The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-10-02


had bountiful crops. During this
same time the crops OF England, France
and other foreign countries have been
q failure. Hence, the balance of trade
was turned in favor of the United
States. Republicans can claim no
credit for it. You remind them that
but for divine principles, receiving
greenbacks for customs, remonetiziug
of silver, bountiful crops from the di-
vine hand of Providence, such results
would never have been attained.
When we have looked over the field,
We can not give them credit, they
must assume the responsibility of
bringing us where we have been.
Point out TO them the thousands of
sales made under the Sheriff q ham
mer-the thousands of worthy men
out of employment-the army of
tramps. Point out to them the four
hundred furnaces, from whose CHM
neys no smoke arises. Tell them to
take the responsibility for all this.
(Cheers.]
/ do not wish to be Misunderstood.
The Republican speakers say We want
to undo all that has been done. Would
to God we could undo some things.
Would to God we could place the ma.
tion, the men of the nation, in tho op-
ulence they once enjoyed. Bus we
can not. In the words of the poet
The dead must bury it's dead" We
would not embark in wild career of
speculation. Il affirm that no party
ever desired and aimed At, as stable
currency a. does the Democracy of the
State Of Ohio. lApplause.1 When
these persons tell you we are infla-
tionists, point to your platform. Bnt
they say we wish to reinstate the old
wild cat banks. Mr.. President Hayes
says SO. You see am polite and call
him President. [Cheers.I Mr.. Pres
ident Hayes says we will have all the
wild cat banks. Our platform says,
however, that the same sovereign
power shall issue all the money. II
there are no wild cat banks until the
Democratic party makes them. there
will be neither banks nor wild, cats.
[Cheers. :
The only issue then is, by their own
showing, that we owe them debt of
gratitude. But am willing to bal
snce all of our terrible suffering, our
losses, against our hopes of prosper-
ity. 586 81.
But there is one question which has
always and will always exist in this
country. What has divided the people
into the two parties? It is because of
radical differences as to the best poll
cy of government. Even in religion all
men do not believe alike. Men see
things differently. Go into the world's
history and you will see that in all
countries where free Institutions have
existed, there have been two great
national parties. The fundamental
principle Of the one is to live without
work, and in every country they are
seeking special privileges that no
common man can expect to enjoy. In
France, before the revolution, it took
the form of exemption of certain class-
es from taxation. Those persons who
seek these privileges by legislation are
always for strong government. They
are opposed to local self government.
They want q standing army to back
them up. Hs
The holders of government bonds
desire strong National Government
in the belief that such Government
would give greater security and value
to their bonds. The mammoth railroad
corporation running through many
States feels restive under what it con-
siders the annoyances of State Legis-
lation. 1t would greatly prefer to
State charters or State licences q Ma
tional charter rendering it independ-
ent of the States. Every form of con-
centrated wealth, except real estate,
desires by construction or otherwise
to add new powers to the already treo
mendous power possessed by the Ma
tional Government. Do not under
stand me as saying that every man of
wealth desires the annihilation of the
State Governments or their practical
overthrow. There are Thousands upon
thousands of such men who are intel
ligent enough to see that the preser-
walton of the rights of the Ststes is es-
sential to the maintenance of freedon
and prosperity and il one Of the great.
est safeguards that can be conceived
of the Union itself, But on the other
hand fear that there are thousands
and tens of thousands of men in this
country who would prefer even Q
limited monarchy to the form Of gov
ernment under which we ive.q They
do not belleYe In the rule of the peo.
pie, they do not believe in universal
suffrage; they do not believe in the
rights of the States; but they do be.
lieve in strong centralized Govern
ment, backed by q standing army and
presided over or ruled by CHIEF
Magistrate chosen for long term OF
even life. They are too sagacious tc
expect their hopes to be speedily rea'
lized. They know that q Government
like ours can not be subyerted in q
day, but they also know that even II
its form be left untouched, ,its essen
tial principles may be day by day
weakened or destroyed until in the
end it shall; be IN subsistence and In
practic the consolidated Government
they desire. Hence they favor and
applaud every usurpation of Congress-
aud the President, and regard with sat
isfaction every. act that tends to weak
en- or destroy the reserved rights q
the States, aud of the people. 20