The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-06-24

y
me IN calling me to preside over your
deliberations. lay no claim to either
the experience or ability required 10 pre-
side over such body, but ii would be
uncandid in me not to, say, that with
such body before me, all will be done
,decenlly and in aOrdeFgppasu ''sa'E'aa'i''''i''
One hundred years ago our fathers
were engaged in deadly conflict with
one Of the most powerful countries on the
globe Our fathers were poor, and
fought not for self-glory, but for their
homes and their rights. Prominent
among these rights being the right to
worship God according to the dictates OF
their own conscience. Applause.
There was Presbyterian Massachusetts,
and Catholic Maryland fighting side by
side. Our fathers, irrespective Of sect,
fought side by side. They embla2ened
the motto of "Justice to all men " upon
their banners, and went forth to victory
trusting in the God Of battle; they made
us a Constitution embodying these ideas
and sustained them for US. These
people decided the rising generation
should be educated SO they might be
fitted for the Government. Upon that
basis was founded our common school
system. Cheers The funds raised to
support these schools is the sacred fund
Of the State, and no sectarian or eclesi-
astical power shalt have all or any Of it.
IGreat applause Some years ago |
happened to have something to do with
framing a Constitution declaring that
this fund was sacred. and now, to have
certain persons charge that we are seek
ing to murder our own offspring made
me feel somewhat indignant. Who
made the Constitution but the Demo
Gratis? But why talk of this when we all
know this merely to be the introduction
of religious crusade After the adop-
ton of the Federal Constitution, nearly
three-quarters of century ago, it was
found necessary to form the Democratic
party to defend the principles Of this
Constitution, announced in the cannon
of Bunker Hill, and often since. It's
duty is to see that every man S wages go
to himself; to take care and see that the
great demon which lies between God
and conscience is rot evaded by civil
government. 1t is to preserve civil lib
erty and personal honor. If the Demo
cratic party has aught else to do. do
not know it. You are representatives of
the great men that have gone before you,
and is not this a great honor? You have
not attempted to connect yourself with
the ephemeral parties, SO frequently
based on fanaticism. but you, to-day, are
the only supporters Of the principles
enunclated by the fathers Of the Consti-
tuition. Let us lay aside personal prefer
ences and resolve to day. as one man,
to conduct the country back to the place
where we left it years ago, There was
time when no American on land or sea,
at home or away, could say the Ameri-
can Government was not protecting him,
but the party in power have invaded
personal and civil liberty, seeming to see
no difference batween ruling camp and
ruling free people. They seem to
think the Government can be used to
advance agrandizement. Grant has al
ready assumed rights that Jackson would
never dared to think OF.
The speaker referred TO Grants third
term letter as bid, blamed the Repub-
lican party with striking commerce from
the seas, as committing wrongs that de-
preciated the currency, fostering monop-
olies, giving lands to railroads, en-
couraging carpet-bagging, and then
backing it up with an army, and was
loudly applauded.