Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-08-30
= SPEECH
GEN. GHAS. 4. GROSVENOR
DELIVERED AT
HillsbOrO, o., Saturday, Aug. "a, 1878
DELIVERED AT

HllsD0ro, u, Saturday, Aug. "a, 1873
Mr. President AND FELLOW CITIZENS: By ap-
pointment OF the Republican Executive Committee
OF Ohio, appear before you to-day to discuss the
issues Joined between the great political parties
seeking preferment at the hands Of the people Of
the State. I come not, however to suggest new
IDEAS new departures, and startling theories,
but mine shall be the work to simply place in COM
pact form. If so may, these issues these questions.
and show you why the grand old Republican party,
with its history and record, should be indOrsed by
the people and its lease Of power renewed and ex-
tended. The great mass OF Republicans need no
keynote" nor do they look to the tricks Of plat
form makers as guide for their cOnsciences and
judgment The grand and massive principles of our
party written in the Constitution of this great
country They are the landmarks OF our progress in
population, wealth, science, art, and general pros
Perity: They appear in our national virtue, our
love of liberty, and yeneratiOn of justice. The
ord OF its principles and its political enets mark the
pathway over which the nation has travelled rom
dismembered, dismantled Mexicauized republic,
enchaOsed by bad government and political eorrup-
tons; eTgutfed in red sea Of treason and
bankruptcy, with flag "despised and rejected OF
men," Constitution weak and imperfect for prOtec
ton and self,Preseryaton, an empty treasury,
scattered and dislOyal army and a rotten and worth
less navy to its present grand position among the ma
tons of earth. We have reached point in our his
tory where can look with just party pride upOna
nation under one flag and one government, solid,
compact and permanent; political virtue and Off
eial integrity at premium; treason made odious
in the present, and impossible in the future; a
national credit such rs we never had before. and
which is not excelled by any other country-the re-
suit of the 'honest money position Of the Repuh-
liean party, uDaded by our opponents. COnsti-
tuition completed and Symmetrical, representing the
dreams and theories OF the fathers of the republic
which they desired long to see, bpt died without
the sight" army. strong in patriotism and scien
tiic development loyal to our flag, faithiu! 10 our
traditions, and at the same time the guardian and
protector OF our lives persons, and preperty navy
true to the national honor, true to herOism, and
carrying flag to the ends OF the earth, no longer
the despised nag the people tore from
the imbecile hands OF James Buchanan
(the last Of DemOeEadc Presidents-may his
tribe not increase) but the emblem of a
great nations mighty power to protect s its cti-
zens. of every race and color. no matter where he
may be found, and punish its enemies, no matter OF
what or Of how great traditional proves. A
flag, the emblem Of unity, strength progress, weath,
science education, civil and political equality and
empty and without credit filed with gold and silver
coin, ready ts redeem the plighted commercial aith
of the country in the coin of the Constitution, and
not in the rags, nothing but Tags, OF wnlch Judge
Thurman complained at Waverly in 1867,
STATE AFFArs
Allow me- fellow citizens to call your attention to
the record OF the two great parties in the matter OF
their administration of our own State government
And here want to apply the rule laid down by
Senator Thurman, tOwit That sit is but justice.
then, to say TO rulers, you have had every OPP
portunity to DO good ana avert EVIL, and yon nave
failed 70 do either. You have had opportunities
such as no other party enjoyed to benefit your
country, ana you have, by want Of Intelligence or
virtue, BOTH brought 1t to the verge OF ruin II
is time. high time. that you surrender the reinS of
government" The doctrine in other words is
that II political party fails it ought TO 90 out Of
Office II It blunders. bluUder is bad crime"
Let us briefly examine the history OF the Republican
party in Ohio and compare it with that Of the Dem
Ocratic party. The Republicans elected the Cover
nor IN 1856. and from that time down to this, ex-
eepting Governor Allen for tao years and Governor
Bishop for two years. The Democrats had the IegS-
ature several times during that period, and call
your attention very nigh evidence of honesty and
faithfulness Of the Republican party in lis admins
tration. 20 back to The report Of the Bali com
mittee in the Legislature OF 1870 and ISL. Gen.
W. II. Ball. an able and distinguished Demo-
crat procured the adoption OF resolution
authorizing a committee OF Eve to investigate the
conduct Of the State administration IN all is
branches, running away back 10, and even beyond,
the birth Of the Republican party. Gen. Ball was
made Chairman, ana he had four able assistants
among them the Hon. ISaiHh Pillars, present At
torney General. They spent whole winter; every
possible facility was given them, and our Democratic
friends hoped for capital 70 be made oy tllat COM
mittee's report. They looked toward i rs does the
average Democrat now look TO the Potter humbug
AtIength, wearied with the hunt, GEN. Ball wrote
and signed u report an extract from which IS as
aThe examination has taken a wide ange; 100
witnesses, residing in different parts ui the Siaie
have been subpdnaed and examined touching public
contracts and expenditures, the construction Of
public buildings the conduct OF public institutions
etc All matters without reference 10 the date Of
their occurrence coming 10 the knowledge OF the
committee, that seemed to promise any probability
Of throwing any light upoa he suoiecis OF INQUIRY
or any OF them, have been diligently inquired into.
"Your committee take pleasure Ia reporting that
so far as elective officers and their subOrdin8teS
concerned, very oOmmendGble honesty and fidelity
have been observed, and in the official conduct OF no
public officer, whether elective or appointed, has
corruption been disclosed"
is not that pretty we'll said? What party can
show better record? From that time 10 this we
have had but one Republican Legislature. Wnas,
Republican, or Republican Legislature has done
anything that had to be deieuded? EsouOmy
in the public expenditures, honesty in
the public administration. zeal in the
public service, has marked the history OF our con-
troll Of Ohio Gov, Hayes, than whom Ohio never
had a better, and glorious Tom Young. who put
down riots with Ohio men and Ohio brains, while
Door old Gov. blue Jeans calling irlttCaly
ON the President for help in BREATH and hygging
for shipping permits for his relative In the next
No State government within the United states WAS
ever better administered than has been that ol Ohio
under Republican rule. Under its bCuChcCW com
troll the gnsudest system Ui Stale charities and
benevolent Institutions ia amy State ol the world
crew up and hcCame almost perfect It tOOS uE
people so proud OF their State And when the W.t
was over the Republicans Of Ohio discharged uItit
solemn duty 10 the dead and living SohiieS 10y
making generous provisions for the orphans ul I.e
war.
THE CONTRAST
The record OF Democrtic administration iu ono
is record alike prclndicnl tn the air idc Oh Ouo
and OF that parry append o. ttbulalc' sU,,eUlcut -
OF the total appropriations made hy cac" S'a'e LeS
islature since and including lN'u
te7n Democrat ......... 81 ltsl Isl o.
is-i DenlucrAt IL. ...........-.. ,lH22t 20
lei2....,......-... t.ep NJ ,9i ~. H.
lSfS...ss MI l"i ., . ''''''''''
1874 Democrat .- 4lViS6 q
is 'ci' ''''''''''' l..t -
Is " ''''''''''''' 't -
ISIS Democrat 44ua 80 ~