The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-07-06
FOR PRESIDENT
SAMUEL ]. TILDEN,
OF NEW YORK
FOR YICE-PREsIDENT
THOS. 4. HENDRICKS,
oE aunrnNa


OF INDIANA.
The National Democratic Convention
which met at st. Louis, on Tuesday,
June 27, was called to order at 1918
O'Clock, by Augustus Schel, of New
York, in the following words;
GENTLRMEN: As Chairman of the Ma
tional Democratic Committee the duty has
been assigned to me to call this Convention
to order according to the usages Of the
Democratic party. This large body Of repre-
sentati7es, coming from every section of the
Union. having assembled for the purpose of
nominating for the Democratic party candi-
dates for President and Vice-President OF
the United States, whose election will make
a change in the administration Of the
Government and stay the corruption which
is now destroying it. lApplause-l The mo-
mentous issue before the country is outlined
and clear and distinct. 1t can not be over
looked, underestimated, or avoided. Ad-
ministrative reform is demanded by the
American people of every class lapplansel
and of all parties. The corruption which
now exists in the Government, which is
suffering from it, must be purified and ele-
waited, and the question is, to whose hands
shall be committed the duty of cleansing
and raising it2 Shall it be committed 70
those whose unclean hands have spoiled it
No. In this hour when the National honor,
public virtue, and the moral sentiment OF
mankind demand reform, the duty must
and shall be assigned to the Democratic
party. fGreat applause. The people will
not support this idea, that the thing to be
reformed can be reformed by itself. This
win answer, yea, It is necessary in the case
of an individual who is answerable to his
conscience and to his God for his sins, but
what is to become of public official integrity
If men to whom is assigned the performance
of public trusts shall abuse their power,
violate their obligations and their oaths
The people are generous and confding, and
are honest. They may be slow, but in the
end they are intelligent and sagacious. The
people will comprehend their rights and
their interests, and the rights have been
fearfully violated, and those interests toe
shamefuIly neglected to ever again trust the
administration of their government to the
Republican party. Great applause.
There is also another issue which COM
mands the consideration of the country, and
that is the currency issue. The Democratic
party has from its origin and through all
the time of its existence been what's known
as the hard money parIy of the country.
TApplause.l And the subtle and adroit
effort on the part of the Republic
can party to charge upon the Demo-
cratic party sthe present condition of
affairs, and to insist that that party is now
the soft money party is entirely incorrect
for let me ask on what page OF the statute,
on what act of public authority in which the
Democrats have had the power and the con-
troll, is there written one word, one line or
one law which has provided or caused the
present condition of things. All the acts of
this government recognize the issue of
paper money, and authorize its use as legal
tender. The acts OF the Supreme Court In
declaring the case constitutional under
which these acts were authorized, were all
done and performed during the existence
and power of the Republican party. What
has been the effect Of it2 Commerce is par
alyzed, the manufacturing interests almost
destroyed in the country, prosperity has dis
appeared, and want has taken its place.
How is it to be remedied? The Democratic
party, with its interests, will see that the
remedy is applied of frugal and economical
Government, and a diminution of taxation.
It can not be brought about by forced con-
traction. [Applause.l 1t should not be as
sisted by additional infation; but we
take the country as it stands. Zap
plausel We are called upon to ap.
ply the remedy; and one remedy which COM
mends itself to every honest man and to
every reasonable Democratisto demand the
repeal OF the Resumption Act. Applause.
Repeal that act, put the Government in the
power of the Democratic party, and let them
pursue the course which they will foresee oi
an economical administration of that Gov
ernment, and assure you that the time il
not far distant wh en- specie payments viii
be resumed, the prosperity OF the country
will be restored, and the whole American
people be happy once more iApplause.l
Gentlemen, the tide is auspicious, and tn,
occasion is suggestive. One hundred wear,
ago the first Democratic assemblage met il
Philadelphia, representatives OF Colonies o
the Atlantic Shore in this country. n Ap
plause. They were under the guide of tha
sage, that patriot, that name, ever to be re
vered, Thomas Jefferson. Applause.
Laid the foundation of that civil and relig
ious liberty which our fathers built. ant
which we now enjoy. On this occasion, thi
Centennial year, the Democratic party has as
sembled in Convention once more to do tina
which our fathers did-that is to say, pre-
claim the course and adoptthe means whicl
shall be necessary to restore us to GU
ancient prosperity. [Applause.] Durin
all the time that the power of the Govern
ment has been in the hands of the Demo
Cratic party, during all that time prosperit
has governed our country, but whenever tha
flag has been dropped.by the advance of Rs
publican power sorrow and shame have bee
our condition. lAprlause.J May we nc
hope now, after sixteen years of Republica
power, that the Democratic party ma
assume its rightful position before the cou1
try? EApplause.l
shall not attempt to forecast the actio
of this Convention in the performance
the duties which it is called upon to PEE
form, either in the nomination of a Pres
dent or Vice-President of the United State
or in the adoption of its platform. Th
rules by which this Convention is goyerne
are such as TO insure the nomination of som
gentleman whose character and position s
a statesman and as an individual is rip
in experience; Of one pure and stainles
in his character, and gho will see thi
none other is nominated for either Of thos
Offices.
As to the platform, this Convention wi
act wisely and in accordance with the pril
ciple that those are best governed who al
least governed. IApplause.l / doubt n,
that much will be left to the energy, th
management and the economy Of our pc