Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1873-09-04

Gov. =. F. Noyes
Delivered at Athens, Ohio
August 23rd, 1873.
My FELLOW CITIZENS: We inaugur.
ate in Ohio to-day the political cam,
paign Of 1873, for which the State con.
ventions have prepared the way, by the
nomination of candidates and the pro.
mitigation of platforms. Last year, in
the Presidentia, contest, both candidates
were selected from the Republican par
ty, and both subscribed to declarations
of principles substantially identical.
This year the Democrats have two Cub
ernatorial candidates of their own, and
two platforms upon which to place
them. The old-school Democracy, af-
ter several departures and much vacila-
ton, has determined at last to rely upon
its own strength; to define its own po-
sition; to put upon its ticket only the
names of recognized members of its
own organization, and to regard all in
reference or dictation on the part of
recent allies as undesirable and imper-
tinent. This decision has only been
reached, however, after persistent CO.
quoting in various quarters, and a Sc
rious family disturbancein in consequence.
The. Liberal Republicans-as they are
called-remembering the treatment
which their leaders received at the
hands of Senator Thurman and other
Bourbon magnates, in the Democratic
Liberal Convention, which assembled
at Columbus after the Presidential cleo
ton last fall, were suspicious of new
propositions, and reluctant to enter into
an alliance again with party whose
name had so long been associated in
their minds with disloyalty and cor
ruption. They declined to meet the De-
in State Convention, and is
sued call for themselves, which was
and is denounced as presumptuous and
"Two hundred and fifty
thousand Democrats are not ready to
sell out to an Insignificant squad of dis
appointed office seekers" says the ally
of last year. "Your organization is a
stencil in the nostrils of all homes.
men," reply the Liberal Republicans;
'powerless tor good, and doomed to
leath, unless you abandon your ancient
name and faith, adapt yourselves to the
living issues of to-day, and forgetting
he past consent to march forward to
Victory, with new leaders, and under
banners which your old men have never
'een." An impossible gulf is therefore
liked between the two, and each must
low pursue its own way and seek its
'ortune as best i can.
But misfortunes rarely come singly
md alone. The alienation of trusted
lilies was bad.enough, but the Democ-
'acy was destined to be yet more sorely
ried. Treason developed itself in their
'wn camp. Many of the old leaders,
heretofore honored and confided in, re-
sarded as wise in council and brave in
he field, whose clarion voices had "ral-
led the boys" in many hard-fought
'attle, whose presence was inspiration.
md whose names were a tower of
strength, disgusted with long continued
md unvarying defeat, dissatisfied with
he plan of campaign, conscious of
many and oft repeated mistakes, asham-
ID of the past and hopeless for the fu-
.ure under the old name and manage
nent, marched out of the Democratic
camp, keeping step to the unaccustomed
music, with their eyes fixed on banners
bearing new and strange devices. They
have bivouacked by themselves, and
Ire inviting recruits from the old army,
and deserters from the Republican
ranks. How powerful this Organiza-
ion may hereafter prove to be, it is
now to tell. There are many
reasons why Democrats should join it !;
there are none at all why Republicans
should give it countenance. They are
satisfied with their own organization,
and propose to remain with it.
If the time shall ever come when the
party shall be "powerless
for good," as Pugh, Cunningham and
Collins and Ewing say the
now is, or SO far advanced
toward decay as. to be Spoiled" as
Groesbeck says the Democratic party
is, then we may be ready to join some
new departure. But the Republican
party of Ohio stands to-day upon the
history of its achievements for the last
seventeen years, upon its unchanged
position, upon the honesty of its pur-
pose and the justice of its cause. 1t is
united, well organized, and hopeful,
of its strength--and carrying
with it the prestige of continued and
almost uninterrupted victory. Practi-
cally the fight this fall is between this
powerful organization and its old en-
emy, the Democracy, long disheartened
by defeat, respondent on account OF
promises broken and hope deferred, di-
vided in sentiment as to the best means
of securing future success, and weak
ened by the departure Of the young and
progressive Demo cracy, who, conscious
of the objectionable mistakes which
were committed by the leaders of the
party during the war, and which have
been repeated since, would gladly es-
cape from the memory and odium of
the past, to seek their fortunes under a
new name, and surrounded by new as
sociations. The 30th of July and 9th
of August Conventions should be re-
garded as representing the two wings
of the Democratic party in.Ohis; fol
although few influential and reputa-
Bile Republicans for whom l entertain
high respect, took part in the 3Oth Of
July Convention, yet it was controlled
by the Democratic element, and the
name of lifelong Democrat was
placed at the head of the ticket. Tn,
great body of the Liberal Republican
PARTY will vote the Republican ticke
no doubt, for the reason that it will b,
evident as the campaign progresses
that the choice is between that party
and the reactionary and unregenerat'
Democracy. If the new party shal