The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1880-08-03

j
longer would not be beneficial to the
public or in accordance with the spirit
OF our public institutions. Laws of en-
tail have not been favored in our system
OF government Tue. perpeluation Of
property or place in one family or set Of
men has never been encouraged in this
country, and the great and good men
who formed our Republican government
aud its traditions wisely limited the
terms OF office and in MANY ways showed
their disapprovai of long leases of pow.
er Twenty years of continuous power
is long enough and has alrea iy led to
irregularities and corruptions which are
not likely to be properly exposed under
the same party that perpetuated them =
Besides, it should not be forgotten that
the last four years of power held by that
party were procured by discreditahle
means and held in defiance Of the wish
es of majority of the people 1t was
grievous wrong TO every voter and 10
our system OF self government, which
should never he forgotten or forgiven.
Many of the men now in office were
pnt there because OF the corrupt parti-
san services 10 thus defeating the fairly
and legally expressed will of the ma
jOri,y, and the hypocrisy of the probes
sions of that party in favor Of civil SER
vice reform was shown by placing such
men in office and turning the whole
horde of federal office holders loose to
Influence the elections The money of
the people, taken out of the public treas
ury by these men, for service often poor
ly performed, or not performed at all, is !
being used in vast sums with the knowl. |
edge and presumed sanction OF the ad-
minstration to control the elections, and
even The members of the cabinet are
struttirg about the country making par
tisan speeches instead Of being in the
departments at Washington discharging
the public duties for which they are paid
by the people. But with all their clev-
erness and ability discrimination will
be no doubt read between the lines of
their speeches, that their paramount
hope and aim is to keep themselves or
their satellites, four years more in office
That perpetuating the power Of the
chronic federal office holders, four years
will not benefit the millions Of men and
women who hold no Office. but earn their
bread by honest industry, is what the
same discerning public will no doubt
understand, as they will also that it is
because of their own industry and econ
omy and Gods beautiful harvests, that
the country is comparatively prosperous
and not because of anything done by
these federal offi;e-holders The coun-
try is comparatively prosperous, not be
cause of them, but in spite of them
This contest is in fact between the peo.
pie, who are endeavoring to regain the
political power. which rightfully belongs
to them, to restore the pure, economical
constitutional government Of our fathers
on the one side, and hundred thousand
Federal Office -holders and their hackers
hampered with place and power, and de-
termined to retain them at all hazsrds,
on the other. Hence the constant as.
sumption OF new and dangerous powers
by the general government made the
rule of the Republican party; the eff ,rt
TO build up what they call strong gov
ernment; the interference of home rule
i with the administration of justice in the
constitutions of the several States; the
interference with the elections through
the medium of paid partisan federal of.
fee 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 on the clearly
reserved rights of the people and the
States will, if not checked, subvert the
liberties of the people and the Govern.
ment OF the limited powers created by
the fathers and end in a great consoli-
dated central government strong, indeed,
for evil and the overthrow OF Republi-
can institutions.
The wise men who formed our con-
stitution knew the evils Of strong gov
ernment and the long continuance OF
political power in the same hands. They
knew there was tendency in this direc-
ton in all governments and the conse-
ouent danger to Republican institutions
j from that course and took pains to guard
against it.
The machinery Of strong centra-
lized general government can be used to
perpetuate the same set Of men in pow
er from term to term, till it ceases to be
a republic, or, such only in name, and
the tendency of the party now in power,i
az shown in various ways besides the
willingness recently manifested by large
numbers of that party to elect Presi-
dent an unlimited number Of terms, is
quite apparent and must satisfy think
ing people that the time has come when
it will be ssfer and best for that party
to be retired. But in resisting the en-
croachment OF the general Government
on the reserved rights OF the people and
the States, wish to be distinctly un' :.
stood as favoring the proper exercise ny
the general Government Of the power
rightfully belonging to it under the Cor i.
stitution. Encroach hments upon the
Constitutional rights of the general
Government or interference with the
|, proper exercise Of it's powers must be
carefully avoided. The union OF the
States under the Constitution must be
maintained, and it is we'll known that
this mas always been the position of
both the candidates on the Presidential
ticket. 1t is acquiesced in everywhere
now and finally and forever settled as
, one of the results Of the war. 1t is GER
. tain beyond all question that the legiti-
| mate results of the war for the Union
will not be ovsrthrUwn or impaired
, should the Democratic ticket be elected.
; In that event, proper protection will be
| given in every legitimate way to every
citizen, native or adopted, 10 every Sec
ton Of the republic in the enjoyment
OF all the rights guaranteed by the Con-
stituton and its amendments. A sound
currency Of honest money Of value
, aud purchasing power corresponding
substantially with the standard recog.
nized by the commercial world and con-
, sistlng of gold and silver and paper. con-
: vertible into coin will he maintained.
: The labor and manufacturing, COM
, mercial and business interests OF the
country will be favored and encouraged
in every legitimate way the toiling mil