The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-12-14


the will of the people by unfair method
is revolution. Such plots involve anar
chy, distress and dishonor Those whit
engage in them, when they have takeI
the first steps, must go on at all hazards
They have staked their political fortunes
lit may be their lives and liberties
upon success. Fear goads them on t
darker acts Of treason. The first fals'
step forced a reluctant South into rebel
lion. In the same way they now impe
desperate politicians whoupheld usurpa
ton in Louisiana in the past to stand by
them now, regardless of the honor anC
safety of the American Union. VIII {
free people trust such men with power
Will they consent to be dragged intC
danger and dishonor by men who arr
goaded ON by fears which always haun
the guiltyP
GRAVE PROBLEMS.
4 The glory of this Centennial year fadei
away and darkens into this national re
proach and shame. Aroused patriotism
can crush resistance to law, but corrHp
tion kills honor, virtue and patriotism
saps the foundations of society, and
brings down the structure of States anC
nations in ruin and dishonor.
We find ourselves confronted at the
beginning of the second century of oul
political existence with problems as ser
ious as those which faced our fathers al
the outset of our Government Have We
their wisdom, patriotism, and virtue?-
This is a great crisis in our public affairs
Upon the conduct of our people the
world will decide with regard to the char.
acter of American citizens and American
patriotism.
The events of this day will be recited
through the centuries. We are making
chapter in history which will teach Ell.
ther good or evil to those who will come
after us. If we have the patriotism to
rise above party interests and passions
and to do what honesty demands we
shall lift our people to a higher point in
the eyes of the world, and in our own
regard than we have ever yet been.
b If we fail, when the lessons of this
Centennial year should teach us virtue;
when the varied interests of labor, arts,
commerce, and of capital all urge us to a
line Of conduct which will inspire the
world with confidence and ourselves with
the highest sentiments of honor, then
our failure will be long step toward ma
tional decay and degradation.
AN EARNEST APPEAL.
While we implore all classes of citizens
to enter upon the duty of deciding what
shall be done to avert threatened evils,
we respectfully appeal to the great Re-
publican party to see if the heaviest re-
sponsibility for a Just decision does not
rest upon them. And we make this ap-
peal with confidence that great organi-
zation, which has its full share of virtue
and patriotism, will, not, when it calmly
reviews the events of the day, fail to Go
justice to us, to themselves, and to the
country We do not complain that un-
der the excitement of the canvass, or be-
fore the heat of the election should have
passed away, you may for moment
grasp eagerly at victory without seeing
that such victory may prove a curse to
you as well as to the others. But we beg
you to reflect now that you have had ex.
erted in your behalf, not only the whole
power of the national Administration
with its hosts of officials, but that the ex-
eCutlon of all laws relating to the cleo
tion Of the officers of the general govern
ment was entirely in the hands of your
partisans. If we look at the provisions
of these laws, we find that they contain
features of a startling character, as they
were framed before the passions excited
by civil war had been allayed, and with
reference to STATES still looked upon as
hostile to the Union. The judicial off
GERS of every grade who interpret these
laws, almost without exception, belong
to your party. The marshals who exc
cute them are heated politicians, the cry
tenure of whose offices depend upon the
success of your ticket They can sum-
mon vast army of deputies, and these
all may make arrests in some cases with
out process, and by express enactment
are placed above the reach of the laws,
and of the Judiciary of the State. AT the
late election, Republican officials, at the
expense of the general government, could
examine every registry in the principal
towns and cities. They could and did
arrest men for accidental clerical errors
of others in giving the name or number
of a house. In only one instance, under
these laws, was there a recognition of
the party opposed to the Administration
They were entitled to one Of the two su-
pervisors of election at each polling place
but thse were to be selected by persons
all of whom belonged to the party in
power. We do not complain of the en-
forcemenC of these laws. On the con.
trary, we point with satisfaction to the
fact that they furnished the proof made
by their partisan opponents that the
Democratic vote was an honest one. Ii
fruud is suspected it must be the work of
others, not of the Democratic party
Even if these election laws had in all Ca
ses been fairly enforced, they still made
I vast array Of partisan forces and power
by the common treasury, but
exerted against the party that carried
with it majority of the American
people. We hear much of coercion, in.
and undue Influences, but
nothing approaching this in power can
exist in any part of the country. There
s no organization which could for mo-
nent contend with it-backed up as it
las been by the American army.
THE CABINET DIsHoNoRED.
We also appeal to the Republicans to
zee if is not true that during the late
election the officials at Washington over
ooked the fact that they were the Gov
,rnment of a country, and acted through
tut merely as the administration of a
oarty. Has one step been taken, or the
Irmy moved, save at the instance OF their
political friendsP Has there been rec
ignition Of or consultation with single
,itizen who was not allied to them in in
crest and feelingP
There is darker phase of the last
election. The Administration sent out
]abinet officer to take charge of the can
'ass on behalf of the Republican party
lis very position at the head of its man
ging committee made a forced loan on
learly one hundred thousand official de-
'endants. 1t proclaimed to them in tone
ouder than words: "You must work.