The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-08-10
OHIO REPUBLICAN
State Convention

We give a synopsis more in detail: The
Convention was called 10 order by
Hon. w. G. Cooper, of Mt. Vernon,
who had been chosen chairman of the
State Central Committee. vice Wykoff,
resigned. After calling attention to
10 the object of the Convention, and
impressiDg its Importance upon the
members, be urged that the best men
be selected for the positions. and that
clear and STRAIGHTFORWARD utterances
be made of the principles which were
TO distinguish US frou the Democracy
Rev. Twitchell was then introduced
and opened the proceedings with
prayer; when Mr.. Cooper introduced
Hon. G. II. Grosvenor. of Athens, as
the temporary chairman. In taking
the stand the chairman was re
ceived with applause, and spoke rs
follows:
Mr.. CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN
OF THE CONVENTION: | acknowledge
the compliment implied in choosing
me 10 preside over the preliminary de
liberations of this magnificent assem-
blage of patriotic Republicans. Any
man may be proud Of membership in
this political organization. 1t has done
more for America, mankind at large.
and Christian civilization throughout
the world than any other party that
ever existed. By its chosen repre-
sentatives it is here assembled to place
its forces in line of battle for the con-
+ fiict of 1877. The contest will be short,
/ sharp, and decisive. IL will attract the
attention of the people of the whole
country. We find our ancient, gallant,
and implacable enemy already in line
of battle. Its platform is announced,
! its candidates selected, and the bugle
note of preparation is sounding on
/ every hand. 1t is the same old enemy,
and it stands on the same old plat
| form, only trifie more artfully drawn,
upon which it has stood before, when
We have So often met and vanquished
1t. Perhaps now its trumpet gives
forth a more uncertain sound than in
, other Campaigns. Unappalled by IFS
numerous defeats and the eondemna,
ton that has SO often poured upon it
by the people of Ohio, it has its
audacity in framing its declaration OF
principles. 1t declares as Essential
TO the preservation of free govern,
ment" strict construction"--what
that may mean. The sound is famil-
lar; it's meaning obscure. 1t demands
home rule" The cardinal principle
OF the present Republican Administra
ton is that very idea. 1t demands
the supremacy of the civil over the
military power" That is the law OF
the country, established in every State
of the Union, and is the fruit of Re-
publican legislation and Republican
administration. 1t calls for ''the sep
aration of Church and State" There
has never been victory achieved in
favor of this idea that was not the out
growth of Republican sentiment and
the establishment of Republicau prin.
ciples 1t demands 1.-The equality of
all citizens before the law" The Dem.
ocatic party stained the battlefields OF
this country, polluted the ballot boxes,
and blighted with indelible stains the
pages of its history, in striving to fight
the growth ard perpetuity of the grand
Republican doctrine of 1.-The equality
of all citizens before the law" The
settlement of that question by an
amendment to the National Constitu
tion will be ever memorable as one of
the greatest victories ever achieved by
the Republican over the Democratic
party AS if to crown their achieve
ments in duplicity and hypocrisy, they
have placed in the platform a section
denouncing "sumptuary regulation. I"
while the record of its chief candidate
shows how lily the platform and can
didate harmonic. The history OF the
Democratic party in this couutry-in
the South and in the North-is the
grea, body of that organization to
overcome legitimate majorities. In
the South by the shotgun, proscrip
ton, and persecution, and in the North
by marching armed bands of repeat
ers through the streets of our great
cities, stuffing ballot-boxes wherever
they found Republicans unwary and
off their guard. They proclaim oppo
sition to all subsidies, and yet it was
the Democratic party that invented
the idea in American politics Of subsi-
dies TO railroad corporations. .'The
preservation of the public lands to the
use of actual settlers is another
clause IN this platform SC artistically
drawn. The Democratic party ceased
to hold power in 1861, after more than
thirty years domination. 1t has failed
to place any homestead law upon the
statue books of the United States. and
it was left TO the Republican party to
achieve the proud distinction of saving
the public lands for homes for the peo-
pie.
''The maintenance and perfection
of the common school SYSTEM is sug-
gested The Democratic party is the
only party that ever countenanced an
ally that sought to break down the in
tegrity OF the school system of Ohio
1t prates of "the destruction of the in
dustries of the country, and the pau
perism of labor as the inevitable fruits
of vicious laws enacted by the Repub
lican party" Gentlemen, the Demo
cratic party taught false doctrine to
the suffering laboring men of this
country. until strikes and violence
have followed, and the worst elements
of society have made them the oeca-
sion to come to the surface, and the
result has been that the entire business
interests of the country have received
a shock that ten years hard labor and
self denying economy cannot repair.
And this same Democratic party stands
10 day appalled, by the fearful sight of
the waving-at its own bidding. and
the legitimate result Of its own teach
ing-of the blood-reg flag of commun
ism, borne iD the hands of an insensa.e
mcb il has thus invoked, ,instiga.ed. ar d
excited. And in this day of horror we
find the army reduced by Democratic
hostility to an almost powerless skele-
ton, as if TO pave the way to successful
anarchy and spoilation.
unappalled by the public condem-
nation of its frauds at the ballot-box,
brazenly definsnt OF the public sent-i
nent in Ohio that demands that pure
elections shall be sacredly secured and
preserved, to the end that the will of
the majority of the people of this
State shall no longer be subvertsd by
fraud and violence, conscious that the
mighty power of the legislation of last
winter will check the wholesale vii
lianies of roughs and repsaters, it cries
out in the agony of despair against the
registry law a law that will stand sue
cessfully between the suffers of The
ballot-box and their schemes of fraud.
The honest people Of Ohio Of all par
ties demanded the registry law and will
sustain it.
Seeking to cater to the morbid ap-
petite of lawless men conscious that the |
army is not being used to control po
litlcal affairs, 1t utters a denunciation |
upon q ''barren ideality," with the |
hnno that