The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-08-31
AnHdral
A LETTER FROM "GALLANT
LITTLE MAC"
CONTINU NUED DROWNINGS,

CoBURG, CANADA, Aug. III, 1870
My DEAR SIR-Your very kind letter
ofthe 10th has reached me, and quite
concur with you. -,
Deeply impressed by the gravity of the
issues involved in the approaching Pres
idential election, believing that the honor
of country and the well being Of the
people depend in no small degree upon
the result, / feel compelled to depart
from the res erve that has become habit
ual to me, and express the earnest con-
ViCtiOns that press upon me.
Under a constitutional government
the formation of political parties is a nee
essary consequence of the diversity Of
human minds and interests. Sentimen-
talists in their closets may dream of an
ideal Republic, all of whose citizens are
perfectly wise, yirtuous, and consequent
" unanimous, but such a dream can
never be realized on this earth, and we
must recognize the fact that political par
ties are not only necessary, but benet-
Cial, acting as they do as checks upon
each other. Experience has shown, IN
all constitutional countries that when
any party possesses uninterrupted pow
er for very long tine, especially when
the minority is too weak to interpose any
efficient check upon the actions OF the
majority, the tendency is that the lead
ers become careless and reckless, forget
that there is any power 10 which they
are responsible, look upon office as a per-
sonal possession and reward rather than
public trust, and learn TO regard their
tenure as permanent. So, too, the legis-
lative bodies become inclined to a sys-
tenn of extravaganza which engenders
corruption, facilitates the formation Of
rings, and finally destroys the prosperity
Of the people.
The on sure remedy in such case
is that the people shall, through the bal
lot-box, place the former opposition in
power.
That our country is now in the condi-
ton lust described is proved by the uni
versal and peremptory demand for com
plete reform by the people, without re-
gard to party. .,
Among Democrats there is no doubt as
to the manner in which the change
should be accomplished.
With many Republicans the question
is whether they can trust the professions
Of their party, or whether they must take
the disagreeable step of breaking away
from old political associations by leaving
the party under whose administration all
he evils of which they complain have
grown up, and act with the Democrats,
who, from the force of circumstances,
must necessarily be reformers,
Al l.. Il ,,,l fln, ,Np
sonal character and intelligence Ct the
Republican candidate for the Presidency
and believe him to be an upright gentle
man. But it seems to me quite impossl-
BILE that he can change the organization
and policy of his party. =,
The leaders who control and shape its
policy would be the same after hls cleo
ton as now, and it is idle to hope for any
change in them.
1t is now abundantly evident that had
not Democratic House been elected IN
1874, it would have been impossible to
unearth the various instances OF malad.
ministration that have come to light, and
it is equally clear Jhat until the govern
ment passes into the hands of the Dem
oCrats, we shall never know the whole
truth. whatever it may be; and we need
to know the truth as to the past, that it
may serve to guide us in the future.
Believing, as | firmly do, that every
consideration of honesty and sound
craftsmanship, every true national and
individual interest demands the prompt
inauguration of a policy which shall, in
the briefest practicable time, reduce ev-
cry government expenditure to the low
est point commensurate with honor and
efficiency; regarding the reform of the
civil service in its broadest sense, and
with it the enforcement upon office
holders of the conviction that there only
business is 20 perform their public duties
and not to manipulate party politics, as
an inherent part of this reform salts
fed that it must be accompanied by tinan-
Cial measures steadily directed towards
the resumption of specie payments with
in the shortest possible period, | cannot
for moment doubt that these all-lmport-
ant ends will be best, and in fact only, at
tained by the election of the candidate Of
the Democratic party.
But questions of finance and reform are |
not the only ones which affect our pres
ent and future.
The recent war altered forever. some |
vexed questions for example, the as
serted right of secession has disappeared |
in a sea of blood slavery has been abOl-
ished, never to reappear; to the negro |
has been given the right OF citizenship |
and suffrage. We have nothing more to |
do with these results, save to accept them
frankly and watch that they remain in.
tact. After many trials and tribulations,
the States not long since arrayed in arms
against the general government, have re-
established their relations with the |
Union and regained their autonomy.
Generous courtesy toward fallen, but |
most gallant foe, and selfish policy, alike |
demand that we should leave no unjust |
thing undone that will restore peace and |
well.being to the South, re-establish fra
ternal feeling in the hearts of all ourpeo-
ple. and cause our recent enemies to be
proud of, and love the government of the
Union and its flag. The welfare Of the
North is inseperable from that of the
South, and our country can never attain
its full force and vigor until peace, pros
perity and kind feeling reign throughout
its broad domain.
believe that this end can best be
reached by respecting the autonomy of
the individual States so long as they re-
spect the obligations Of the Federal COM
pact. -.
Allowed to govern themselves, public
opinion, self-respect and regard for
their own interests will certainly suffice
to induce the Southern States to place
good men in office and to enforce the
laws While of the opinion that federal
interference should never be resorted to,
except in the cases provided for in the
constitution, also think that, if any out
RACES are committed upon the rights, per-
sons or property of any citizen, whatever
his race, whether white or black, and
the State authorities neglect or hesitate
to do their duty, that the general gov
ernment should urge and aid them in
every legal way to enforce order and JUS
tice, and should use all its legitimate in