The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1882-12-07
Our Opportunity.

The tidal wave which has swept so
cleanly over the country has furnished
the Democrats not only with com elete
victory, but has also given them al op-
portunity such as they have never had
before in the history of the two great
political parties. The victory is to be
received with such manifestations of joy
and satisfaction as may seem proper.
but the opportunity is to be studied
carefully and viewed in all its various
phases. 1t is evident that the people OF
the country are through with the corrupt
Republican organization and are dis
gusted with its political depravity and
deceit. They look to the Democratic par
ty, the party of and for the people, in the
future. In other words the opportunity
is given the Democratic party to respect
the confidence placed in it by the great
mass of voters, and increase it by wise
legislation and honest administration
For the next two years the victorious
party will be on probation. Its course
in Congress, where its majority is over
whelming, will be closely watched and
criticised, in view of the Presidential
election in 1884. The young men
raised to positions OF gravity and honor
in their several States will also be close
ly watched in view of material for the
National Convention to be held two
years hence. In fact the Democratic
party as it stands to-day has every OPP
portunity to so conduct itself, in the
interests of good government and the
people, that in 1884 the voters of this
country will say, well done, good and
faithful servants The Republican
patty; ft1ssy as it has been, of recent
years, in plotting and Matching schemes
of extreme danger to the institu-
tions of free government, has re-
ceived death blow which only worse
legislation on the part OF the Demo
Gratis can condone. This blow cannot
purify the party in two years, and it re-
mains only for the Democratic party to
prove to the country its ability TO guide
the course of public affairs in the inter-
ests of the many and not in the inter-
ests of the few. This is the opportun-
ity the people have given the party
and if it does not improve it and win
the next Presidential fight it will be no
ones fault but its own. The voters
have thus backed the Democratic party
that it may carry out those reforms
which the Republican party have either
fatty reused to do, or have purposely
delayed action in regard to. There is
a meaning to this victory that is as
plain as the incompetency of the Re-
publican party. The 1irst duty of the
Democrats is to reduce the expenses of
every branch of the Federal Govern
ment. Let the watchword be SIM
plicity, economy and honesty. The
first principle is the secret of success
in a Republic like ours and was care
fully and honestly fostered by the
glorious ancestors of the Democratic
party. The second principle, ECONOMY.
is necessary to the third. Honesty in
the government Of the affairs of the
people means economy. 1t means an
honest use of the moneys of the peo.
pie, and not the use OF that money in
the manufacture and log-rolling Of
such gigantic steals as the River anc
Z 1Harbor Bill. The second duty OF the
Democratic party is to abolish the in
ternal revenue abomination, which
Thomas Jefferson wisely cal ed "ar
internal revenue" Abolish a system
of internal revenue which plays into
the hands of coterie of monopolists
and oppresses or drives out of the fiele
of competition the small, struggling
manufacturer. The match tax is ar
, example of this. By this inferna
system of revenue taxation the smal
manufacturer of matches is unable
to carry on his business with any prof
to himself. He must either struggle a!
| best he may or else sell out to the biz
manufacturer his machinery as well a
ambition The internal revenue sys
tenn fosters monopolies and poison
small manufactures by its unjust taxa
| tion. In addition it keeps alive al
, army of office-holding spies who draw
| annually from the Treasury over $50,
, 100000 The third duty of the Demo
/ cratic party is to reduce war tariff t.
3 a tariff suitable to times of peace, no
J to free trade basis, but sufficient +
: provide for the wants of an honest an
economical Administration. Lastly. lie
the Democratic party sec to it that it de
nounces and defeats all subsidies, job
:. and steals. Let it watch the Admins
q tration and its employees and see tina
. they do their duty. AS for itself, j
Congress, if it tends to the above mat
:, ters. its course will be honest. econom
,, ical, logical and worthy of the respec
1 of all classes.
= This, then. is the Democratic oppol
= tunity, and it is a gre one. Let tn
:, party rise to the occasion, both in il
J, administration of National affairs an
State affairs. Let its actions in powe
:. inspire confidence in the voting con
. munity. Prove its ability to hold tn
= helm of State and enter the contest {
u 1884 with clean record, honest pul
: pose and strong following which wi
|, insure its success in that campaign. Th
. future of the Democratic party is glor
= OTIS one, if the opportunity is taken az
~ vantage of.-Neac Haren Register.