The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1872-05-09

PLOPOSA1AOhS AAAtC A4N4lz
| to our platform, we shall be wise to
keep in mind those things which the
republic are most Immediately in need
Of The very fact OF our having come
| together is proof of our substantial
agreement. Let us only, in what we
/ propose to the people, be honest and
straightforward and not attempt to
cheat those whom we ask TO follow
! our lead by deceitful representations.
AS TO the men whom we shall present
for the high executive officers of sthes
government, let us, | entreat you, not
lose sight of the fact that great reform,
the overthrow OF inveterate abuses,
] the establishment of 3 better order of
things, are not accomplished by mere
promises aud declarations,b but require
I wise and energetic statesmen, if this is
/ to be truly q reform movement. and if
il be not merely on paper. But it
must be embodied in the men we in-
trust with The power. TO infuse the
spirit of reform into practical action.
/ If you want TO know how reforms are
not executed, look at those now in
power. You will hardly excel them
in the profusion of high sounding pro-
I.fessions,and you will never excel them
in the art of .Ehow not 10, do it. Re-
| form must become a farce in the
hands of those who either do not I'M
! derstand ii, or do not care for it. IF
You mean reform, intrust the work to
none but those who do understand
and honestly do care, and who care
/ more for it than their own personal
ends. Pardon me if / express my self
on this point with freedom and frank
ness. have not, / assure yon, come
here for the purpose of urging the
fciaims or advancing the interest of
any one man against all others. ! have
come here with sincere and ardent de-
yotion to a, a,cause, aud to, have that
tecauee put under the care of men who
faro devoted TO it with equal sincerity,
/ aud possess those qualities of mind
and heart which will mako it rife In
their keeping. earnestly. deprecate
the cry we have heard so frequently,
Anybody TO beat Grant" There ia
ksomething more wanted than to beat
Grant, not anybody who might by
bcheap popularity, or by astute bar
! gains and combinations, or by all the
/ ticks of political wire-pulling. man
Iage to sGrape together votes enough
i tosbe elected President. We do not
merely want another, but we want a
j better President than we new have.
4 We do, not want q mere change of
i persons in the administration of the
government. We want the overthrow
of q perpicious. system. We want the
i eradication of fragrant abuses. We
/ want the Infusion of ioftier moral
| spirit into every political organiza-
ton. We want a government which
4 the best people of this country will be
4 proud of. Not anybody can accom-
plish that, and therefore away with
the cry s'Anybody to beat Grant
cry unworthy of the great enterprise
i in. w hich We.4are engaged. do not
struggle for the mere punishment of
an opponent or a temporary lease of
power. There is to ME a thing no less,
nay, more important even than our
, success in this campaign, and that is
that the American people shall not be
disappointed in the fruits, which our
I victory is TO bear If we should fail
to select men who will fail to carry
!! out the beneficent reforms we COM
template, then let me say boldly, it
would be better had this movement
never been undertaken, for the con-
tinuance of those in power, who pos
sess it now, would mean only reform
atory movement deferred, aud in op-
portunity still coming, while our fail
ure now would mean q great reform
movement sunk to the levelof a farce,
a great opportunity lost, and the hope
of the people turned into discourage
ment and disgust. Let US discard at
least the fatal error into which many
seem to have fallen that no statesman
ship is required to conduct the affairs
ofa great government. candidly
believe the people are waking up to
the truth, for, unless greatly mistake
the spirit of this day, what the people
that mere good intentions, but that a
superior intelligence.coup with SUI
parior virtues, should guide our af-
fairs; not that merely an honest and a
popular man, but that a statesman be
put at the head of our government. In
; selecting candidates for Office, politi-
clans are accustomed to discuss the
fquestion of availability What does
availability mean in our casep Let aiIs
look for the best men we have and
among the very best let us select the
strongest. The people earnestly de.
sire thorough reform of our govern
ment. They wan.a not only change,
but i; change for the better. They want
therefore, to be assured that it will be
for the better, and that the best candli.
date is likely to be the most available.
III we present man to the suffrage oil
fthc people whose character and name
appeal TO the loftiest instincts and as
pirations Of the patriotcitizen,w we shall
Have on our side that which ought to
be, and now, l trust, will be the ruling
' arbiter of political contests-the con-
fseience of the Batiou.1 If that be done
! then success will be certain. Then we
/ appeal to the nlindssaud hearts, to
J the foftiest ambition oil the epeofIie
! With these arguments and entreaties
(which can spring only from clear
: conviction of right, thenEwe shall not
: appeal in vain for support to Ethosea OF
our fellow citizens who have hitherto
been separated from us by party ,divi-
sions, who desire honestly to work
l for the best interests 3ofthe country in
this crisis, aud whom zve shall well
Fcome with fraternal greeting, in this
struggle for a great cause, whether
. they call themselves Democrats OIL
Republicans. Then we shall success.
fully overcome those prejudices which
now confront us, and the insidious
accusations that this great convention
is a mere gathering of disappointed
and greedy politicians will fall harm
less at our feet, for we, shall have dem
I onstrated by our action that we are
guided by the purest and most patri.
: otic of motives, and this can be done
Let US despise as unworthy of our
: cause the tricky manipuiations by
which, to the detriment of the Repub-
lie, political bodies have so frequent
ly been controlled. Let us,in. the face
of the great things to be accomplished
rise above all petty considerations.
Personal friendship and State pride
are noble sentiments, but what is per-
sonal friendship, what is State pride,
compared with the great duty which
we owe to our common country and
the awful responsibility resting upon
our action As sensible men, we know