The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-06-24
AGOOD WORK DONE.

A GOOD WORK DONE.
The delegates of the Democracy of
several counties of Ohio, met in Cen
vention at the Opera House in Colum-
bus, at eleven o'clock on Thursday,
June 17th. The Convention was
called to order by Hon. A. T. Walling,
Chairman Of tho Democratic State
Central Committee. se'T -s aea
The following temporary officers
were then elected: r. s,. -lf -i.5
President-Hon. John L. Vance, OF
Secretary.L. G. Gould, of Preble
county. -
Assistant Secretaries-Major d. j.
Huston, of Huron j. +. Shoemaker,
of Champaign and f. NJ. Scantlin, OF
Warren.
MR.. vANCK'S SPEECH.
Hon. j. L. Vance was then intro
duced to the Convention, and spoke
as follows:
Gentlemen of the Convention:
1 thank yeu most sincerely for the
honor Of temporarily presiding over
his Convention--oncd destined to make
an important landmark in the politi-
Cal history, not only of your own
State, but of the whole country.
While our immediate duty will be
the selection of leaders under whose
guidance we shall do battle this fall,
our action, it must be remembered, in
ausurates the most important contest
which has been waged insthe history
of Democracy in America. The lines
are tightly drawn the issues are patent
and undeniabIe. On the one side We
have the policy OF that political or
eanization which for fifteen years has
controlled the destinies of our nation
al administrations A period of ten
years of profound peace has elapsed
since the last hostile gun was fired be-
tween the North and the South, and
what to-day is the condition of the
country? The merchant and mechan
ic; the capitalist and day laborer are
unanimous in their well-foundcd com
plants manufacturers and consumers.
producers and exporters, all cry aloud
that trade is staguant, commerce lam
guishes, the necessary medium for ef
fccting exchanges exists i'll insufficient
quantity, and N Nitional and personal
Bankruptcy stare US in the face. The
party in power is rotten to the core:
unbiushiDg corrnption stalks uncheck-
cd through every department of the
public service !; frauds so gigantic tina;
as yet their existence is doubted sim
ply because honest men cannot con-
ceivc of such stupenaoHs rascali;y
have been committed Dv high officials
. oxf Of r~1r
vet retained i'll office. While our civil
service is a national disgrace, our for
eign policy is contemptIbie and pus-
Unanimous. From the Department sf
State at Washington. to the remotesi
revenue Office in cur broad domain,
private, personal aud corrupt practice
have become the order OF Inc day.
The administration Of public affairs.
instead of being managed in the i'll
terest of economy and honesty, has
degenerated into system of pecula
tion to enrich those who are entrusted
with the disbursement of public funds.
The henchmen of the Republican par
ty, wherever they hold office, seem to
have read the handwriting on the
wall, and the haste they exhibit in en-
riching themselves, without regard TO
credit they bring OH their party, show
that the most interested adherents to
the administration know that in Il
short time their lease of power and
opportunities for fraud will pass awav
forever! 80
But pass away it must; and its de-
parture will be day of rejoicing for
all who love their country and value
its institutions. 1t must be remem
bered, furthermore, that while We pos
sess facts which astOund as at the
depth and breadth of the corrupiions
and frauds from which the Govern
ment has suffered, that as yet we have
had 10 systematic investigation, such
as the next session of the House OF
Representatives will afford US. The
schemes to defraud the revenue, to rob
the postoffice, to swindle the Indians,
to transfer vessels Of the navy to the
hands of private SPECTATORS !; in short,
the almest innumerable plans which
have been devised by men placed in
Office by the RepusIican party to drain
the Government, whose property they
swore to protect, have never come |
fully to our knowledge. 1t is to the
interest of that party TO conceal, as
long as possible, every equivocal |
every disgraced offender.
As a consequence, it is only when Cir.
so combine that conceal |
nent is no longer possible, that the |
light Of truth and honesty is ever per-
nitted to penetrate into the dark
places o. the public service. The /
Whisky Ring. the Smuggling Ring,
and other combinations to defraud the
and distress honest dealers,
have only come to light since COM
petent man was called to the Treasury.
Who cln surmise what will result
when tine same process is carried out
in the office once occupied by Will
ANS. the serviceable Oregon lawyer,
who was willing to use the legal ma
,hinery of the General Government to
screen political fayoriies, but who
acked brains 10 make his actions even
Lssume the sembiauce of plausibiiity
The end draws nigh, and soon the
lamc and spirit OF the party which
or SO long has domineered over us
will be known only in the memory of
Is in.quitous deeds. An impoYcr- (;
shed and almost bankrupt country 1
me only saved from fierce sectional
euds and renewed fratricidal strife I
10 I,