Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1869-09-08
UolitiGal.
GENERAL ROsECRANs LRTTER.
DeclininE the Democratic NOmin al ON
Tor Governor OF Ohio.

hon. Oaml BuUerWOrln anu JUuSe MIC
Corkle, presented me your letter and very
friendly notes from Senators Thurman and
Casserly, announcing my unanimous nomi-
nation by the Democracy of Ohio as their
candidate for Governor in the pending cleo
toral canvass for State officers, and have
carefully read and considered them. |
have likewise conyersed with Gov. Haight,
who takes great interest in the consolida-
ton of the Democratic organization in Ohio
on that basis of constitutional freedom and
progress which, in the past, gave unity to
o party that has governed the country for
more than two-thirds of the period of our
national existence, and originated, or car.
ried into successful execution, nearly all the
great measures which form epochs in our
history
Grateful for the honor OF this nomination
by the Democracy of my native state,
much regret that imperious duties compel
me to decline the canvass, as / teIegraphed
You yesterday.
Yielding to none in sincere devotion to
Democratic representative government, Of
which consider our own the best model
the world has yet seen, Mt nearly fifty, With
some knowledge of men and some expert
ence in governing them, am still q Demo
crat from study, conviction, and senti'
ment Of brotherhood with my iellow-men,
], therefore, deem ii duty, under tho cir
cumstances of this nomination, to make O
few suggestions as to the fundamental prin.
ciples which, / think, ought to underlie
every local democratic platform.
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 un-
der institutions based on the great princi.
pies of liberty, fraternity and equality be-
fore the law, and its courage in carrying
the logic of its faith into action. Hence
arose that discipline, order and progressive
originality which have marked its history
and made its victorious banner the symbol
of hope to lovers Of freedom at home and
abroad, while in the nature of things il
became the rallying point of office-seekers,
whose tjmid and time-selving counsels
sometimes impaired the energy Of its
action and prevented the vigorous devel-
opment its principles.
But after great civil war, which has
changed TIE face of politics, the instructive
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 adapt them
to the exigencies of national life. In spite
of dreamers after imperialism OF consolida-
tion; in spite of those whose only political
principles are the apparent exigencies OF
the hour, who, knowing that civilized man
must have government are always contriy-
ing tricks and schemesto make themselves
the favored few ordained to govern, and be
paid forit; in spite of those who consider
it weak and failing experiment. the heart
of the great body of our people beats
| warmly, and its judgment moves instinct
with its old democratic feelirgsan convic-
tions.
Appeal should, therefore, be made to
these instincts and convictions by assert
ing fundamental principles which ought
to govern the future developments Of this
great and free country, end at the proper
times and places announcing such meas
ures of policy based on them as the ext
gencies Of the nations life and action may
require.
The country requires, and the democratic
party ought to be party of principle, O
party of life, of action and of progress
''Fossils" and fault-6nders do not properly
belong to the party, and, if found in il
ought to go on the retired list
Leaving to It's opponents Of all sbadesnnd
grades all narrow and sectional grounds,
all monopolies and favoritism based on
class, creed, race, color or national origin,
the democratic party of the United States
ought to hold high the banner of universal
freedom impartial justice and equality
before the law of all who live beneath the
flag of our country.
4 fact of our history, expressed on oul
coat of arms by the words E Plwib,ls
Unun-many in one--is that we have
grown 'many" distinct substantially self
governing communities under "one" coun-
try or general sovereignty. To cease to be
"many," or to be 'one," would interrupt
this law of our historic lie. The self-gov.
ernment of the people by States and the
unity of the nation are essential laws Of
our past growth of life, of which our writ.
ten Constitution is but the formed expires.
sion, and must be fundamental with the
National Democracy, whose policy must be
broad enough and wide enough to maintain
the one without weakening tho other,
1t is tho combined action of these two
principles which gives our democratic rep.
resentative system its power Of expansion,
and makes it work to the wonder and ad
miration Of European statesmen and phi
losophers. Leaving the rights of self-gov
eminent to the peope and removing from
the States all the burdens of armies, ma
vies, lines of Notifications, diplomatic rep
resentatives, coinage, postal systems, and
that host OF officials which substract from
productive industry and devour its pro-
ducts in the States Of Europe; it frees com.
merce and travel from varying standards Of
weights, measures and values, from State
tariffs, passports and spying officialism, and
provides that the citizens Of one State may
obtain redress or payment of claims from
those of another, without the intermediate
operations and delays Of. diplomacy by the
Intervention of courts Of law.
Based on these laws of our life ani
growth, and repudiating the doctrine thai
"might makes right, American democracy
holds that liberty consists in the obedi
ence of all Just laws. That these lawi
should be the fewest and dsimplest possible
leaving the utmost individual freedom o
thought and action consistent with equa
rights and impartial justice, and where in
dividual action must be regulated by laws
seeking always :" the greatest good to tn,
Greatest number"
This is the democracy believe in, ant
to which am proud to belong.
Permit me, therefore, to include among
the measures called for by the present ex
igencies, the following, in reference TO- ou
public debt; currency; revenue and prOtec
ton class legislation Office and tenures
executive patronage; suffrage, and the eau
Gus system:
/. The enormous interest on our publi
debt is producing the most fearful Unequal
tiles in the distribution Of capital, bringin,
the Government into the market as Dor
rover at an average Of III per cent. pc
annum currency interest 1880 per cent.
premium on the coin so, exemption from
taxation 2a011:5O per cent to compel
with private borrowers, and, moreover, giy
ing to bankers, holding its bonds, not onl