Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-01-26
What We Believe.

!
founders OF the republic, those cherished
principles which underlie the whole
structure of our government; and
we believe the democratic party only
can bring il back to the safe anchorage
OF the constitution, to the paths OF econ
omy, integrity, and fidelity to the people.
The experience of twenty-five years OF
republican rule, with its long carnival OF
crime, corruption and debauchery,
should induce the American people To
pause and calmly consider the question
whether the best interests OF the country
do not imperatively demand a change, as
well in the policies as in the practices
and characters of our rulers. A long
lease Of undisturbed power is almost GER
tain to engender and bring to the surface
the meanest and bravest passions of those
who Weld it, and history may be searched
in vain for a single instance where a
party grown corrupt by the long posses
sion OF office and power, was ever will
ling to institute, or able to carry out any
measure for the genuine reform of
abuses which had grown up in the hot
bed OF vice and corruption sustained by
the vile, the venal and the cowardly.
The only remedy for such abuses as have
blackened the record of the republican
party, is to be found in the free and fear
less use of the surgeons knife, and this
can never be looked for at the hands of
the afflicted patient. Reform must come
if it comes at all from the outside. The
prison-house of so many secrets of crime
must be laid bare to the public gaze. The
veil must be torn from the faces of the
false prophets who have beguiled the
people with honeyed words, while with
the iron hand of the robber, they have
remorselessly plundered the treasury,
the government; and covered the Ameri-
can name with humiliation and shame.
The old party. then, to which the people
can look with reasonable confidence for
this much needed reform, is the grand
old Democratic party, which have
''braved the battle and the breeze" for
more than three quarters of a century,
and which is now preparing for another
struggle with it's old adversaries, the
cohortsof Capitalization, extravaganza
and fraud for the preservation and per
petuation of constitutional government
and the principles of civil liberty.
To enable the democratic party to sue
cessfully resist and overthrow these pub
lie enemies, we need thorough organi
zation, discipline and the elimination ol
all minor and nom essential issues from
our political creed Our bond of Unior
must be the protection of the constitu
ton, and the preservation of the govern
ment from the assaults. open and con
cealed of the bitterest foes of each. Fol
twenty years these sappers and miners
have been busily at work, laboring to de
stroy the foundation of the republic with
the purpose of building upon its ruins al
empire to be ruled by successful soldier
who will ride rough-shod over the liber
ties and personal rights of people whit
were born free. Even now the capito
and every department is honey combet
with corruption, and each succeeding
day brings to light startling discoveries
OF some newly developed official villain,
and these disclosures follow each othe
with such rapidity, that the public ha
ceased to regard them with more consid
Grafton than is accorded to some idl,
wonder of the hour.
Believing that the continued domino
tion of the republican party will surel
prove fatal to our form of government
it's institutions, laws and traditions, it
the religious duty of every democrat i
the land to labor necessarily for the ovel
throw of that corrupt, reckless and ins6
lent organization. Deprive the republ
can party of the control of tn
patronage and the offices of the goy
ernment; take from it the treasury c
government with the privilege to plur
| Il nd 10 tO mt
and it will die of inanition, while its d,
mise will be hailed with delight by tn
: people it has insulted, outraged an
plundered.
: To accomplish this desirable end, hov
ever, it is necessary to compact the den
ocratic party, to heal all dissensions
: our ranks, to discard all sectional issue
to know no North, no South, no East, I
+ West, but to remember we have coul
try to love, Constitution to venerat
and Union to protect and defend at q
, hazards. against all comers. If the den
3 ocrats Of all sections can be banded t
t gether in this spirit, if they will fore!
all personal preferences, and look alol
to the common good, they have only
: perfect their organization and discipli'
r to become irresistible. Thus organic
t the democratic party will be borne in
1 power upon the topmost crest of gre
8 popular tide wave, and then the maj
: and much-needed reforms in all depal
J. ments OF the government will be hone'
e ly enforced; then we shall see the a
d ministration of the government elevat
l once more TO that high plane of purit
g patriotism and official integrity, up'
which its founders placed 1t, and whi
Y characterized official life at the capt.
f before the saturnalia of vice and villain
s. was inaugurated by the Republic
j. party.
is Believing in the absolute necessity
h driving corrupt men from high plac'
y we need scarcely add that this jour-
y can be relied upon for any aid it can re
y der in expelling the republican pal
n from power.-America, Register.