Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1880-08-12
THE CASE STATED.
EXTRACT FROM THESPEECH OF
Hon. Stanley Mathews,
9 ~ At Cincinnati, July 81.

There are some things about Whlcn
We all agree in name. We all agree in
certain formulas of words. We can all
repeat certain creed by going through
with the various heads of it in the way
In which it has been taught US. We can
say, for instance-and it is very cheap to
say it-that we are in favor of the Con-
stitution, even with the amendments.
It is cheap to say 1t now. 1 shall show
you, after awhile, that that is new
thing which has been learned by the
Democrats; but it is cheap now to say
that 1--WE are in favor of the Constitu-
ton and the amendments" and that "we
are in favor of the Union, and of the
enforcement of the laws" That was
the old platform of the American party
-"the Union, the Constitution, and the
enforcement of the laws" but when we
come down to the definitions and to try
and discover how it happens that while
we agree in words we differ SO much in
fact, I think we will learn some things.
For either our adversaries understand
these words in a sense different from
what we do, or else we don't hear well,
and they don't say the words at all.
When 1 understand gentlemen to say
that the right to free ballot, meaning
by that the right of every citizen of the
United States freely of his own melton,
of his own mind, of his own will, and
with his own understanding, to vote ON
the day of election for whom he pleaseS,
without let or hindrance. without fear
and without coercion, without bribery
and without quarrel say l have no
quarrel with gentlemen that mean that,
and agree in the words Of the Demo-
cratic platform of 1880, that "the right
to q free ballot is the preservative of all
rights" and that unless that right is ac-
tually and practically secured then the
foundation of all rights, political and
civil, is taken away.
Now what does that imply? Because
It is something more than the mere me-
chanical act Of going up on the day of
election and depositing printed ballot
in box and oven having it fairly count
ed afterwards. In the the first place,
my right to do that involves the right of
every other man to do it, and is denial
of my right to forbid it, or prevent it, or
stand between my neighbor and the
right which. belongs to him. For my
right is no greater than his, and my
right belongs to his and is a part of
it, and can not secure my own in the
true, and right and just sense and unless
I at the same time secure his. Ap-
plause.
And when say my neighbor 1 do not
mean my Republican friend merely. !
mean the man that differs from me the |
widest. l mean the man that enter
tains the sentiments that I deem the
most dangerous, the man whose success
in his party struggle belisve to be the
most detrimental to the public interest. |
That mans rights is as sacred as mine. |
Neither do mean the rich man, nor the |
poor man, nor the white man, nor the
black man. Applause. But / mean
the right of all men, irrespective of |
class, color. condition in life, or previous
condition of servitude. In other words.
Imean just exactly what say, and that
question is what we are to consider to-
night.
The right to vote means the right to
consult about the vote in advance, the
right to 90 about among the communi-
ty in which dwell and find out who they
are in it that sympathizs with me in my
views of political expediency and who
are willing to act with me in carrying
out those views practically in the ad-
of the Government.
1t means the right to hold little meet
ings in little houses, and large meetings
out Of doors, and the right for any man
that feels moved by the spirit to go up
and speak to that meeting, to explain to
them the views he holds as to the course
that ought to be pursued by the admin
!stration of the Government the right to
urge upon those who disagree with him [
20 give up their disagreement and join !
him, and to exhort them who agree with
iim to stand by the faith, and to go
to shoulder in carrying cut the I
'bjects that they hays in common. 1t s