The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-09-07


the friends of their country, the couu.
try will be better off without friends.
1 have now given you a portion only
of the history made by our Democratic
Congress. Want of time prevents a
fuller record. 1 have paid no atten,
ton whatever to the Interior Depart
ment, presided over SO long by that
prince of corruptionlsts, Columbus Del
ano. Here the Indian ring holds its
powerful sway, unmoved by the at
tack of Professor Marsh. Here are
perpetrated the enormous pension
frauds. Here the land rings have en-
riched the few. Here old Zachariah
Chandler is enthroned. | have said
nothing about the mis- called Depart
ment of Justice, once in the hands Of
Landaulet Williams,-the engine of OPP
preston throughout the South, and
the instrument of corruption in the
hands of marshals and other federal
officials. And, my friends, it would
require an hour for justice to each one
of these alone.
l think l have now given you
sufficient food for thought. 1
believe that Mr. Sherman spoke ig-
norantly when he said the Democratic
House had proved nothing that it had
uselessly expended the public money.
Our Republican brethren are quick to
join in his partizan statement. They dis
parage our Investigations. They deny
their results. They have no words of
condemnation for the millions that
have been stolen. But they are hasty
to condemn the thousands that have
been spent in proving it. Such con,
duct does not indicate that the spirit of
reform is strong in their breasts. 1t
indicates that the love of party is more
powerful than the desire for reform.
1t gives no hope of a change in our
affairs. 1t threatens US with a contin>
uance of Chandler, Cameron, Conkling
and the modified forms of Grantism.
And it threatens, worse than all, the
defeat of the sentiment of reform now
abroad in the land, and the triumph
of corruption, or its twin brother, in
difference.
Two issues, therefore, involved in
the election in every cor congressional dis
trict, are Shall the economy conn
menced be preserved and perpetuated ?
and secondly shall fraud be still
pursued through all its ramifcations ;
shall corruption be hunted down and
prosecuted shall Investigations pro.
coed? Or, on the other hand, shall
we fall in with the republican idea
F that our economy has crippled the
government, the clerks and the depart
ments and vote for deficiency bills.
the restoration of the old salaries and
the old number of clerks, and let the
people suffer as of old ? Shall we per-
nit the heads Of departments, aud
their subordinate officers, to run their
old course of extravaganza, disregard of
law, corruption, and ruin, because in
v~estigations are supposed to be costly?
Choose ye, my friends. 1 claim no
superior honesty over my competitor.
But his party and his friends stand in
the way of a full discharge of his duty.
The interest of my party, as well as
the interest of the people, force me
into the position of representing the
spirit and the principle of reform
which is abroad in the land. No ten
derness for friends in office; no infu-
ences of those in or out of Office, can
reach at present the Democratic con.
! gresham. His hands are ready and
free and willing fer the work ofreform
! and retrenchment, and in this great
work he serves his party, while he
befriends the people. He is the ap.
pointed instrument for your deliver.
anee. 1t is for you to choose. With
: your determination l will be satisfied.
REPUBLICAN sCARECRows.
But, says some enthusiastic repub-
lican, we cannot trust the Democratic
party. This is the pretended appre.
e hension of a mere partizan. The mas:
= of our party have shown their fidelity
e to principle by unwavering adherence
) to it during sixteen long years of hope
, less minority. Candor will not asperse
the honesty of such men. If success
a full, we come into power as the special
advocates of retrenchment, reform anC
good government. Every considera
J, ton of interest and fair dealing will
require of us the ful6llment of these
pledges. We do not seek power for &
mere temporary possession of its
emoluments. We hope to establish our
selves in the perpetual confidence o
s the people. And l think it is an ar
rogant assumption iof superiority, il
t view OF the history OF the past few
t years, when a republican leader affects
s concern as to the manner in which W.