Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-09-01
The Issues of the Election.

The Issues Of the Election.
THE following Is an extract from a re-
cent speech delivered at Chicago by the
Hon. James p. Root, of that city. II
should be read by all who want a terse,
concise statement Of the issues involved
in the approaching election:
FELLOW CITrzENs-I ask myself two
questions:
1. Why dol not support the Democratic
partyf
2. Why do support the Republican
party2
/ cannot support the Democratic
party because of its past history, and
because il gives no promise of better
future.
Its record is stepped in infamy, and is
smirched with fraud, corruption, treason
and murder.
1t has stolen the labor and liberty of
100000 of people, and forged chains
which bound them to the earth, and
which to-day would gall them had not
the command of the Republican party
been obeyed.
The Democratic party Inaugurated
the repeal of the Missouri Compromise,
whereby the last barrier between free
dom and slavery was broken down in all
territory within the exclusive jurisdic-
tion of Congress,
1t attempted to carry the black pail of
terrible crime into free territory, and
for that purpose instituted bloodshed,
robbery, destruction of property and
murder.
1t stole forts, arsenals, ships, money
and munitions of war.
1t stole the blood of 100000 men.
1t stole $3, 600, ,0O0, 900, that being the
amount the people must make up by
taxation as the cost Of a cruel war.
1t drove loyal men from their homes
and confiscated their property, and it
murdered in cold blood those who "ral-
lied around the old flag"
Its grim visage is reflected in the hor-
rors of Andersonville, Libby and Fort
! Pillow.
I IL murdered uercnselUss ncgIUos in
New York, while its champion Governor
addressed the frenzied mob as friends
and brothers.
1t resisted the draft and encouraged
desertion.
| IL
arms against the Government, and de
nounced Union soldiers as hirelings and
murderers.
1t gave vent to treason in thousands
of speeches and publications.
1t refused to vote money to carry or
the war, and to feed and clothe Unior
!, soldiers.
1t laughed with demoniac glee at rebe
success, and it howled with pain at rebe
defeat.
1t opposed the emancipation of thu
slaves, preferring that they should HI
retained as an ally of the rebels, and il
became enraged because colored mer
fought bravely on the side of the Union
J 1t stole more public money in New
York alone than all the losses of thu
: Federal Government since the advent o
the Republican party into power.
: 1t pronounced the war failure, ant
declared in favor of peace upon the mos
3 disgraceful and humiliating terms.
| 1t set up as its chapion, in 1864, upon
: platform that the war was failure, a Gen
l eral whose military career verified tn
platform.
/ 1t set up as its champion in 1868 tn
Governor who failed to suppress th
4 Democratic mob in New York in 1868.
r 1t advocated the reputation of the n5
i tional debt, and by every influence POI
l sible smirched the national credit.
1t organized Ku-Klux gangs to terrify
/ oppress and kill loyal men in the Soutl
v while its Northern wing at first denie
l and then justified the outrage.
1t has by it's reckless and outrageor
1 acts compelled the interposition of legi
e lation to protect people in their rights.
1t has attempted to overturn State Co
S Srnments and make them subservient
i the demands of the worst elements in s.
: ciety.
r 1t has corrupted the ballot-box an
prevented free exercise of the elccti,
It franchise.
It 1t has abolished the common-scho
|, system in Alabama, Texas and 9th
:. Southern States.
v 1t has introduced into Congress bill
t for the appropriation of millions of monC
p to pay Southern claims.
h 1t has removed crippled soldiers fro
Il employment under the Government, al
II substituted those whose merit is that thu
a fought against the flag.
l. 1t has placed upon its ticket, as
l. standard bearer, the attorney of Tamm
tt ny-the bosom friend of Tweed-wi
n whom he sat in conventions and ON COZ
mittees, practicing political legerdema
5. worthy only of ward -bummers.
,. charge the Democratic party wi
% these things, and submit impartial hist
l. ry as proof.
d All promises of reform have faile
and thousands and thousands of dolla
1. have been expended in the fruitless 9
3 tempt to make political capital.
|" Instead of convicting Republicans,
e it promised, the pathway of Democrat
ia investigation is strewn all along wi
,e wounded Democrats, some of whom ha
|. expired and others have crawled into 0
# scurity.
!. BY its acts-its inglorious record-tl
d sayings and doings of its oracles al
leaders, we must judge it, and, so jud
ing it, we cannot support it. 1t new
crystallized around great idea or 6
honest principle. When on trial it h
- not the poor plea of former good cha
IL acter for il has no witness on that Doiu