The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-08-15

that no matter by what frauds, no matter by what
IL egaliues, no matter by what usurpations re-
turning or eanvassing board may defeat the will
of the people, the wrong is remediless, the COnst
tuition IS powerless the people are helpless, and
usurpation must triumph and prevail
These, fellow citizens, are al now matters Of
history but although the erroneous decision by
which Congress counted In Hayes and Wheeler
may not be reversible, the fact only makes II the
more inCumbenC upon the people TO condemn the
decision aud the means by which 1t was broug ht
about. II such on uSurpatlOn can pass without
rebuke, II Will soon be in vain TO talk Of Constitu
tional modes and honest elections. II the will of
the people can, with impunity, be overhrown by
obscure and corrupt returning boards, and there
is no remedy tor the wrong, II will soon be the
voice OF such boards and not the voice Of the
people, that Will make your Presidents And
how long, pray you, could your government
stand under such system, or what claim would
II have 10 be called a government of the people
Ny friends, If the people ever Gondone this great
sin, II they ever pardon the guilty men who per-
petTated it-and nearly every one of whom has
been rewarded by office under the administTa-
tiOn-the most sanRuine advocate of popular gov.
erhment Will have reason to Rang his head in
shame, and doubt the possibility of its success.
Yes, my iellowcitizans, the very existence Of pop.
ular government, the question whether IL is pos
sible to maintain 1t, and mautain 1t in purity Is
now before you. As you love the institutions be-
queathed 10 you by the fOrefathers as you rever.
as you esteem virtue and detest wickedness, you
are bound in no uncertain tones to manifest your
adherence OF the great usurpation,
Another great topic remains to be considered,
and when shall have offered some brief Obser.
VatiOns upon IT, my task will be done Fellow
citizens, nothing in politics seems more certain to
me than that the Republican leaders rest their
hopes OF a prOlOngatiOn of their power upon the
success that may attend upon studied and en-
ergetic effort on their part to excite and perpetu
IA Ind Un tNfrg In hn
more unwarranled, unpatriotic and detestable
than this scheme. 1t tisnOt enough that the South
has frankly and manfully accepted the results of
the war; That, waiving all questions as to the
mode OF their adoption, no voice is raised against
the binding force of the Constitutional Amend.
ments; that every law passed by q radical Con-
gress, however doubtful its constitutiOnality, or
manifest It's injustice, or mpOliCy, Is neyerthe-
less obeyed. that desire for harmony and peace
and determination to aid in the preservation of
the Union, are unmistakably and plainly the
dominant sentiments OF the Southern peope-all
this II not enough to deter the Republican man.
ayers from resOrting to all weapons in the arsenal
of the demagOgue by which sectional hatred can
be aroused and perpetuated aud solid North
thereby created to rule with rod of iron pros
trate SOUTH 1t is thirteen years since the close of
the war, thirteen years since hand was raised or
a word was spoken against the preservation Of the
Union, and yet articles are now written and
speeches are made by men, prominent In the Re-
publican party the bitterness of which Is scarcely
paralleled by anything which was written or said
when the war was Aagrant and the Union was in
danger.
Fellow citizens nothing more unjust, nothing
more unpatriotlC, nothing more injurious to the
peace, welfare and prosperity OF the Kepublic
nothing more clearly demOnstrative of the neces
shy for change of rulers and the inauguration
of an era Of justice and fraternity than Is afforded
by these facts, can be imagined. Do you wish
the Union preserved2 Then support those who
would bind 1t togeteer by the ties Of fraternal
feeling and common interest as well as by consti
tutional laws. Do you revere justice and advo.
cate equality of rights2 Then support the party
on whose banner Justice and Equality" are in
delibly inscribed. Do you wish to see the conn
try strong and prosperousH Then support the
policy that, shedding It's benign influence upon
every part gives irresistible strength and nuiYer
sal we'll being to the whole.