The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-08-26
HIRAM.
Correspcnden, e

pole, as announced, l6SC saturday,. IL
is nice one, standing $50 feet above
the ground. The crowd in attendance
was not as large as wal anticipated,
nor as large as the unremitting exer-
ions of the projectors for the last two
months seemed to warrant. We most
sincerely sympathize with our friends,
for their eXertions merited q more gem
erous appreciation by the Republicans
rom the surrounding country. But
the Democrats turned out in good
force, and with the Republicans made
fair audience, for a pole raising-but
for a mass meeting, failure. The
raising of a pole $50 feet in height, a
brass cannon from Trumbull county,
two Bands of music, all procured at
great expense; Judge Taylor and Gen.
Garfield, were the attractions offered,
and all of which were produced, save
the presence of Gen. Garfield. No
Democrat was foolish enough to be-
lieve that the General would lend his
presence to his own pole raising, but a
large number of Republicans were
sorely disappointed by reason of his
nonappearance. They were also very
much disappointed with the speech,
which, as the Democrats predicted,
amounted to just nothing. The pre-
liminary remarks of the speaker were
we'll enough. He said he should not
defend Garfeld's honesty in Hiram or
before an audience in Hiram. Neither
would he assail Gen. Hancock, or
countenance the foolish stories in Cir
culatiOn about him. He believed Gen.
Hancock to be a gentleman, and
whether profane or not made no differ
ence. He then for an hour discussed
the doctrine of secession, closing with
brief view of State sovereignty, de-
nouncing it as dangerous heresy. He
read the Virginia and Kentucky reso-
lutions Of 1898, in proof that the dem
ocracy approved the doctrine, and
closed with two exhibitions of inex-
cusable ignorance. The first was that
the Constitution of 1887 was formed by
the people Of the United States, and not by
the States. We think Ezra had better
read up little before he gets far away
from home, or some ignorant Demo-
crat may catch him up. His second
exhibition of Ignorance. or rather cuss-
edness, was in predicting disaster and
total ruin if Hancock was elected. He
did not pretend to say just what would
be ruined, or how, but it would be dis
aster and total ruin, and the time would
come when we all would call on God
to forgive US for such great sin. Prob
ably but few Republicans present could
tell whether the Constitution was
formed and adopted by the people of
therefore accepted his statement, just
as the young crow accepts the carrion
from the old one. At q caucus in this
place, but short time ago, where there
were fifty representative Republicans
present, there were only two who un-
derstood the difference between major
ity and plurality, and they finally,
after some discussion, voted that there
was no difference. Several Republi-
cans of this place have informed me
lately that the Constitution can he
changed by bare majority of Congress
and the signature of the President.
Consequently, they see the way clear
for pensioning rebel soldiers, in case
Hancock is elected. One representa-
tive Republican tells me if Hancock
is elected the PostOfiice arrangements
will be changed, and maybe some
Postmasters will charge more fol
stamps than he now pays. When
Gen. Fitzpatrick, the frey Republican
orator, told the New Jersey Republic
can Convention, a few days ago, that
Joe Hooker was supporting Garfield
there was not delegate in that Con
vention that knew any better. Jo'
Hooker has been dead nearly two years, and
i as he was Democrat here, he certain
ly would not be Republican in
Heaven-where all good Democrats go
But ramble hugely. Suffice it to say
Taylor's speech gave general dissatis
faction. One person aecosted me ant
says; "Well, Tayler done first rate.