Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-09-28

have discusseds only national ques.
tions, having relation TO, Q Congress
sional canvass. There, is no State Leg
islatpre 70 elect aud the present Leg
islstpre is Republican, and SO is the
Supreme Court, The rebellion, Gov.
Foster scents, is all in, Republican
ranks. Rebels Of some kind seem to
be essential elements in every Repub-
llican campaign ana if they do not
exist they are Created for the occasion!
Peace and good order III society are
conditions q good government. and
it is for good and economical govern
menta that we contend But the Sc
curity Of the largest individnallibs
consistent with the rightsof others and
the public welfare is q sound -princi-
pie to observe in all legislation, and |
believe with Jefferson that s'uniformity
of opinion is neither possible nor de-
sirable," but | believe, too, that so far
as the traffic in intoxicating liquors is
put in issue, the best interests of socie>
ty require. that this traffic should be
subjected to -suchiregulation by law,
honestly enforced, as will cut off
abuses and repress, and prevent the
evils it is liable to, and that if it does
not it should he made to bear its just
share of the burden of taxes. The
State Constitution provides that ''the
General Assembly may by law provide
against the evils resulting from this
traffic, and this has been the doctrine
of Democratic statesmen from the
adoption of the Constitution down.
But it is not necessary to this end that
the right of private Judgment in this
or any other regard should be taken
away To secure this right the whole
earth has been stained with blood and
it is too precious to lose. -,
CONCLUSION. y
said at the beginning Of my speech
that good government cost less, always,
than bad government. I have shown
the alarming increase in the yearly
appropriations for the support of gov
ernment. have shown, too, by fig
ures, that cannot be, disputed how
much greater the appropriations have
been under Republican Congress than
under Democratic Congress. I have
pointed out how the public revenue in
many ways has been misapplied and
misspent, and have shown the tendency
to extravaganza since the war. have
endeavored, through all too feebly, T
know, to arouse your solicitude that
you might take heed of the danger
that beset us and that threaten to un.I
dermine the very foundation Of free
institutions, BY corrupting the ballot
the fountain head of free government.
These with me are the vital living is
sues of the times. Nor can public at
tention be longer diverted from these
issues by d beating of drums and a
flourish Of trumpets over scenes Of the
war. And it will not suffice in answer
to indulge in the glorifcation of the
past record Of the Republican party,
or Of its leaders in other days.
It is sorrowful plea in extenuation
to desire to shield whiskey rings, ma
Wy rings, star route rings, or the job
berry Of Robeson Congress, under
past glorious record; and it were high
sacrilege to attempt to cover these in,
'iquities, with the stainless robes of
Lincoln, Seward or q Summer.
Each party must be judged today
by its acts to-day. Each Congress
must stand orfall as its acts are ap-
proved or disapproved by the people.