Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1873-09-04
FIRST GUN
OF THE
Republican SlatG Campaign.
SPEECH OF SENATOR
MORTON AT ATHENS.

bl 0hOA VI 05As II
MORTON AT ATHENS.
FELLOW CITIZENS OF OHIO: L am
here to-day by invitation of the Re
nuhlican State Central Committee to
address you upon the political situa-
tion. and to present reasons why the
peopIe of Ohio should not withdraw
| their confidence from the Republican
party, and should give their support to
Republican candidates.
1t is trite but true saying that in all
| free governments controlled by public
opinion, the people are divided into
parties, and that parties are the instru-
ments by which the government is car
ried on. 81
The men. who entertain the same
opinions, and act together to enforce
those opinions, constitute a party,
which will be more or less powerful,
according to the efficiency of the organ
lization resorted to in order to produce
unity of action. New parties cannot
be gotten up to order, or created by
conventions and resolutions, but are
1.-THE outgrowth of great events or new
1 ..
unless founded upon some great funda-
mental principle which separates them
from other parties. 1t is not necessary
to have new parties because new issues
are presented, for it is the business OF
existing parties TO grapple with these
issues.
PROSPEROUS CONDITION OF AFFAIRS.
Since the canvass of last year the Ma
tional Government has been working
steadily and successfully, like a piece
O.. well-eonstructed machinery, with
but little friction, and nothing very
new in government or practice has
been developed. The administration
of President Grant is becoming even a
greater uccess from year to year, and
undoabfediy y commands the increasing
confidence Of the nation. His Cabinet,
in which yeur own State is conspicu-
ously represented, is able and faithful,
and each department is well and skill
fully managed.
j Turning from the nation to the State,
II will inquire whether the affairs OF
Ohio have not been ably and faithfully
administered by the Republican party
\ for many years, and if under the adj
Iministration of that party you have
slsteadily grown and prospered, materi'
Ially, morally, and intellectually Have
Iyou not an able and faithful Governor,
J who has successfully discharged the
duties of his high office, and shown
l himself worthy of the confidence re-
posed in him by his election two years
ago?
He is now before you again, a candi.
date for your suffrages, by the unani'
i imous voice of his party. He does not
deome from sthat bourne from which il
was supposed until the late Democratic
| Convention no traveller ever returned,
but fresh from a successful performance
of his duties, fresh from the people, and
but a little while back from the battle
i field upon which he testified to his
faith by his blood.
l. p BOURBON REHABILITATION.
The most significant political event
lof the season is the attempted reorgan-
tIization of the Democratic party in Ohio
land other States upon the basis of its
original principals, rejecting and repu-
dating, after much hesitation, the pro-
lgrcss and professions of last year; and
tthis movement in the Democratic par
Ity is so general that L am satisfied no
new party will soon take its place, and
tits a simple choice between that and
the Republican party; and that who
ever and whatever may contribute to
the defeat of the latter is but adding TO
the success of the former.
$40 be, or not to be" is the question
4 which for some two years has agitated
land divided the Democratic party. A
large number of Democratic politicians,
among them some of the wisest and
ablest, are of the opinion that the party
has outlived its honor and all possibili-
ties of usefulness, and ought to be dis
solved and give place to a new organ
iZation.
They insist that its record during the
war is so blackened with treason, so
loaded down with blunders, that it
cannot be buried out of sight or borne
on to victory, and still continue to
drag the party down to hopeless and
dishonorable defeat. So oppressed were
the leaders of that party with this con-
Eviction that last year, while still pro-
Tossing to maintain its form and organ
ization, they consented to take as its
candidates for President and Vice
President men who had for many
years been its most bitter opponents
and revilers, and did not entertain a
principle in common with it.
A VOICE FROM WITHIN. 10
Mr.. Groesbeck, an eminently respect
able gentleman of large ability, who
for some years has been splitting upon
the Democratic party and declaring it
worn out and funclean, but still keeps
his pew in it, and when it travels rides
upon its platform, in a letter recently
pulished says:
81 believe the historical Democratic
Organization is spoiled. Blundering
constantly during the last ten years,
and shattered by many defeats, it sur
rendered finally at the last Presidential
election. 1t cannot recall that surren.
lder, or the confession then made, and
lit has no longer strength enough for
Victory. In this extremity it would
be wise to lay aside the old organiza-
ton and enter into new one."
When the members of an organiza-
tion are divided in opinion as to
whether it can honorably continue to
exist, or ought to be buried out of sight,
it would seem there should be but lit
tie ground for hesitation on the part of
all men who are not bound to that Or
tganization by prejudice or interest in
deciding to contribute in no respect to
bring it into power.
THE OLD DEMOCRACY IN THE FIELD.
A majority of the Democratic leaders
in Ohio, after foil deliberation, have
determined to cling to the old organ
ization with all its crimes, follies, and
blunders upon its head-to stand by its
record and its principles, and to renew
the struggle for the control of the Gov
eminent.
The platform adopted by the Demo-
cratic party at Columbus, declares that
''the party does not seek to revive dead
issues, but stands by its principles,
which are suited to all times and cir