The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-02-14


When you speak of burdens do they
promise you any relief? No. sir. The
Egyptians who wandered through tht
wilderness for forty years were never sc
oppressed as we. Old Pharaoh did holt
them in bondage, and compelled then
to make bricks without straw, but the
cunning old devil never thought of five
twenties and ten-fortles. Applause and
laughter. Talk about Egyptian bond
are! Give US as matter Of choice
American Black Republican bondage
without any sugar-coated pill to it. Re
newed applause
Do they say they will reform? No
sir. Who dare say it and be in the party
in good standing with them? Do they
say in time OF peace, when taxes arc
double what they were in time Of war
that they will cut down single cent, OF
that anything is wrong? No, sir. AS
Tom Corwin used to say, do these fel
lows that are fattening at the pubic Grill
go round and tell the poor working men
that anything is wrong? Do they tell
him that the tariff is stealing the shirt
from his back and the tea and coffee
from his tablet No,sir Loweth the OK
over his fodder or doth the wild ass
bray when he has lots of hay? Laugh
ter. No, sir.
Now, John Sherman-Heaven save
The mark !-one of these men that is 90.
ing to tell the poor man what is the mat.
ter; he went to the United States Sen.
ate. He was there on little, meagre
salary; it is no great thing, 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
"Will millions reach it?" with a wise
shake of their head they say No" Sc
that the fellow is worth millions, and he
came over here to talk to the poor men
a campaign or two ago, and he told
them to bear their burdens like men, the
duties Of patriotism required it, and he
said to them, 30, don't groan." Laugh.
ter.
He said he loved the Black Republican
party. He said for the last few years he
would not have missed belonging to il
for uncounted thousands. Renewed
We'll, l guess not. And he
said further that he felt bound to that
party by hooks Of steel. Jess so, jess
so. Hooking and stealing-bound by
hooks of steal. Jess so. And he Is one
of the fellows that comes round to tell
you that all is lovely and the goose
hangs high. Laughter. High enough
above your heads for such knaves to
pluck.
Then I say,where shall rest be found |
Where is there dawn of hope? Where
is there a silver lining to the thunder
cloud ask where is it? What party
stands up and promises the poor nan
protection against oppression? Who
promises him the right he has under the
God of nature to enjoy, in the language
of jackson, that has been quoted to-
night: "The blessings of government,
which like the dews of heaven, should
fall on all alike, the high and the low,the
rich and the poor" Tell me what party
offers me that, and will come instantly,
independent of nomenclature, within its
open doors. Is there a man here that
can point me to party with hope in
the future except the good, grand old
Democratic party?
1 see many Republicans here, and il
we live another year we will duplicate
and triplicate this confounded thing 1.-THE
wigwam) so as to let you all in. Ap-
plause. And say to you, my smiling
Republican friends,I never saw you look
more happy and really more honest than
you look tonight. Renewed applause,
And l say to you, my young Republican
friends, s'let no conscience make you lin
ger, nor Of fitness fondly dream" for if
you stay where you are, God knows you
will have no conscience, and as TO fit
ness, you are more unfit every moment
you stay where you are. Cheers and
Then come into our midst
let every young man cast his lot with us
and we will do him good
Now, fellow-citizens I will not attempt
to take up more of your time. l have
many notes here, but I will not read all
of this manuscript. Here Mr.. McSwee-
ney drew forth his manuscript" piece
of paper about three inches square, and
it amid laughter. / will occa-
sionally refer to it.
My fellow citizens, what Go you see
Watchman, tell US Of the night; what
are the signs Of promise? Who does
not see, who does not hear, in the rum
blings of the East and West, the North
and the South, the coming storm Of
Why, in the East, in their lit
tie town meetings, they are going Dem
ocratic. In the West the spirit of tariff
prescription and wrong is waking up the
people, and they are coming in, without
of party, to the grand old
Democratic fold. And from the South,
in the State of Georgia, above the clat-
tering bayonets of hireling soldiery,
mustered there under the pretense oil
guarding the polls,up from their masked
batteries, above the roar of their hostile
cannon, above the music of their drum
and fife, leading ON the hirellnss to the
destruction of the polls, there comes
above it all the voice of the people. forty
thousand Democratic majority in old
Georgia. [Applause.] And so from the
West, so from the shores of the Pacific.
1t is like the storm in the Alps; noun.
tain after mountain proclaims the COM
ing dawn and the resurrection Of down
troddcn people. Democrats, put. your
ears to the ground and you will not only
see the light, but hear the voice of the
coming victory which cometh of the
morning, If We only wait and work while
it is called to day.
What is there in the history ofthe old
Democratic party bat the history OF
proud recollectious What is there in
the triumph of the Democratic party
that is not joyful? We have no code OF
revenge to. enforce. shall never forget
what my distinguished friend, Mr.. Val
l,nd;,rho,, N, eoid in that cooaoh Of nr,,;ll,,