public mind is directed. L shall at
tempt to do no more than simply tc
state few facts that we may bestoN
reflections upon.
THE FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT.
The Congress of the United States
in 1859, originated an amendment t.
the Constitution of the United States
which provides that neither the Fed
eralanor1 State Government Shal
abriage the right of any citizen of til
Bnied States5to ,yoteSon eaccount. o
race, color, or presiods condition o
serYitudc, and the7second section Q
| that7amendment which is proposed t
the people ofthe United States, pro
vides that Congress can carry this al
ticle, into effect by appropriate legis
lation.
I.say to you, my fellow citizens, tina
| there never was a baser fraud i'm
{ posed upon the people of the Unite
: States than that amendment. ! don
2 care, for this purpose, whether
: would be desirable for the States t
e enlarge the rights of suffrage or not
e I say the amendment itself is vi
e lainous fraud. You think this
strong language, my fellow-cltizens.-
: l admit l must have strong reasons t
Y support it.. What is it? The powe
r was given to the Federal Congress t
= originate amendments, and then sen
e them to the States for ratification. A
c a matter Of course it was expected t
f be, and designed and voted for, wit
s some reference to the views of the
: constituents. Congress, in Februar
Y 1869, goes to work and votes for TIL
e amendment. Every Republican men