The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-07-24

coming State Convention, and falls to
guessing as TO the probable canse for
the neglect, imputing a sinister mo-
tive therefor. Now, we are not the
conscience keepers of the committee,
but we can assure all whose minds
are disturbed at this little circum-
stance that the motive aseribed is very
wide of the mark. But as Yankees
are entitled to a "eouple of chances"
in the game of ''guess," our neighbor
can "try again" Is it so unusual a
circumstance for committee to issue
call for a convention without ap-
pending their names to the notice, as
to excite special wonder? 1t has been
done time and again in this county
We can assure all anxious inquireFs
that the committee in this matter
were not actuated by the same inau-
ence that induced the Radical Ring of
this county to hold their secret caucus
to arrange their political slate in the
parlors of the Weddell House in
CleVeland-the fear of the people.
THE CONSTANT din and clstter about
dead and worn-out issues is absolute
" ridiculous and sickening. There
can be no such thing as dead Issues
while the national government at
tempts by force and fraud to deprive
the people of State of the right to
control their own local affairs. 1t is
the old issue between Jefferson and
Hamilton over again-the issue be-
tween a federal and a centralized
government. When the Democracy
concede that that issue is dead, that
the centralizing principle has won a
permanent triumph, it may as well
prepare to give up the ghost. There
can be no such thing as a worn-out
issue, while the government is run in
the interests of monopoIists and priv
ileged orders. From the earliest days
of its existence the Democratic party
has been the sworn enemy of special
privileges and the champion of the
equal rights of the states and of the
people; and when it abandons its an
cient faith when it ceases to make a
vigorous, determined war upon CEN
tralization and monopolies and special
privileges, the country will have no
further use for it, and 1T may as well
lay down the weapons of its Wrrfare
and prepare to disband. Can there be
any doubt in the face of the action of
the administration in regard to. Arr
kansas, Alabama and Louisiana and
the general policy of the party in
power, that they are in favor of CEN
tralization, and that we are fast drift
ing toward a centralized despotlsm2 ?
With our present banking, railroad
and tariff systems, is there any one
who denies that the party in power is
the monopoly party the party in fa-
vor of the privileged orders? These
were the issues which divided the
parties in the days of Jefferson and
Jackson. They are the vital issues of
to-day-the questions upon which
hangs the existence of that system Of
government founded by the fathers of
the republic, and so deeply depend
the equality and prosperity of the
people. Do the Democracy abandon
abandon the contest upon these mo-
mentous questions? If yes, then has
its spirit already departed. If no,
then let no Democrat be heard to
mouth the silly talk about "dead is
Sues" But buckle on his armor and
prepare for vigorous fight under the
ancient banner for the old-time and
ever vital principles of the founders
of the party.