The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-11-11

expose ana COnVlCJ inc mbIuUoIb ANU
officials Of the party they are said to
favor This very condemnation, 30 wild,
contradictory and self-destroying, be-
comes the highest commendation Of the
commission to all fair and dispassionate
minds. The nomination of Mr.. Bigelow,
who is on the Governors Commission,
for the office Of Secretary of State, is
deemed scandalous, while that of Mr.
Seward, who is one of the Legislative
Commission, is lauded as an admirable
selection. Both commissions are ap-
pointed for the same purposes. The
members of one commission are applaud
ed, while those upon the other are held
open to public scorn for taking part In
the canvass. This is ContTiyance for
the self-destruction of argument, 80 that
when we meet to answer them they
elude our grasp and wilt into thin air.
They are az unsubstantial and as ghost
like as the paper currency which their
candidate for Comptroller would put forth
for money. As to Mr.. Spinner, his views
on the financial question are treated as
an eccentricity, but if they were held by
q Democratic candidate they would be
put under the head of repudiation, vii.
iainy and fraud. l shall not follow the
example Of personal denunciations. |
will not say of them what they would
say of each other, if they were brought
together to state their views of public
affairs. One would demand Maine
law, another would denounce it; one
would pray, another swear; some would
call for specie payments, Others want
paper money; some desire the punish
ment Of frauds, others would remind
them of the sources of their strength and
supplies.
At a recent meeting in this city the
Republicans we're delighted to learn that
they had been reformers for many years.
Their reforms were of SO mild type that
it required large array of figures, q
skillful adjustment of facts and great
deal of rhetoric to prove their existence.
They were so gentle in their operation
that no wrong-doer had found them out
no official had been put upon his guard
They were 30 harmless that no one had
been hurt, and they had never disturbed
any of the pleasant relationships between
Republican Governors and those who
are now convicted wrong-doers. Legis-
lative liberalties and executive courtesies
have worked 30 smoothly that every
salary was raised and means had been
found to relieve, by incidental ways, the
cost of the Governors Office until his con-
stitutional salary was mere item of his
receipts, and the expenses of the Execu-
tive Chamber in 1884 were twice as
much in peace as they we're when Gov.
Morton, in time of war, performed the
great labor of organizing the military
affairs Of New York, and of sending an
army of more than one hundred thou
sand men to the field of contest. The
acts which were passed last winter, and
by virtue ofwhich offenders can be pun
ished, and which are almost the only pro-
lection of the country against fraud and
robbery, were suffered to llnger and die
on the tables of the Legislature, but were
revived and pushed forward by Cover.
nor Tilden, and became law within sixty
days. In them, am happy to say, he
had the support of parties, as his prede-
Cessor might have had, if he had sought
it in an earnest way. Wewill not under
rate what the Republicans have done,
but all men know that it was not until
the present Executive took the chair that
earnest, active steps were taken to vindi
cate the laws and to punish offenders.
If we are to fall back into that gentle
kind of reform whose very existence can
only be proved by a brief and an elo-
quent speech, then We have but little to
hope for in the future. 1t is noticeable
of the fairest Republican speakers that
when they have shown the value Of a
sound currency they stop and leave their
hearers to think that good money will
cure all of our evils. We know why this
is done. Good money is only one ele-
ment Of good government. fit has not
in addition wisdom, honesty and econo-
my, it will sink into decay. There is no
doubt that Dives was sound on finances,
but we all know where he went to, and
every government. travels the same road
if it is not prudent, patriotic and vir-
tuous.
1t is fortunate for our country at this
time, when so many conflicting theories
are put forth, and there is 50 much con-
fusion in political action, that there are
some truths which stand out clear and
unshaken. If we will be governed by
those we shall pass safely through all
our difficulties and danger. We do not
need any tricks Of craftsmanship nor
financial strategy. The truths which all
men can see and understand are suf6-
cient for our purposes, if we will be
guided by them. Experience has proved
them, and our reason is satisfied with
their justice, We know that taxation
eats up the fruits of industry; that its adds
to the hours of toll of our workmen, and
that it obstructs the business machinery
of society. We know that expenditures
by Government make debt and taxation
and involve the country in embarrass-
ment which in too many cases leads to
frauds and gives birth to wild and de-
moralizing theories with regard to cur
rency and finances. We know that the
political principles which call for CEN
tralization can only be carried out by in
creasing the cost of government, by
widening the field of its expenditures;
and we know, by sad experience, as these
expenditures are made by agents in
many cases at points too remote to admit
of scrutiny, that they engender frauds
and corruption. We must retrace our
steps. We must have reform. We must
be governed by the loftiest, the purest,
the safest statesmanship. 1t is within
the reach of all. In clear terms, it is set
forth in these simple words Honesty,
Industry and Economy.