Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1875-09-24

out on tue cOrruptlOnS Oh tne auiiii''i9
tion-credit mobilier, salary grao. &C
Although he generously admitted thaI
Republicans and Democrats were very
much alike, nothing was said OF the par
ticular weakness of the latter in being
oyertakep as participants IN both these
scbemes for plunder. From plunder he
went IN usurpation. The Georgia Legis-
Ia,urp of 1871, and Louisiana imbroglio
of a later date. were instances where
Government had stepped in to overthrow
the will of the people. These States sup
piled the evidence of violation of "loca
slefgovernment" Not a word about
the intimidation and violenca used in the
latter State TO drive honest voters from
the polls, and from their homes nor of
the same oppression and violence now
going on in Mississippi, and which has
lead the AttyGeneral, in response TO
appeals for help from the Gov sfnn nj,
TO say, "go home and organize yours Ives
and defend your rights at all hazards
Local self-government is a venerated
principle of Southern Democracy, as the
huniIng, manning and assassinatIn+ OF
Republicans, forcibly show. In the
Louisiana case particularly, it was as
serted that the military power was called
upon by Republicans 10 Oust sitting mem
bers. This bald declaration was made
in the face of the well-known and au-
theuticated fact, that the aid of Govern
ment troops was invoked by PennfieId,
the presiding officer, Conservative, or
Democrat. This fact. we believe. has
never been earnestly controverted-that
the appeal TO the military was first made
by the Democrats of the Assembly. Yet
the Misrepresentation was made with out
reservation or modification.
Another Inaccnracy was made in allu-
sion TO the multitude of iaxgatherers
that swarm over the land-"mOre TO the
acre than are 10 be found IN any other
Government under Gods heavens P' The
swarm of "pIblicans," were in the sha pc
of Internal Revenue lax-gatherers. This
is more bald representation than the
other, for any Democrat who heard the
assertion, can test the truth of it by sim
ply asking himselt-how many such tax
gatherers are there TO the acre circum-
scribed by the circle of his acquaintance?
Or how many do you know in the cOun-
ty or congressional district? How many
have called upon you and made draft
upon your purse? These questions will
show you that your Senator was playing
upon your credulIty and resorting TO dis
reputable means to awaken hostility
against your neIghbor and fellow citizen.
He played the demagogue and lowered
the standard of manliness and honor that
many-Republican as well as Democrat
had raised for him. The fact about this
matter is-and which the speaker shou Id
have known-there are Just three Inter
nal Revenue collectors, or Tax gather
ers," in this congressional district COM
posed as ii is. of five counties. Not very
many to the acre, surely.
In matters of genera. concern, Mr.
Thurman was scarcely more happy than
when he undertook to talk of State af-
fairs. In this field he was not at home
and floundered most discreditably. He
dealt in defamation and gasconade.
Catholics were patted upon the back and
fsttered for their patriotism as displayed
in the rebellion. 1t is not to be denied
that there were Irish regiments that did
some good fighting no doubt many of
them were Catholics. But how strange
to hear the word patriotism so fippant-
ly used, and such concentrations be-
slowed by one whose influence was used
10 its utmost to oppose the Government,
and cripple it in every possible, way and
whose very soul, during the war, was
stepped in rebellion!
We are disposed to allow that Mr..
Thurman did not go against his well
understood principle of favor to honest
sound currency-a specie basis. The
subject of finance was not introduced. 1t
was lodged entirely, from respect, we
suppose. TO the. Ohio platform, as well as
an indisposition to go back upon his own
record. On this subject, he stands with
Senator Sherman and voted for the law
to resume in 1879. Those who came to
hear him, on this subject, went away dis
appointed. Perhaps little more so than
those who only expected to hear a speech
worthy of a man occupying leading
position in the Senate ofthe o. S. But it
is hardly worth while to talk of the de-
grees of disappointment. The feeling,
we believe, was a common one, alike
with Democfat and Republican. As an
old Democrat from Orwell said-many
felt He had come here to hear some
thing, but he should have to wait for Esh-
Gilman, in the evening-who was then ex-
pected TO hold another meeting-as Mr..
Thurman had occupied the afternoon,
and frozen out his audience, without his
hearing anything.
Senator Thurman showed himself a
triokster and demagogue, and he lost
reputation by his effort here. Such is the
feeling among Democrats who were pres
ent, that they do not care to talk about
this demonstration, and the noise and
h1t1 ,lx . ffoy rtanrt1fuI