The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-07-10

authority might have d wholesome me-
thod of controlling executive power.
Mr.. Chairman, this extra session has
made up pthe issue between the TWO par
ties The Democratic party declare that
the army shall be kept from the polls;
that iuries shall be impartiRlly drawn,
chat the test oath shall be repealed, and
that the Federal authority shall not In
terfere ia elections within the States
Upon that question the Republican par
Nv takes issue with us. Confidently an
pealing only to the patriotism OF the
country, Nhe Democratic party goes into
this conMst. Never in all the history OF
this land, have more important ques-
tious been submitted to the American
people for their determinalion,. Ihey
relate to pure admlnisr ration OF justice;
they concern the gravest queshons OF
constitutional law; they affect the iund
amental principles Of civil liberty, EV'
ery man VINO runs for any Office In any
State, and every citizen who goes 10 the
polls to deposit his ballot is interested
The whole method of ascertalnlng tne
popular will in the Republic Is involved
In tbe issue So far.reachiDg are these
principles that, if upon this issue the Re-
publican party shall be successful, then
all the power over elections IN States
would he drawn to the central govern
ment. The States would lose their places
in the federative system, and whether
the army shall be used at the polls Or
not would be a question not fright ana
constitutional law, but of Executive dis,
erection. Snch a result means the end oil
the Repubic and the uplifting of the
empire. Can there be any douDt as to u
controversy like thisP In Russia, where
absolute despotism sieDces individual
opinion. it might 20 doubtful. In Ger
MANY, where imperial power sustains IT.
self by an immense standing army, IT
might be doubtful In France, where the
people under monarchs and emperors
for ages have slumbered, it might br
doubtful. But here in free America, with
the traditions of our English anCestors,
and with the sacrifices and triumphs OF
our American forefathers in behalf OF
civil liberty, it cannot he doutful. Ap
plause. Shall civil liberty perish upon
its own threshold and by its own fire
side? Shall the beacon light which has
shone from our shores for the encour
agement of struggling freemen every.
where flicker in it's socket and go out
even as they are g4ziug upon it? Shal
the sun free government in this cont
uent, ere it reaches the meridian, sink
into night? Shall the shadow and the
cloud of the army darben our free
fields, and free rivers, and free lakes
aud free prairies, and pollute the air 80
that a freeman cannot breathe iJ2 The
century of triumph just ended protests;
the hopes of the world protest; and,
what is practically of more value the
Democratic party, with It's majority Of
half a million of American people, pro.
tests I'"'
Gentlemen, the contest will soon be-
gin. Aye, it has already begun hear
the whispering of American iaq1iry. l
hear the muttering of Anglo-Sdxon re
solve. | hear The tread Of the legions
forming, with the banner of civil liberty
above them. The contest has already
begun, AID God give victory,lo fleedoni
and the rightP [Lond applause.