The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-08-28
sPEECHoF ALIBERAII.a

held a large and enthusiastic ratifioa
tion meeting at Hamilton on the eve
ming of 14thinst. Among the speeehe
made on the occasion was one b!
Ransford Smith, Esq, lawyer o
Hamilton, and Liberal Republican
He said: sa*
l have been trying to recall to M
mind how often, and upon what polit
ical topics, / have spoken to neigh
bors from a Hamilton rostrum.
l have spoken here against the ex
tension of slavery; in favor of tht
war for the preservation ofthe Union
in favor of the ratification of the re.
cent amendments to the Federal Con
stitution aud now find myself will
! ingly, joyously, assisting to ratify the
nomination of regular Democratic
State ticket, headed by the veteran
statesman, Major William Allen. L
is said that politics makes strange
bedfellows; and know, my Demo
cratic friends that you have not been
accustomed to hearing me speak as 6
! Democrat. 3,fs3 fstf 53ss.. 9t.,tis -fts=
Some of my friends who favor the
political movement which originated
i in Allen county have expressed to me
their wonder that did not join with
them and taFry at their halfway
house. Well, my Democratic. friends
/ was at the halfway house last year,
as Liberal Republican, and either
went to you or you came to me; al
| least found that. we were then fight
ing shoulder to SHOULDER in the same
cause, for the same principles and foI
| fho mo 40 1i1 o foo =
/ have seen no reason why we
should separate: see no reason why
the Liberal Republicans and Demo
Gratis should not march forward under
the Democratic name and Democratic
banner to achieve those objects the
pursuing of which united and ami
mated them last fall. -
The name s.Democrap is a great
name; the organization of the Demo-
cratic party is q complete organization.
Why3shOuld it tbeodissolyed for mere
whim Should it, be dissolved be,
cause men are so hide bound as to halt
at the name ? Let Republicans who
fear the name Democrat. and who
wish to leave their own party, do. so,
and let them stop at the halfway
house if they must; but for my hum
bic self, prefer to train under that
| tried and true statesman, Major VIM.
Allen, and under Democratic colors.
4 And WhyP 5. There can be but two
great political parties. Nowhere and
at no time have we seen three or more
| great political parties of nealy equal
strength. A small third party may
hover on the flanks of the two great
organizations for time, now aiding
one, and shortly afterWard drawing
| strength from it. And if it shall be
animated by some living. moving, vi
tai, all-absorbing principle which does
not animate either of the great par
ties, or if it shall advocate some meas
ure of temporary but pressing impor-
tance, it may succeed in impressing
| itself upon ore or the other of the
great parties, and swallowing that
party up, or in being swallowed up
by it. But if it has no such princi-
pies and advocates no such measure,
of what use can q third party be, un-
| less it be to serve as q temporary ref
! uge for the disaffected, who by their
going from one great party to the
other must turn the scale.
Does the present third party advo-
cate any measure or put forth any po-
litical principle not advocated or put
forth by one or the other of the great
parties? Nonei 1t simply says to
Republicans and Democrats, sect out
of the way with your party organiza-
tions; there is no need of them. We
are the salt of the earth; stand aside;
and give us a chance, and we will sa-
vor the whole country" Well, you
might, and you might NOT; and what
if you shouldn't? Can you expect to
draw to your ranks only the truly
good? And if so, will there be
enough of you to win?
Both the Republican and Demo-
cratic parties take issue with you, my
third partyites. as to there being no
necessity for their continued exist
ence. The Democrats are willing
enough to apply your doctrine in this.
respect to the Republican party, and
the Republicans are willing enough to
apply it to the Democratic party and
both have ever been willing so to
apply it. ,4t-i 3ii G39
Consider my third party friends,
whether. this doctrine be not applica-
bic to your own case. 1t is often that
he who gives advice unsought has
most need to follow it. l*afai
But what other doctrine have you
in your platform that is not essentially
Democratic And why should you
not remain with the Democratic par
ty : or, if you be not of it, go to it?-H
You show me in answer your watch
word, "reform,H and say. that from
neither of the great political parties
can reform be expected.
Observed They too have the same
watchM ord. The fact is that neither
- 81 la
party is powerless to effect reform in
its own ranks, so far as reform means
honesty in the administration of the
affairs of the government; for these
parties are composed of the main body
of the people and the people, wheth-
er within party organizations or out
side of them, are not poWerless for
honest tself-government.
But the Democratic party has given
full and complete evidence of its in
tention to inaugurate such reform. 1t
has placed in nomination for Cover |
nor of Ohio a man whose name is
synonym for honesty, to show that re-
form with it is not to be merely a |
WatchWard, sbut an actual practice as I
well.
Look at the ticket! What with that |
distinguished jurist, Judge Whitman,
(whom many of you know personal
ly) as candidate for Supreme Judge |
for the long term; and Mr.. Scribner,
a distinguished author of several val !
liable law books, for the short f
term; and what with Barnabas Burns
as candidate for Lieutenant Governor,
and the rest of the ticket of equal ex-
celIence, it viii be found that the /
whole State ticket is worthy of it's /
head. And the influence of this I
excellent ticket will be felt through |
out the counties in the formation of |
the county tickets; so that men who
want reform, as all honest men do, /
can go to the polls aud vote straight /
Democratic ticket without having to !
hand their heads, and without having /
to scratch single name. Democrats, |
you can point to your State ticket with |
pride, and ask your neighbors TO vote