Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-09-05
Senator Morton in the Ohio Canvass,


THE first speeches of the Ohio cam
paign, on the Republican side, were made
at the town of Athens, on Saturday, by
Senator Morton, of Indiana, and Governor
Noyes. The Senator opened with the
proposition that new parties cannot be
made to order by conventions or resolu.
tions, nor are they made necessary by the
presentation of new issues, with which
existing parties are able to grapple, but
they must be the outgrowth of great
events, or entirely new conditions As
nothing of this sort is presented by the
present political situation, and as the old
Democratic party-after wasting year
or two in considering the propriety of al
lowing the organization to die the death
which should be the just penalty of its
treason and blunders-has resolved to take
the field once more, with all its past
crimes and follies emblazoned upon its
standard, Mr.. Morton naturally and
properly devoted considerable share OF
his speech to a review of its record and
the platform of the Ohio Convention.
The party, he says, admits no change
processes no regeneration, proclaims its
ancient heraldry and principles, and
stands before us as the hateful
thing it was during the war and for
ten years before" The principles in.
scribed upon its banners are-The resolu.
tions of '9S-no coercion of States-no
power to suppress rebellion-opposition
to the constitutional amendments
-nullificatiOn of the reconstruction laws
"a white NAME S0,C nnIcnt-nO national
unity, but sovereign and Independent
States. These being the standard doc.
trines of the party, and its members hav.
ing freshly proclaimed their allegiance to
it, there is nothing for the Republicans
but to accept the issue and fight it over
again, be the task ever so irksome. But
the Democratic leaders put forth some
few new claims to public approval. They
demand that the public lands be reserved
exclusively for actual settlers-which is
cool to frigidity for party that, when il
had the power, resolutely and continually
rejected every proposition to give free
homes to actual settlers. They oppose
land grants-but the Democracy made
the first grants to railroads; invented the
subsidy system, in fact, and maintained il
while they controlled Congress, and, since
they have fallen into the minority, have
| supported the worst grants that have beer
made. They have no financial policy, as
party. Some of the leaders oppose and
some favor banks; some demand imme
diate return to specie payments, and 9th
ers want permanent greenback curren
cy. In 1868 they resolved in favor of "in
cidental projections" last year they ran &
| high-taritf Presidential candidate; and
now the Ohio men declare free trade a
Fundamental principle ofthe party" and
insist on making it an issue in mere
State election. The Democrats make bit
ter charges of corruption and extrava
gance, and demand retrenchment anC
reform; but they have no specific plan.
to present And while they charge tha
the country is on the high road to ruin
the fact is that the nation at large is pros
porous beyond parallel, and the content
ment, progress and elevation of the peo
pie undisputed. There are complaints O
extortionate charges by railroads; of de
preston of the manufacturing interests
and of distress and lack of development
at the south. But while the Democrat
merely grumble about these things-fo
the last named they are above all other
responsible-the Republicans have ap
pointed commissions of inquiry, anC
earnestly set about finding the prope
remedy for any wrongs that may exist
The policy of the Republicans has re
duced the public debt $380,000,000 sine
March, 1869, reduced taxation $3.50, 00O
600 year, and given stability and conf
dence to the country. 1t has settled on
difficulties with England provided 70
the reform of admitted evils in the civi
service; and so administered the govern
ment that there are now fewer defalca
tions, less malfeasance in Office, and NOR
fidelity to official duty than at any forme
period. ~
Referring to the SALARY grail" Mr.. MOI
ton showed that the pay of members G
Congress has been increased on five di
terent occasions, and always, as las
spring, the increased pay had dated bacl
to the beginning of the Congress. Never
theless, the Senator condemns the prime
pie on which this has been done, becaus
the service was actually rendered under
law fixing the old rate, and the people II
gard the increase as payment of none
without consideration. For himself, h
had not taken the back pay and never el
poets to. Reverting to the railroad que.
tion, he claimed that Congress had cor
stitutiOnal power to establish such reguli
tions for great through lines as will cor
! tribute to the safety of passengers, and tn
! speedy, certain and equitable transports
rion of freights, and insure the more com
! plete adaptation of the railroad system :
the wants and interests of the people
Railroads are highways; the companie
are common carriers, and for breach c
their duties as such, the law provides &c
uitable remedies. AS il is difficult 70
private persons to assert their right
against these great corporations, Congress
or the State Legislatures may provid
additional facilities therefor, an,
may ordain proper penalties 70
eXtortion. Giving moments Al
tention to the Democratic scheme 70
using the Oranges to divide and destro
the Republican party-a project to whicl
the farmers are too intelligent to len,
themselves-the Senator closed with
brief review Of the work of the Republ
cans In future. The party must look 4
the execution OF the laws and the enforce
ment of the Constitution in severy part O
the nation protect the colored people il
! the endowment of their civil and no1itioa