The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-07-20
SPEECH OF
SPEECH OF
HON. SAMUEL F.. HUNT,
Delivered at the Ratification
Meeting in Cincinnati, Satur-
day Evening, July 8, 1876,

day Evening, July 8, 1876,
FELLOw-CITIRENsO OF THE CITY OF
CINCINNATI: In accepting of the
courtesies which have been so kindly
extended this evening, it is not my
purpose to intrude a heightened speech
upon the indulgence of the audience.
This intelligent assemblage attests
more eloquently than any words OF
mine that the people of this great city
demand that there shall be revival
of public virtue and an economical adj
ministration of Government in all its
departments. They demand that its
appropriations be confined to legfti-
mate objects, and that there should be
rigid system of accountability and
economy in public affairs. They de-
mand that the army of plunderers
which infest the capital of the country
to lay hold of the revenues of the peo-
pie already overburdened with taxation
be dispersed. They demand the over
throw of unjust monopolies and class
legislation, and the removal of the bur-
dens and exactions which Oppress Ia
Dor. They demand the restoration of
cordiality and good will among alien
ated countrymen by peace, order, and
stability of legislation and govern
ment in the Southern States. They
demand the repeal or modification of
the unjust and oppressive features of
4 I, ;rk; <or ~ lou nn6 fhof tor-
if for revenue alone be substituted.
They demand that while we are at
tempting to reach the pockets of the
South by lines of railway-a compIi-
ment to the progress and liberality of
this city-we must also reach their
hearts by testimonies of sympathy and
kindness. Ez.-...
THE TEACHINGS OF THE CONVENTION.
Citizenship begets parties. They are
common to every free State. A gov
ernment polity can only be made OPP
erative through political organization
The welfare of all demands that every
measure of public policy should be dis
cussed with entire freedom. There
must be freedom of discussion and
action in order to create an enlightened
public sentiment. In this spirit to-
night we meet, not to ratify the action
of the Convention of st. Louis; not
because of any particular candidate so
much as to give public Endorsement to
the principles enunciated by that body.
Those principles are nothing unless
they can awaken enterprise and indus
try and devotion to the public good in
the new period which has been inau-
gurated in the country's history. Those
principles are nothing unless they can
maintain the faith of this nation, and
can promote the prosperity and happi-
ness and true glory of people after
the terrible calamities of civil war.
Indeed. no party can gain public con-
fidence that is not able and willing to
give sufficient guarantee for the secur-
ity of the peace and highest Interests
of the people, for the maintenance of
their honor and prosperity, and for the
preservation of public order reconciled
to individual liberty. The party by
its history, gives this guarantee. a.,
DECENTRALIZATION IN PUBLIC LIFE.
The agents of monopolists and cor
porations have long been infesting the
halls of legislation in order to secure
measures designed for the benefit of
the few to the exclusion of the many.
The scandal of Credit Mobilier dishoh-
ored the country both at home and
abroad, without a rebuke from the ex-
ecutive of the people. A member OF
Congress deeply implicated in dishon-
orable transactions carried in his
stained hands the honor of his country
| to a foreign Court. A Vice-President
of the United States retired to private
life with the certificate of the President
that it is not inconsistent with sense
of honor to receive a present of one
| thousand dollars when in an official
position from a contractor for Govern
ment supplies. An attempt at civil
service reform ended on election day
in order to raward partisan effort. An
act is passed by Republican Congress
enlarging the Jurisdiction of the Fed
eral Courts of the District of Column
bia, in order that the public press may
be silenced, and corrupt and unscrupu-
lous officers shielded from just and
necessary criticism. In the District OF
Columbia, under the very notice OF
the Executive and an overwhelming
majority of Congress, the frauds upon
thu o;tioons and the Eederal Treasury