The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-06-21

A grand reception was given by the
Manhattan Club OF New York City
on the evening of Tuesday, the 18th
inst, OH which occasion many distip-
guished gentlemen were present,
among them Governor Tildep, who
made q brief and telling speech. 1t
is his first public utterance since TIL
Presidential election relating TO that
great struggle, and what he said being
free from the heat of passion and
prejudice, should be carefully read
and calmly considered by every citi-
zen. lie said:
MIR. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN =
Every ody knows that after the recent
election, men who were elected
by the people President and
Vice President of the United
States were counted out, and men
who were not elected were counted in
and seated. disclaim any thought of
personal wrong in noting this trans
action. Not by any act or word of
mine shall that be dwarfed or degrad-
ed into personal grievance, which is
in truth the greatest wrong that has
stained our national annals. To every
man of the four and quarter millions
who were deirauded OF the fruits Of
their elective franchise, il is as great a
wrong as it is 10 me, and no less to
every man OF the minority will the ul-
innate consequences extend. Evils in
government grow by success and by
impunity. They do not arrest their
own progress. They can never be
limited by external force. Ii men i'm
possession OF the government can in
in one instance maintain themselves in
power against an adverse decision at
elections, such an example will be inn
itated. Dissatisfaction exists always.
Devices to give color of law and false
pretenscs on which to found fraulu-
lent decisions will not be wanting.
The wrong will grow into practice if
once condOned. In the worlds histo-
ry, changes in succession of govern
mrnts have usually been the result Of
fraud and force. 1t has been our faith
and our pride that we had established
a mode OF peaceful change to be
work out by the agency of the bal.
lot box.
TIE QUESTION OF QUESTIONS.
The question now is, whether our
elective system, in it's substance as it's
form, is 10 be maintained. This is the
question OF questions. Until it is final
ly settled, there can be no politics
founded on inferior questions of ad-
| ministrative policy. 1t involves the
fundamental right of the people. 1t
involves the whole system of popular
government.
The people must signally condemn
the great wrong which has been done
to them. They must strip the example
of everything that can attract imita-
tors. They must refuse prosperous
immunity to crime. This is not all.
| The p ople will not be able to trust
authors or benifisarics of wrong to
devise remedies, but when those who
condemn the wrong shall have the
power II ey must devise measures
which shall render repetition OF the
wrong forever impossible. Ii my
voice could reach throughout the
country, and be heard in its remotest
hamlet, l would say, be OF good cheer.
The Republic will live. The lnstitu
tons of our fathers are not TO expire
in shame. The sovereignty OF the
| people shall be rescued from this peril
and be re-establisued. Successful
wrong never appears SO triumphant as
on the very eve of its fall. Seven
years ago a corrupt dynasty culmi-
mated in its power over the million OF
people who live in the city of New
York. 1t had conquered or bribed or
flattered and won almost everybody Y
into acquiescence. 1t appeared to be
invincible. A year cr two lat. + lis
members were in penitentiaries or in
exile. History abounds in similar ex-
amples. We must believe in the right
and in the future. A great and noble
patton will not sever its political from
its moral life.