The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1878-09-26

Of the Widows and Orphans
| anna Of Ohio Soldiers.

-.fE5sK VI lO01O EO1S41O1 D.
A Word From q Soldier to the
Soldiers of Ohio.
Com ADEs: AS you all know, it has
always been the custom in the Admin
istration of the General and State Gov
ernments to confer offices on men be.
longing to the party in power.
For the twenty years previous TO
the election of Governor. Allen the Re-
ppblicals were in power in Ohio, and
during all that time every State insti-
tuition was contolled by Republicas,
and when the Home for the Orphans
of our Soldiers and Sailors was organ
lied it was put under Republican con-
troll.
When the Democrats came into
power the same policy was carried
out, and demagogues are about to raise
q howl with the expectation of con-
trolling the soldier vote, as the negro
vote is controlled, in the interest of
the Republican party.
We all know, comrades, that the
Union was not saved by the Republic
cans, or by any party, but by the SOL
diery who represented the whole peo-
Pile; and when we meet in our reun-
ions we meet as comrades aud friends,
and not as partisans. But, inasmuch
as an attempt is to be made to treat
us as though we were children or
set of ounces, as comrade at the
camp fire will say a word, il you
will listen.
The Republicans always appointed
Republicans to office. With rare ex-
zcsplfons, the Democrats do the same.
In this the two parties stand Oh the
same platform.
The Republican talk is all sham.
Were they sincere, they would pledge
themselves not to turn out the Offi-
GERS of the State institutions should
they eyer regain power. Their plat
form is dumb on this subject, and,
had they the power tomorrow, they
would turn every Democrat out of Of
flee, as they, always have done.
But, comrades, let me call your at
tention to
4HE ROBBERY OF THE WIDOWS AND Or
PHANs.
Of Ohio Soldiers by the Republican
iRrr hI,Ae worlds ta history was
money given and taxes paid with such
generosity and cheerfulness as during
the rebellion.
Actuated by q patriotic impulse, the
Ohio Legislature, in February, 1862,
<see Ohio Laws, vol, SO, p. 81, passed
an act for the relief of families of vol
unteers in the States or United States
service.
T NE fifth section provided that the
relief Contemplated by the act should
be continued to the family of any yol-
unteer heretofore or hereafter killed
or disabled in the service.
WAItte dose Of the war there were
IN . suffering condition thousands of
wTuUw, aua OrPfIuns of ohio .ol1se.s
who had died ON the battle field.
There was, too, at the close of the
war, large sum of money which had
been cheerfully paid into the Treas
ury as taxes for the express purpose
pr providing for the widows and or
yphA3s Of par dead comrades. But
Legislaturew with Republican major
4tj IA 10th branches, elected the very
year the war closed, passed an act
which reads as follows.
aBe It enacted by the General AS
iae8bly Of the State of Ohio. That
'$SO,OW Of The Soldiers Relief Fund
be and is hereby transferred to the
Sinking Fund, aud the same is here
by appropriated to the payment of
the public debt Of the State. Q. L,
rFql1S; p IT ssI \ =
- That generous bounty of SSOO,OOO
was given by the people to the wild
ows and orphans of our soldiers, but
was seized upon by Republican Leg
s4lakdrs, and smisappliedl against the
will of the people who paid the taxes,
The bread and meat which that money
was intended to buy were snatched
nom the mouths Of the hungry Or
phans, and they and their widowed
mothers were left to shivcr in the
cold. And remember that this act of
meanAess was done by u Republican
Legislature in order to conceal the
wanton extravaganza of the Republi-
drpafty.J TT-T =
, But thisact was not only mean, but
in gross violation Of the Constitution
OF Ohio.
Article Il, Section ), says:
"N0 tax shall be levied except in |
pursuance of law and every law i'm
posing tax shall state distinctly the
object of the same, to ,chich object it !
shall be applied"
The eight hundred Thousand dollars
once paid Into the Treasury was the
absolute property Of our disabled SOL
diersasd Of sthe;orphans and widows
of the men who died fighting for the |
flag, while the Republican legislators
.whe pessed this act of perfdy and
wrong were slumbering in their
feather-beds at home. Comrades, re-
member this when you vote.
A Boy IN BLUE.
ols4a 4r4