Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-10-17
To the People Of the gnited States.

of the October Stale elections. We re- olcc In
the victory which the peoples ballots have be-
slowed unon the t!iendS OF reform 10 the valley
of the Ohio where the repubiicau hosts had
an overwhelming ascendency in every Prcs;-
DENTAL election since 1856. We rejoice in the
assurance these elections convey that your bal
lots will bcstow decisive mo jorites to the allied
forces of democracy and reform III the Noven-
ber elections throughout the Union. But we
rejoice not as partiZ :Ds, we !c ),ce with you as
f.llow.citizens.
And when the decision oil this week Of Que
million voters along the valley OF tho Oho SHALL
he ratified next month, by the tat OF eight
million voters throughout the whole ltepubIlc,
We shall still rcj ,icc, chiefly for the reason that
not Que Of its ctiz,nS can miss OF an equal share
with Us who are democrats, III the politlca!
peace and good will, which will then aad there
be established among aii sections, races, classes
and conditions of men, aud In the prosperity
of which political peace, taScd on equal rights
aud iraterual good will, IL the first CONDITION..
Upon the three States Of West Virginia,
Ohio and Indiana, were conccntratcd all IT.:
Influence of the Administration, all their efforts,
and all the vast sums of money forced irou the
one hundred thousand office holders u; the party
in power.
These were fearful odds, not agiiu to be con.
tended against 50 concentrated; Tor IN The NO
yember elections the contest will be IN every
one of thirty-eight States upon tue same day.
Nevertheless, against these odds the demo.
Gratis and reiormers OF West Virginia aud In
diana have been victorious, and 10 Ohio they
have all but rescued State hitherto deemed
homeless. and have created al assurance oil
victory 10 November.
If it falls to cur lot as National Democratic
Committee to congratulate the people OF the
Uoon upon this victory 10 the first battle OF
the reform campaign, it is only because Demo-
Gratis have been honored to be the leaders ci
the people ia the work OF national regenera.
tion.
The victory Won, the victory still TO be won,
will be a delivcrance as much to Republicans
as to Democrats
The patriotic masses Of the Republican party
may be thankful that the mlSdeedS OF their un-
worthy leaders have been rebuked and are to
be arrested. The suffering whites of the South
may lift up their heads to greet the dawa Of
better day for them as we'll as the nation at
large. The coorcd citizen may share the gen
eral Joy that be will sooa ceas, 10 be the stock
10 trade of corrupt politicians, bat shall epjoy
his rightful liberties and his equality before tho
law amid universal good will.
AS for the Reform Democracy, to whose
standards victory has been tied, with all her
garlands on, it oaly remains for them to @ei5-
come every ally, every friend, close up the
ranks and press on, shoulder to shoulder, under
the banuer and with the one watchworj,
REFORM,
Fellow-citizens: Peace between all sections
prosperity 10 all our homes: OF these you have
been for years deprived by the mistaken soi'cl.
tudes of patriotic Republicans, played upon by
selfish and corrupt leaders, who have kept !au-
ming the dyiog embers OF civil strife In order to
escape inspecio of tho trusts which they have
betrayed.
For eleven years you have had the name o!
peace. At DO time have yon. bad the substance
of peace Ia lieu thereof you have had the
grinding taxation aud wastcful eXpend lure OF
war. Just before every election every year
you have had the preaching OF new crusade
against section utterly defeated 10 war, aud
anxious only to be completely reconci!cd IN
peace
For eleven years the power Ct the mcu who
have seized away the control Of their party
from the hands of its statesmen ana founders
has been supreme 10 almost every department
of the Federal Government.
Discardiug tho hope OF prolonglag their dom
ination by bene6cient public measures, they
have created aud tratiicked upon public calam.
tiles. The policy they adopted has bcoo worked
out. Its failure has been absolute.
lu place OF past performances these Si!nc
corrupt aud selfish leaders now prolfer promises
already broken as their titles to further trust.
Having prostratcd our manifold industries
by the vast aggregates and the worst methods
of Federal taxation, they nov again solicit your
confidence as the Instruments OF rctrerchmeut
and reform.
Having debauched the public service, aad
having just now, in the face OF open day, as.
sessed their army of a hundred thousand Office
holdcrs-thc peoples servants--pald BY The
peoples taxes-n order to create immense cor
ruption funds to frustrate the peoples will,
they now profess to be the champions of civil
service reform. Having imposed upon the
Southern States the rapaclty, trau1 and p!ua-
der of the carpet-bag governments. having al
most ruined the prosperity OF the North hy de-
stroyiog the prosperity OF the South having
created terror, uncertainty and CONFUSION 10 all
the productive Industries OF the South, which
furnish most of the exports Of our whole coun-
try, keep in motion the commerce and manu-.
tacturies OF the North and East aud furnish a
market for the agricultural products Of the
West, they now propose, by renewal OF the
same fatal policy, to prolong their own power
10 the hope OF conceang their mlSdeedS, aud Tor
this purpose they do not hesitate to renew the
cry of intolerance; to revive the dying memo
ries of traterna strife, and to appeal to the
fears and prcjudices OF the tiuid and the lgno'
rant.
Fellow Citizens These men and their meas.
ures have been completely tried and have COM
pletely failed. An oppressive TAXATION, an ex
nausted South, an impoverished North, Hue.
tusting currency, the enterprise OF an induStr-
Gus people locked fast in the paralysis OF hard
tmes-such is the outcome OF their political
policy, such are the achievements Of their long
supremacy. Your ballots 10 November can
alone dictate change OF measures and change
of men. Shall not the uprising OF patriotism
along the valley Of the Ohio go on to com.
pete and bene fetal revolution in the admins.
tration of the government ofthe Unied States :!
VIII YOU NOT. BY the yoica Of oYerHhelmlng