The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-05-06

THE DUTY OF GOOD CITIZENS.

MeSsrs Editors: Is there not among the
people at this day good deal of feeling
or contempt felt over the political agita-
tions of the periodp Does it not look as
though the government is bent upon pro-
noting and aggravating dangerous sec
tional animosities for mere selfish or par
ty purposes, instead of honestly discharg.
ing its duties in trying to reconcile and
compose? Is it not the duty of every
good and true citizen to ask himself the
question, What ought to be done to avert
the consequences of such a policy? Does
it not eudanger the public peace2 Does
it not threaten ruin, not only to the party
in power but to the entire country?
Should we not suspect that this feeling
on the part of modera thinkers (Repub-
licans) is what renders so many of them
apparently Indifferent to any serious or
combined efforts to arrest the downward
course of things2 In fact they would
rather have President Grants discomtit-
ure complete than partial, for while it
appears he is inclined to sit on the safety
valve they are not disposed to mOlest
him. True, these views may be very
reasonable, but is not the difficulty that
these views are out of season, for them to
stand idly by or lock the door when they
have no horse to be stolen2 Did not the
Reform Republicans in the Greeley cam
paign see what the main body Of that Or
ganizatitn are beginning to see now =?
They have passed through their season of
anxiety and modification of the base uses
to which the once noble party was put
by the crowd of unprincipled scamps that
took charge of it for selfish motives soon
after the election of General Grant in
1868, The party now would never be
mistaken by any one for that once vigor.
Gus and conscientious party whose name
it appropriated and whose character it
has disgraCed. Was it not plain to every
one who wished to see in 1872. that that
was the time to reform? Did not the
Convention at Cincinnati offer that op-
portunity to save its name in its purity
and the party its character2 The offer
was declined, the opportunity was lost.
Was it not enough when such men as
Charles Sumner, Adams, Greeley, Shurz,
Trumbull, and host of others with ma
tional reputation, fresh from the front
ranks of the Republican party, who help
ell the efforl? True, not their fault. Must
not all of to-day admit that the Republi-
can party is not reform party, compos-
ed of the best men from all sides; striving
firm and resolute, commanding success
and defying destruction, instead Of being
made up of every immoral element of our
politics and condemned on every hand
by the votes of the people? Have not
Liberals, or Reform Republicans, this
S lisfaction, when they know } ou scorned
our counsels, denounced our objects, and
derided our methods; to know you have
only yourselves to blame for what has
come on you, and for what impends.
The reform which you spurned i'll 1872,
and which was possible then, is impossi-
BILE in 1874, and it will eventually be i'm
possible in 1870. You have been losing
the confidence of the people from the day
you refused the statesman you had at
hand for President and nominated Gen.
Grant for his military achievements
True, what else should we look for2 Are
we not to follow the ordinary course of
politics of all governments. and of which
ours have furnished conspicuous exam
plesP Should not all parties who fail in
skill and honesty expect to be destroyed
by SUGGESTIONS from their ranks, and
other parties helped and created by such
seceeders? This is the case in England
to-day. Are we not following their ex-
amples? Can any one doubt the necessity
of a changer Not mere change of per.
sons but radical change in the affairs
of State to supply the wants. Let the
reformers act well their part and the peo-
pie will sustain them. With what anx-
iety will the people wait the coming in of
the Democratic House of Representatives.
What is left but to harmonic all the ele-
ments opposed to the Grant administra-
ton, and by doing so a change can be
made. Without a change can we hope
for relief, but with change we have the
right to expect relief. But fear am
taking up too much space in your valu-
able paper. LIBERAL.