The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-01-25
vss .err;eda on. simply to restore the

wee aarrieds on simply to restore the
Union, with the rights of all theStates
unimpaired, and yet the moment the
war was over they robbed States OF
their rights without stint. Declaring
during the war that the States were
all in the Union, and even allowing
Virginia, Tennessee and Louisiana to
be represented in Congress- while they
were also sending Representatives to
the Confederate Congress at Rich
MOnd, no sooner was the rebellion
conquered than they drove theseStates
from their places on the floor OF the
Federal Congress, and required them
10 pass under the yoke of .'reconstruc-
tion." Resolving IN their Presidential
Convention of 1868 that each State
must regulate outrage for itself, in
six months they adopted the Fifteenth
Amendment. Declaring in the Con-
vention that nominated Grant that the
public bonds were payable in green
backs, the first act of Congress signed
by Grant declared them payable in
coin. Claiming the right to deter
mine whether States have legally vot-
ed, they threw out as they listed
Georgia, Louisiana and Arkansas, and
now the voice of a southern Return
ing Board is in their cars divine
oracle. Enfranchising the negro in The
name OF freedom, they now deny his
right to vote any ticket but theirs.
Claiming to go behind the great seal
OF Oregon, the great seal of Louisiana
Is held to sanctity the fraud of THERE
turning Board. Granting that the
lace OF the returns is final in South
Carolina, thew throw out 13 600 DEM
ocratic votes in Louisiana. Denounc-
ing the Returning Board Of Louisiana
two years ago as infamous they now
proclaim it a paragon OF purity and
uprightness. In the face of the
speeches OF all their great leaders at
all times heretofore. claiming forCou-
gress the supreme right to canyass the
Presidential count, they now insist
that the President of the Senate has
canvassing omnipotence. There is
not promise they ever made that
they have not broken; there is not a
principle they ever avOwed that they
have net disowned. Such are the
leaders whom the honest masses of
the Republicans allow 10 lead them
10 the very brink of the unscrupulous
usurpation now threatened. Think
not, my Republican friends, that they
will pause unless your displeasure
"give them pause" They do not ad-
nit that we have any rights. The
more violent OF them would inaugu-
rate war rather than surrender power
TO us. IL The conscience of the Re-
publican masses then our appeal is
made. You have seen the army used
without warrant of law to influence
elections; you have seen the purse of
the Republic opened TO defray politi
cal campaign expenses /; you have seen
the Interior Department turned into
An eiectioneering machine, with its
headquarters in New York and it's
Chief ievying contributions OH FEEDER
al ofiice-holders for election expenses !;
you have seen the Department or Jus
tice itself using the quirks OF the law
to secure the triumph of party. You
have seen the Representatives of q
State driven from their own Sanate
House in u time OF profound peace, by
Federal interferen q. Aud even now
you behold the Chief Executive quiet
~ coiling round the National Capital
the folds OF military power,
But men of all parties, tho sentinels
are in the watch. tower. The people
are on the alert. Usurpatiou will not
succeed. Public opinion will conquer,
where neither a sense OF justice nor a
respect for law eau restrain. This
contest will be settled i'm the eonstitu-
iional ways, and we wish success in
10 other method. Ii these wavs d.
not bring MS success, we cheerfnlly
submit to defeat. Butif they do give
us victory, we know that there ia HAN
hood enough in the American people
10 see that rilden takes his seat. II
they would moi, they have ceased 10
be worthy OF liberty, and deserve TO
be the prey oi tyranis, a.d - b ssiRg
and = b, WOrl among the nations OIL
the earth.
The divine right of Kings was the
myth OF tyranis. Tue Sovereignty OF
the people is the ever living gotpeI oi
liberty. Though natural Ireethlsn is
the gitt OF & nj, cuns ltu.ional taasrty
has been wrestea from the minBsns oi
power by the strong hand of tAe ipeo-
pie, and preserved and handed d5wu
TO US bv the valor and wisdom oi our
fOrefathers. T.e Democratic par, v
has ever bnen the great apostle ai the
people. IL battled for the gu,tantees
Of personal rig when the Cohstitu
ton was formed. 1t oppos,kl the
alien AMI saditiul laws at the begin
ming of the century the dark aiites,l
crusade against religious li3eriytip tee
davs of Ine "knDw NothiEg., Nsans!
the arbitrary arrests and iiiega, >isa-
pri,uninents OF the late war. ilciaa,
ored for ine rights OF the masses and
the interest of labor against cpfs-ss We
'arifTs and moneysd monopolies AMI
G. Ivernment subsidies, aud it has ever
-ioo.i ~ u wall OF fire against the in
vasion by partisans and bisots of the
freedom o, speech, the liberty OF The
press and the T. ylts OF conscience.
. Inspired by these great ideas. cling
ing to the constitutional Union oi our
fathers ani wa'kin: Ia the footsteps
Of law and precedent, we denOunce
this Threatened u>urpation. Lat the
people rise UP, without respect to par
ty, and demand that justice ana the
popular will shall be respected; that
fraud and doub EIDE ding shall be re-
buked, and the reins OF Government
place1 peacefully in the hands Of thei'
President-Ssmuei j. Tilden-whose
election has been certified by the law
and authenticated by the Great Seal o
the People.
GEN. Tom Browne of lu6i4ua, wht
ran against Hendsieks tor Governor
four years ago, and who detea, ed iiol.
| man i'm. ft;,upraSs ~ f!,a latp eiectinu