The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-08-05

ruptions which are not likely to be
exposed under the same par
ty 4hat perpetrated them. Besides, it
should not be forgotten that the last |
four > ears OF power held by that party |
were procured by discreditabie means !
and held in defiance OF the wishes of
II msjority of the people. 1t was
grlevOus wrong 10 every voter and to
our system OF self government, which
should never be forgotten or forgiven.
Many of the men now in Office were
put there because OF corrupt partisan
services in thus defeating the fairly
and legally expressed will of the ma
jority, and the hypocrisy Of the pro-
LESSONS OF that party in favor of civil
service reform, was shown by placing
such men in Office and turning the
whole brood of federal office holders
loose to influence the elections. The
money of the people taken out of the
public treasury by these men for SER
vices often poorly performed or not
performed at all, is being used in vast
sums, with the knowledge and pre-.
sumed sanction of the administration,
to control the elections. And oven
the members of the Cabinet are stroll
ing about the country making partisan
speeches. instead Of being in their
departments at Washington discharg-
ing the public duties Tor which they
are paid by the people. But with all
their cleverness and ability, discrim-
mating public will no doubt read be-
sween the lines of their speeches that
their paramount hope and aim is to
keep themselves or their satellites four
years longer in office.
That the perpetuating of the power
of the chronic federal Office holders
fonr years longer will not benefit the
millions of men and women who hold
no office, but earn their daily bread by
honest Industry, is what the same die
cerning public will no doubt fully
understand, as they will also that it is
because of their own Industry and
economy and Gods bOuntiful harvests
that the country is comparatively pros
porous, and not because of anything
done by these fedeia al Office holders.
The country is comparatively pros
porous, not because OF them, but in
spite of them
This contest is in fact between the
people cndeavoring to regain the pO-
liLical power W hich rightfully belongs
to them, and TO restore the pure, SIM
pie, economical, constitutional govern
inent of our fathers on the one side,
and hundred thousand federal Office
holders and their hackers hampered
with place and power, and determined
TO retain them AT all hazards, on the
other. Hence the constant assumption
Of new and dangerous powers by the
general government under the rule of
the Republican party; the effort to
build up what they call strong gov
ernment; The interference with home
rule and with the administration Of
Justice in the courts of the several
States; the interference with the cleo
tions through the medium OF paid
partisan Office holders Interested in
keeping their party in: power, and
caring more for that than fairness in
the elections. In fact, the constant
encroachments which have been made
| by that party upon the clearly reserved
rights OF the people and of the States
will, if not checked, subvert the liber
tiles of the people, and the government
of limited powers created by the faith
ers, and end in great consolidated
central government, strong indeed for
evil and the overthrow of repu blican
institutions.
The wise men who formed our con.
stitution knew the evils of strong
government and the long continuance
Of political power in the same hands.
They knew there was tendency in
this direction in all governments, and
consequent danger TO republican in.
stitutions from that cause, and took
] pains to guard against it. The ma.
chinery of a strong, centralized gener.
al government can be used to perpet.
uate the same set of men in power
from term to term, until it ceases to
be republic, or is such only in name
and the tendency of the party now in
power is in that direction, as shown
in various ways, besides the willing.
ness recently manifested by a large
number of that party to elect q Prasi-
| dent an unlimited number of terms, is
quite apparent, and must satisfy think
ing people that the time has come
when 1t will be safest and best for that
party to be retired. But in resisting
the encroachments of the general gov
ernment upon the reserved rights OF
the people and the States, wish to
be distinctly understood as favoring
the proper exercise by the general
government of the powers rightfully
belonging to it under the Constitution.
Encroachments upon the constitution.
al rights of the general government
or interferences with the proper ex-
| ercise of it's powers must be carefully
avoided. The union of the States
under the Constitution must be main.
tanned, and it is well known that this
has always been the position of both
the candidates on the Democratic
Presidential ticket. 1t is acquiesced
i'm everywhere now, and finally ani
forever settled as one of the results o
the war. 1t. is certain beyond al
question that the legitimate results o
the war for the Union will not b,
overthrown or impaired should til,
Democratic ticket be elected. Tn tina
event proper protection will be glvel
in every legitimate way to every citi
zen, native or adopted, i'm every section
of the republic, In the enjoyment O
all the rights guaranteed by the Con
stitution aud its amendments.
A sound currency of honest money
OF value and purchasing power cor
responding substantially with tn,
standard recognized by the CONNER
cial world, and consisting OF gold ant
silver and paper convertible into coin
will be maintained.
The labor and manufacturing, com
mercial and business interests of tn,
country will be favored and encour
ug ed in every legitimate way.
The ioiling millions OF cur owl
people will be protected from the de
structive competition of the Chinese
and to that end their immigration t.
our shores will be property restricted
The public credit will be scrapulous
ly maintained and streng thened b,
rigid economy in public expenditures
and the liberties of the people and tn
property of the people will be pro
tected by government of law ant
order administered strictly in the in
terest of sIl the people, and not o