Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1872-10-17


been scandal and q by-word.
The President has treated his high
Office as if it had been created and
ought to be administered for his own
personal benefit, the reward of his
merits or his industry, and that neither
his political adVersaries nor the people
at large have any interest in it.
The legitimate results of this conduct
are apparent on every hand.
Corruption pervades every depart
ment of the Government. Defalcations
are as common as the days. Neglect of
duty is made universal by the example
of the President. Absence from their
post is the rule among the highest
officers.
Mr.. Pendleton then dwelt at some
length on what he deemed the impro-
priety of SO many Cabinet officers tax
ing part in the canvass, aad continued :
1t was this conviction of an all-per-
vading corruption, and of its dangers,
which startled the heart and conscience
of the people and gave rise to the Gin
cinnati Convention. 1t is this convic-
ton which has dwarfed antogonism,
and softened asperities, and hushed the
voices even of prejudices, in the pres
ence of the country's peril. 1t Is this
conviction which underlies this won
derful combination of many men of
many minds and different creeds in this
supreme struggle for reconciliation and
publication.
The Convention met at Cincinnati.
1t was composed solely of Republicans
Representative men. It was imposing
in numbers, united in its purposes,
divided as to men,. .- OF . .. .....
1t declared, as essential to the pres
ervation of the Republic, that there
should be impartial suffrage and uni
versal amnesty, equal rights and equal
protection to all classes and races of our
people, local government, limitations
on executive power, the supremacy of
the Constitution over martial law and
military power.
1t declared that the reconciliation of
all our people, purity of purpose in
public service must precede all other
reforms, and are our supreme necessity,
and, waving all other questions, it in
vited all who agreed on these to a hearty
and Jealous cooperation. That appeal
stirred the heart of the Democratic
party. Politicians debated, thoughtful
men doubted, bold men hesitated,
timid men were frightened; but the
heart of the Democratic masses, instinct
with patriotism, answered the appeal,
and at Baltimore declared that the
highest interests of the country, the
best hopes of our Government, the as
suranee of liberty, required this CO.
operation that the Republic must be
maintained and preserved before it could
be administered, and that as for itself
and its adherents, it would compose all
minor differences, lay aside all party
preiudices, forget all past bitterness, and
unite with all who would restore peace
to our people and purity to our Govern
ment. Gentlemen, humanity has been
ennobled by deeds ef selfdenial and.
self-devotion. Men have dared and died
for their country or their God. Their
names-resplendent in the ages mark
the advance of our race to q better and
nobler being. But never, in all history,
has there been an act of more unseltish
devotion, of purer magnanimity, than
this of our party.
At the call of patriotism, it stifed the
cry of party; at the demand of the
country, it sileneed the voices of ambi-
ton, of pride, even of an earnest, and
honest, and lifelong antagonism. 1t
said to its opponents, in the presence of
this impending peril, to avert this
threatened danger: 1--WE accept your
invitation, we will lay aside our preju-
dices, we will hold in allegiance our diff
we will adopt your candidate. He has
been our most constant, most able,
most inveterate, most demonstratve
| opponent on the questions of the past,
but he is right on the great questions
of to-day. We will bring all the power
of our organization, all the persuasion
of our authority, all the fidelity culti-
waited by our principles, our history and
traditions, to aid you in this struggle (;
| and if we shall succeed, we will bear to
YOU the honors and offices and emolu-
ments, we will ask from you nothing but
that you restore peace to our people and
purity to our Government"
Heroic, patriotic party worthy of its
founders, not degen nerated in the hands
of their sons. 1t has proved itself great
in. the triumph of its wisdom and It's
power. Greater still is the unfinching
constancy amid dangers and defeats,
but greatest of all when in this sublime
selfabnegation it sacrificed every selfish
aspiration, every human weakness, to
the hope of averting calamity from our
country. I do not know that the effort
will succeed but it was an act worthy
the faith of martyr, worthy the cour.
age of q devotee, worthy the favor oi
God. -.r. .......- ..
Gentlemen, the significance of this
mighty movement 1s-We nave Deen
Reconciliation and publication. Ii
is this, and it is more. 1t is-we have
been told-a pure administration Of
constitutional Legislation. 1t is this.
and it is more. It's highest significance
its chiefest value is, that beneath the
struggles of party, and animating them
too, there is in the American heart a
love of country, spirit of patriotism
which rises in the presence of the coun
try's peril, and speaks to stiffness every
aspira ion except to its safety.
That spirit is abroad now; that spirit
calls and consolidates it's forces now; i
appeals to you all, Democrats and Re
publicans alike. While it appeals t.
your patriotism, it promises safety t.
your material interests; to commerce
; protection abroad and freedom from
oppression at home; to manufactures
stability in legislation; to agriculture
exemption from the weight of an un
, equal taxation; to capital, freedom iron
t Governmental Interference, and suhjec
) ton to the laws of trade: to labor, tn
free enjoyments of the results of its II
5 dustry and to all laborers, merchants
, manufacturers, capitalists, bankers, pre-