The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1871-01-26
sPHHCH OF
JOHN M'SWEENY ESQ.,,
IN RESPONSE TO THE TOAST TO 1.-THE
DEMOCRATIC PATTY" AT THE
WOOSTER FESTIVAL.

IN NKESRONSE To THE TOAST IO -s1AI
DEMOCRATIC PARTY AT THE
WOOSTER FESTIVAL.
AT the Wooster Jacksonian celebra.
ton, John McSweeny was put down
to answer to the toast in honor of the
Democratic party. We make this ex.
tract, which is characterized by the
speakers accustomed rim: 94-
''The days of glorious integrity
among our statesmen appear to have
gone by. There was time when oul
statesmen-Madison Jefferson, Jack.
/ son-were pure and poor. Now graf
is the game from e. S. Grant-U. S.
the unparalleled sponge [applause and
| laughter clear down to the lowest
spawn that sticks beer barrel with 8
| revenue stamp it is all sponge and
grab. Renewed laughter and loud
APPLAUSE voice, Hit ;em again."
| Certainly, amt half through with
them yet. And now, sir, in the midst
ef taxation, i'll the midst of revenue
stamps clinging TO US like the shirt oi
Nemesis, all over taxes from our head
! to our feet, we go ahead of British
taxation. which was forcibly described
| by an English statesman. TheiI
window panes were taxed, he said
their outgoing were taxed and theiI
incoming: but he said finally they
were carried to the grave, where the
tax-gatherer could reach them nc
| more Sir, we have improved vastly
on that. After you have got the man
in his taxed grave and his taxed cof.
fin, you go up to the Probate Judges
Office and tax the little substance thai
is left to the widow and orphan. We
have beaten British taxation. We &c
beyond the grave and tax, tax, tax
until our patience is taxed: and that
is a tax we amt going to pay except
in Democratic ballots next fall.
sSThere is no escape from taxation
If we take the wings of the morning
o tax gatherer, thou art there. Ifw
fly to the mountains, the tax gatherel
is there. If we go to. the depths ol
the valley, he is there. The only
blessed creature on earth is the un-
taxed Indian mentioned in the law.
o that 1 was an Indian, and could fee
how it would be not to be taxed
Everything else is taxed and stamped
stamped; and taxed, and taxed and
stamped, until feel like an old Chris.
tian who inquired where shall rest be
| found Where shall the weary soul
the stamped and taxed weary soul
find rest? [Applause.] And there
is no rest outside of the triumph oI
this same old Democratic party
What other party promises us any.
thing?
"Now come to this ruling party
and where do they say that anything
lis wrong or promise anything better
| When you speak of burdens do they
promise any relief? No, sir. The
| Egyptians who wandered through
the wilderness for forty years never
lwere so oppressed as we Old Pha
| raoh did hold them in bondage an6
compel them to make bricks without
straw, but the. cunning old devil nev
er thought of five-twenties and ten
forties. Z Applause and laughter
Talk of Egyptian bondage! Give u.
as amatter of choice American Blacl
Republican bondage any su
gar-cOated pill in it. Renewed ap
plause.l 13 s9Is Jas
"Do they say they will reform No
sir. Who dare say it and be in thu
party i'll good standing with them
| Do they say in time of peace, wher
taxes are double what they were il
times of war, that they will cut dowr
a single cent, or that anything il
wrongP No, sir. AS Tom CorWiI
used to say. do these fellows that are
fattening at the public crib go round
and tell the poor workingmen thai
anything is wrong? Do they tell hin
that the tariff is stealing the shirl
from his back, and the tea and coffee
| from his table? No, sir Lowett
| theeox over his fodder, or doth the
wild ass bray when he has lots of hay :
[Laughter.l No, sir. g 1t ~
"Now John Sherman-Heaven save
the, mark lone of these poor men
that is going to tell the poor man
what is the matter, he went to the
United States Senate. He went there
on little meager salary; it is nc
great teing, but he has got so now
that he is ashamed to swear to the
revenue assessor how much he is
worth, and when his friends are asked
f will millions reach it p with wise
shake of the head they say, Mo- So
that fellow is worth millions, and he
came over here to talk to the poor
men, campaign or two ago, and he
told them to bear their burdens like
men, the duties of patriotism requir-
ed it /; and he said to them, %, don't
pgroan.; Laughter. toi4 53s
"He said he loved the Black Repub-
lican party. He said for the last few
years he would not have missed be-
longing to it foruncounted thousands.
P[ Renewed laughter.] Well, 1 guess
not. And he said farther, that he felt
bound to that party by hooks of steel.
Jess so, jess SO. Hooking and steal
ing. IApplause and laughter Hook
ing and stealing-bound by hooks OF
steul. Jess so. And he is one Of the
fellows that comes around and tells
you that all is lovely and the goose
hangs high. Laughter. High enough
above your heads for such knaves to
pluck.
| Then, l say, where shall rest be
found? Where is there dawn OF
hope, where is there silver lining to
the thunder clond? Task where it is
What party stands up and promises
the poor man protection against op-
pressionf Who promises him the
right that he has under the God OF
nature to enjoy, in the language OF
Jackson, that has been quoted tonight.
The blessings of government, which,
like the dew of heaven, should fall on
all alike, the high and the loac, the
rich and the poor Tell me what
party offers me that, and I will come
instantly, independent of nomencla-
ture, within its open doors. Is there
man here that can point me to a par
ty with hope in the future except
the good, grand old Democratic par
ty?"
THE DYING NEVER WEEP.