Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-10-27


disputed navigation and control Of the
Mississippi, the worlds greatest river,
from-its source TO the Gulf, carried
the flag Of the Union beyond the
Rocky Mountains, and planted it by the
calm ana placid waters of the Pacific
Ii was the Democratic. administration
of James Monroe that acquired from
! Spain the valuable territory of Florida,
extending from the Atlantic Ocean to
the Mississippi river. 1t was the Dem
ocratic administration Of James X.
Polk, that added Texas to the Union,
and again the starry banner was borne
beyond the Rocky Mountains und
planted upon the golden shores of Cal
ifornia. From the organization of the
Government, in 1889, down to the
present hour there has been no single
national achievement that added to the
glory of the country, shed renown up
on the American name, or extended the
area of freedom, that was not the di-
rect emanation of Democratic states.
manship, courage and sagacity; save
ia our recent wretched civil strife,
where brothers hands shed brothers
blood, no battle has been fought, no
victory won by American arms, either
upon the sea or upon the land, that
was not fought and won under the aus
| pices of a Democratic administration.
The Democratic party has furnished
the most eminent jurists as we'll as the
ablest and most profound statesmen
and political economists the country
has yet known, and in every walk of
official life Democrats have won the
greenest bays and garnered the most
fadeless laurels. as sf '
During the more than fifty years of
Democratic rule the national honor was
maintained, the public credit pre-
served, the resources of the country
developed, its wealth and prosperity
vastly increased, and the consequent
happiness of its people assured.
In contrast with this bright record
Of distinguished and honorable achieve.
ments, what does the Republican party
present for the consideration of the
American people? Its orators and or
gans persistently declare that the Re-
publican party "saved the life of the
nation,' y and that if the Democrats are
entrusted with the re1ns of Govern
ment, the fruits of the war of the re-
bellion will be lost. Parties, like indi-
viduals, may be safely judged by their
record, and just estimate of what
men and parties will do in the future
may be arrived at by a consideration
Of what they have, done in the past
Judged by its past record, the Demo-
cratic party can confidently appeal to
the American. people for a favorable
verdict. Entrusted with power for
more than half century, no act of dis
honor or disloyalty stains its bright es-
cutcheon. In powerli:s rule was ac-
companied by,unparalleled prosperity,
by the promotion of agricultural and
manufacturing industries, and the in
crease of our commerce. In war, its
success was not less pronounced or
brilliant Wherever it hoated, the
old flag was the ensign of victory and
wherever American soldiers and sail
ors encountered a foe the splendor of
their achievements added new lustre
to our flag and fresh honor to our arms.
And now as an Offset to the glorious
record of the Democratic party for
fifty years, what does the Republican
party offer as the result of It's twenty
years of extravaganza, corruption, and
misrule2 The Democratic party points
with honorable pride to two foreign
wars, to many victories, and a flag that
was never struck down in battle. 1t
points to its grand acquisitions of ter
ritory, extending from ocean to ocean,
where millions Of free, happy, and
prosperous people have made their
homes, and exclaims, "these are my
trophies" IT the leaders of the Re-
publican party should be called upon
for the evidences of their statesman
ship, their capacity to rule, we suppose
the answer would be promptly made
''aUe saved the Union; aoe freed four
millions of slayes!' Admitting for
the moment an assertion that is notori
ously untrue, (for Democrats and Re.
publicans alike contributed their blood
to save the Union, and without the SER
vices and sacrifices of the former, the
Union would not have been saved
and the negroes would not have been
freed, at what a frightful cost were
these results achieved!
To barbarize and beggar the seced-
ing States cost an ocean of prescious
blood, a million of lives were sacrificed,
millions of hearts were torn with an
guisa, millions of children became
fatherless, and untold billions of treas
ure expended, and all this wreck, ruin,
and woe was in addition to the waste
and ruin incident to all wars and which
in our great fraternal strife assumed
the most colossal proportions. These,
then including the purchase of Alaska,
at more than double the price paid for
Louisiana by Mr.. Jefferson, out of
which many great, prosperous, and
popular States have been carved, are
the triumphs, of the Republican party.
Let the independent and honest men of
the country who acknowledge ale