The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-11-26
THE LATE
ELECTIONS
SPEECH OF
HON J, PROCTOR KNOTT.


The following extracts are from the
speech of Mr., Knott, at the great Dem
ocratic jolh6cation at Nashville on the
goth;
The result of the elections of the I'D of
November remind us that there is deep
fraternal feeling still pervading our en-
tire sisterhood of States. They tell us
that poor down-trodden louisiana, torn,
bruised and bleeding as she is, still has
friends among the neighbors of the mon
ster in human shape, who in 1862 would
subject her fair daughters to the rude in
suits of a soldiery, who, to tpeir credit
and the credit Of common humanity be
it spoken, disdained to avail themselves
of his brutal license. They tell us that
the South, no longer chained like the
Titan to the rock, with the vultures of
Federal power rending and tearing at her
vitals, shall bound again to her feet,
clothed in a giants strength, and assume
once more her proud position in our
grand community Of sovereign and CO.
equal States; that her sunny plains shall
wear again the golden smiles of prosper
ity and thrift; that her desolated homes
shall be rebuilt and their hospitable halls
again resound with the glad songs oflib-
erty and peace. Applause,
They tell us that our government shall
again be administered upon those great
cardinal principles of political philoso-
ply first formulated by the hand of the
immortal Jefferson, and which have con-
stituted the great tenets in the creed Of
Democratic faith from the establishment
of the Union 10 the present hour.
That there shall be an absolute subor-
dination at all times and under all cir
cumstances, Of the military to the civil
authority. The sanctity of no home
stead is to be violated by the midnight
tramp of an armed soldiery compelled
to execute the mandates of an irrespon-
sible despot, but that every mans house
shall be his castle, in which he can lie
down to the refreshing slumbers of a
conscience, void of offense, secure un-
der the protecting egis of his country's
laws. That there shall be no more con-
tempt Of the judicial power on the part
of the petty subaltern, but that the ha-
beas corpus shall be in fact, as in theory,
the talisman Of the citizen-safety.
That there shall be an impartial dis
tribution Of the burdens as we'll as the
of the government over all
sections Of the union and all classes of
the community alike.
That we shall have the strictest econo-
my in the public expenditures, and no
more Presidents who have so many re-
lations that they can't live on a salary of
S25, 900 year.
A rigid arraignment of all abuses of
power and public trusts, both before the
established tribunals of justice and the
great bar Of popular opinion. No more
sham Investigations, no mare whitewash-
ing committees, but general cleansing
ofthe Augean stables, a thorough cour-
ing out of the lobbies, complete smash
ing up of the rings, and the prompt fer
reting out Of frauds, corruption, bribery
and official theft.
That we are to have no more interfer-
ence with local elections by corrupt Uni
tedl States Marshals, drunken district
Judges, or partisan attorneys general,
but jealous care Of the elective fran
chise, the sole property Of several States,
and the corner stone of their indie.
pendence, as it is of all free govern
ments.
That the General Government shall
be supported in all the powers delegated
to it in the Constitution, carefully and
strictly construed, as the established
means of securing justice and harmony
among the several States, the chosen
of communication with other
and our surest protection
against foreign aggression.
And finally that the State Govern
ments shall be maintained in all their
rights, dignity and equality as the most
reliable administrators of our domestic
concerns and our sacred bulwarks against
tendencies that each
particular star in our splendid galaxy of
Of fsoyereign communities shall move on
It's own appointed path, with the har-
mony and precision that marked the
music Of the spheres when the morning
stars sang together, and all the sons Of
God shouted for joy.
IfAthens observed the anniversary of
Marathon as festival if libations were
poured in honor of Salamis; if
sacrifices of thanksgiving were offered
every year in commemoration of Platea;
{ in the better days of our own Republic
zach anniversary Of our independence.
vas ushered in with the booming of can
ION, and its lingering twilight lengthen-
ID by the grandest displays Of pyrotech-
tic skill, surely the sd Of November will
itand as a white day in the calendar,
While freedom has home among the
,hildren ofmen, and patriotism finds
iwelling in the human heart. if for no
,ther reason than the check it has given
o the tide of Capitalization. and the
promises it affords of the perpetuiry Of
ocal self-government.
But, my fellow-citizens, ifthe sd ofNo-
'ember shall hereafter be observed as
National holiday, as trust it will. there
S a single association connected with it,
which fear. will always tinge its festive
lours with sadness-it marks the retire
nent Of so many able-bodied, self-sacri-
icing patriots from the public service.
in that noble band ofreceed-
ng statesmen is the battle-scaTed vete-
an from Massachusetts-the eagle-eyed
ZERO of Big Bethel and Fort Fisher; the
rim -visaged warrior who captured New
nearly everything in it;
he faithful guardian Of the public treas
Iry; the terror Of salar -grabbers, lobby
ings. and delicate women, Laughter
nd applause.
"A sWeeter and loveller gentleman
Framed in the prodignity Of nature,
The spacious world cannot again Afford.