The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1872-10-18
gisrellaneuas.

SPEECH
m OF
"a "a Hon. JOB E. STEVENSON
- Delivered in Gin cinnati, Oct. 2, IS7
n Presidential elections mark the sta
n ges of political progress. AT thes'
q q quadrennial periods current changes
n OF public opinion are recorded in plat
n forms and confirmed by the popular
n voiee-snd the Nation moves on fol
n veal or wee in the chosen direction
Fox halt q century these contests have
I been waged by parties differing sc
radically that no compromise, nc
q peace, no truce was possible. Fol
q twenty years their struggles have in.
a volVed the existence OF the Republic
3 3 and the liberties OF the people.
a They led to tremendous war which
4 left one third of the States PROSTATE
? and disorganized, and compelled fun
i demental changes IN organic law in
the relations CT races, and in the hab.
] its and customs OF millions of people.
These changes were strenuously re
sisted by 8 party representing a ma
jority OF white citizens, and only less
than majority OF the people, but as
5 they were made in favor of liberty
and equality, and therefore, for the
general welfare, they lave gained
strength with time, and are now final
ly accepted by those who opposed
them, anG we are permitted to behold
what patriots have long desired, the
practical agreement of National rar.
ties, and OF The people OF all the States
on all Vital political principles. The
essential part Of the National plat
forms of the two parties might have
been written by the same hand. They
are as tie diverse and reverse sides
OF medal-differing in symbol, su-
prescription and adornment, but sig-
nitying the same thing. On either
side we read: Union and Peace, Lib
erty and Equality, Economy, Iu.egri.
ty, Reform.
lt should be source of profound
satisfaction that the Republic is not
only united and free, but that people
OF all sections agree to MAINTAIN liber
ty and uaion, while all parties de
mand economy, integrity and reform.
lie consciousness of these truths
gives great relief to the public mind.
The country is no longer in danger.
No sane, sober man, however inter-
ested CT prtjudiced, can cunjure up g |
rational ground OF apprehension.-I
The life OF the Nation and the free
dom of the people are secure, unas-
sailsble, impregnsbly intrenched in
unchangeable institutions. Why,
then, is the land filled with clamor
and "loud uproar?' Why do leaders
and journals assail each other with
such violence and bitterness Be
cause there are no vital principles in
volved, and personal attacks are an
easy resource of those whose busi-
ness it is to differ. 1t is sore trial
20 the mere partisan when the people
agree. Ii he cannot discourse of
measures, he must discuss men. Thus
this becomes personal campaign,
running naturally into excesses which
all good citizens deplore. If we did
not know upon what foundation the
gravest charges are made, few and
fortunate would be the public men to
emerge from this contest with enough
scraps of reputation to appear in de-
cent society. But the crop of cam
paign stories will perish with the
leaves, and be thought of only 10 be
laughed a. when the war of words is
over.
As all will dismiss them soon, let
Us pass them Now. And exercising
toward each other some of the chari-
ty Of patriotism, let US consider the
fitness OF parties and of candidates
for lie administration OF the Govern
ment according 10 the doctrines on
which they sCree
LIBERTY AND UNION,
The preservation of the Union has
SOob OAiiOAS VI bASoSulO =. Ib IS eoll-
mated that the total expense of the
North and South was over ten billion
dollars. 1t cost hundreds of thou
sands of precious lives, of the flower
of both sides. It checked the growth
of the country, so that statisticians
say our population is two millions less
than it would have been had peace
continued. The compensation for
these losses is the enchsnced value
OF the Union, stability ,order, uniform.
ity, liberty and equality. Would it ,
be prudent, at this early day to in ,
trust the Government to party com.
prising the men who caused these sac
rifces, andopposed, aslong as opposi- I
tion was possible, the measures necessa-
ry to bring good out of evil2 Admit as !
we do, that passion smolders in hearts |
overruled by reason, and prejudice !
fingers in minds convinced by necess- i
ity. Would it be wise to tempt them
with power 70 recover what they have !
lost and so reluctantly yielded? ,
Would it not be better to leave liber.
ty and union to the care of those who ,
defended them in the field and upheld !
hem in the forum? ,
REFORM
Abuses incumber and corruption ,
infects the Government. Reforms i
are necessary. The people demand
and will, if need be, compel them
Neither party can afford, if inclined,
to disregard the popular will. Which
party is better adsg ted to the work
THE OPPOSITION. ,
The body Of the opposition is that !
old, degenerate party, which now puz- {
zies statesmen with the question ,
whether it is dead or alive. We |
know that it has been long dead in