The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1873-09-04
rng DEMOCRATIC Party.

Ia recent speech at Xeniar o.,
Hon. AIphonso Hart, our candidate
for Lieutehant Governor, thus spoke
OF the Democratic party, whose pr;n-
ciples have dwindled TO q scramble az
ter power
said the tie Republicans had been
In rowsr in the state for sixteen years
with a single exception. The Legs
Iafure of 1868 was democratic, aud by
its acts demonstrated what manner OF
marty it was. IL was the Legislature
hat passed the measure known as the
Visible Admixture Law. IL was tins
legislature that practically disfran-
chised over two Thousand students In
Ohio. who under the Constitution
were clearly entitled to vote: lt was
this Legislature that ATTEMPTED 20 uIs,
franchise the veterans OF the SoidieIs
Home. It was this Legislature uiAI
voted against equal rights ana III Ia
yOr Of psying the rebel oeDt, py Ie-
scinding or attempting 70 resei 1u lle
1 kourfeeuth constitutional am mebuhnenI-
/ Dnrfug its two sessions, Wnlcn were
fhe longest ever known under the
present Constitution, it passed not a
ainSIe act in favor OF equality, justice,
Tor the rights of the people Every
movement was a retrograde one ana
in perfect keeping with the spirit OF
the dark ages which governed and
controlled that organization. Now i
will ask a question in the utmost can
dor and viii stop right here to have
IL answered by any Democrat who
NAV be In the audience: What has
the Democratic party, by its organiza-
l fion. or through any Of its chosen Of
fieers. done for the good either OF the
State or Nation since lSBl? What
measure of public utility has it adopt
ed since that time? put the ques'
/ tious in no offensive sense, but as an
annesl to the candid Judgment OF eY-
ery Democrat In Ohio. Iput these as
standing interrogatOries, and will be
clad 10 have any candidate oil the
tDenaoeratic ticket or elsevhere answer
them any time during the present Po-
Iitical campaign. What has this par
ty to say why it should not be con,
ienned as useless, corrupt relic oi
barbarism? But lest somebody may
reply that the Republicans have been
in power all this time, and the De
mocraey have had no opportunity 70
exhibit their ability in Che manage
ment OF public affairs, Will onangt
the form of the question and Inquire
what has the party or its of11ceholderi
tried to do, which was in any degree
calculated TO promote the public vel
farel They have made their mark IL
New York city, in Congress- IN I4t
State Legislatures. Their votes
speeches and conventions are easily
( examined. There is nc difficulty IT
determining how they stand upon al
the great vital questions OF the las
twelve years. They voted against thI
; raising Of men aud money for th'
war. On ell financial questiops the,
: voted to destroy tho public credit
I They voted against the thirteenth con
/. stitutionaI amendment, which aOol
ished slavery, against the fourteentf
constitutional amendment, which es
; tabIished equal rights for all the peo
Die, pledged the fsithful payment. 0
, the national debt, and declared tina
debts created in aid OF the rebelliol
should never be paid against the ~
: teenth amendment, which gives tn
ballot TO the cOlOred race. They vo
, ted against all civil rights and recon
struction bills. While pretending T.
favor a policy of peace and reconeilia
ton in The South, they have at al
times advocated measures tending d
: create lawlessness, crime and atsorae
! in that section OF the country. II
Ohio as late as April, 1878, they vote
: to deny an election precinct TO tn
. blind, sick and manned veterans o
the Soldiers Home, hoping thereo,
T to deprive these braye men OF tn
, right of the elective franchise. u
Texas, only the last winter, they hav
t stricken down and destroyed the sys
e tenn of public common schools. II
I Missouri, under the leadership o
Gratz Brown, they have involved tn
; State in embarrassment and disorder
1 In Kentucky they have inaugurate,
= anarchy and blOodshed in many local
! tiles. In Mississippi and Louisiani
they have encouraged wholesale mqr
der of freedmen. When, therefore
the Democratic party claims to be ia
! yorable TO law, order, peace, union
equality or liberty, the record pro
nounces all such professions false ant
frau dulent.