Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-03-10
THE CAUSE AND THE LEADER.


During the last few days loud calls
have come from the national capital for
the Democratic party 10 rally TO its ira
ditions. T. come TO the rescue Of popular
government and save the liberties OF the
people. The Democracy has ever been .
the party OF the people, and so long as 1t
remained true 10 its trust, so long did its
ccsfHy guc trust remain true TO II. Every
trespass ever committed upon the rights
of the people has been, until during late
years. by the people through the Demo
cratic party, resented and properly pun
ished and the bulwark Of freedom main-
tanned Shall that grand old party now
Become deaf and Tecreant to its trust
Shall it continue to follow uncertain
paths. pursue doubtful and vacilating
policy, be lead by ephemeral leaders car
rying banners with IA strange device,
prostrate its energies to the caprices OF
adventures who would sacrifice its
mighty powers to the trifiing and bastard
issues Of an hour? And thus, through
supiness, let popular government be de-
stroyed, the rights of the people ignored
and trampled upon, and the foundation
of civil liberty undermined : Or shall
we give ear to the notes of warning
which reach us, buckle on our armor,
spread to the winds the banners en-
blazoned with the principles of our
founders and, under the trusted leader
ship of men whose minds have been edu-
Gated in and are imbued with teachings
and principles of true Democracy, march
to certain victory and re.establish the
rights and sovereignty of the ne3Pie
But last week, at Washington, the capi-
tai of a government whose Democratic
life exists in republican simplicity, was
witnessed display vieing in pomp a roy
al coronation and rivaling in splendor the
appearance of Cyrus in Babylon-in it.
self no more insignifcance than the fool
ish pageantry which discovered a weak
ness in the mind of that great ruler-out
which, like that example that SO rapid
" spread over the greatest power OF the
Fast and was the chief cause of the down.
fall of the Persian empire, will instlll IN
to the people love of luxury and mag
nificence which will soon enervate body
and mind, and leave the governed
ready for abiect submission to the ruler
who comes in pomp and promises to min
ister to their luxury.
Again, at the dying moments of Con
gress, when that body had just succeed
ed after a winters contest. in passing the
refunding bill providing for refunding
the national debt at three per centum in
tcrest. r. B. Hayes, as the last act OF his
four years stolen authority, at the dlcta-
ton of national bankers and bondhold-
ers, and bending the hinges of his knees
to the money power proving false to the
people. vetoed the bill and decreed
that the country should continue to pay
tribute to the Shylocks who, leach-like,
cling to the public treasury. And this We
to was approved of by Garfield in his in-
augural address !
When the government is in the control
of a set of men either owned or intimi-
dated by the bankers and money power
of the country and the welfare and inter
est of the people held for naught, and
entirely ignored at the behest of money
changers and purse-proud spectators, 1t
is high time that the temple is cleansed,
and that the Democratic party return to
its duty, serve the purpose for which it
was organized, undo the class and rob
bing legislation of the last twenty years
and protect the interest of the people. As
party we have frittered away too much
valuable time, stopped to too much poll
cy,' and worshipped too many golden
5 calves, by adopting as doctrines of the
party;the dogmas of every aspirant fol
momentary notoriety, and now owe it tC
the country to return TO our cardlna
) principles, the only ones upon which c
, popular government can be maintained
If we do this and are defeated, we will a
T. least have shown the courage of Cato ant
need not be ashamed of the cause fol
which we Contended.
1st. Let us dispose Of the money dicta
tors and Wall street gamblers, by wipinf
out the entire National Bank system ant
compel the bondholders to take green
backs or such interest bearing bonds a
Congress. composed of the peoples re
e representatives., shall say is just and righ
! between debtor and creditor. The pen
sioners can be paid in greenbacks ant
will be glad to accept them; the expense
: of the Post-otfice can be paid in the sam
l currency; so can salaries and all outlay
a by the government. The balance o
y trade, by properly adjusted tariff ant
7 regulated commerce, will be in our fav
or, and thus there need be no complain
of scarcity of money. If there is no
= enough for Wall street speculation ant
a gambling, let Wall street close its doors
= there will be plenty for the legitimat
= business of the people.
E end Let us return to our tradition
on the tariff. Where is the Democra
, who cannot look with pride and graft
tude upon the past Under the admins
Do1J~ LD