The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-07-27
Democratic State Convention
HARMONIOUS PROCEEDINGS.
A Good Ticket and a Sound
Platform.

A Good Ticket and a Sound
Platform.
The Democratic State COnventiCn n
held in the city of Columbus was the
largest ever held by the Democrats of
Ohio, and its proceedings were charac-
terised by a spirit of harmony and en-
thusiasm which give promise of glo-
rious Democratic victory in October.
The Convention was organized by
the choice of Hon. John f. Follett, of
Cincinnati, temporary chairman, who,
upon assuming the duties of the posi-
tion, made an able and eloquent speech,
in which he discussed both National
and State politics. He arraigned the
Republican party, for its stealing, its
swindling, it's failure to relieve the
people from oppressive burdens of tax
alton, and for it's fanaticism and intol-
Grant spirit as manifested by the Leg
islature last Winter. The following is
synopsis of the speech:
l am not here today to originate
Democratic key notes. The time for
that has long since passed. They were
| first sounded at the reveiIle which
first called the defenders of human
rights and personal liberty from rest
to labor, in securing and maintaining
inalienable rights against the encrOach
ments of tyranny in any and every
form, and against the usurpatiOns Of
power, whether assumed as by divine
right or by brute force, Or the insidi-
ously approaching but crushing power
of monOpolies. Democratic key notes
have inspired and set in motion every
struggle for human liberty ana human
progress.
The Democratic party has ever been
the party OF the constitution, its fun
damental principles being thata pow
er primarily belongs to the people, and
that constitutions are made for the
purpose of defining and restricting the
powers delegated by the people, and
that they should be strictly construed.
Influenced by Democratic motives
and guided by Democratic principles,
in the hands OF the Democratic party,
the government Of this country during
the first sixty years OF the present cen
tury was such as to lead to unbrOk Ell
and continued prosperity. Capital was
protected, labor was amply rewarded,
the rights OF American citizens We're
respected both at home and abroad,
our commodities were carried in our
own ships to foreign markets, our COM
merce was prosperous, labor strikes
We're unknown, constitutional rights
were everywhere respected, the people
were happy and cOntented. Now mark
the contrast in the history of today
Stimulated and fOstered by Republican
legislation, monopOlies have grown
into gigantic proportions, labor has
been oppressed, and Iaborers have be-
come restless and dissatisfied, Ouf
commodities are transported to foreign
markets III ships of other nations, Ia
Dor is taxed to feed monopolies.
Our commerce has been seriously
interfered with, and the business OF
the country disastrOusly affected by
the refusal Of the officers Of our prin-
cipal trunk lines Of railroads, who
themselves receive enormous salaries
the Presidents at least as high as fifty
thousand dollars per annum, to pay tt
the freight handlers, whose tabOrs are
onerOus, and whose time of employ.
ment is uncertain and dependent upon
the quantity of freight to be handled
the sum OF twenty cents per hour O
| actual service. Should those freight
} handlers be constantly employed anC
work ten hours per day, their compen
sation would be but s. per day, or $60t
per year, about one hundredth part o
that received by the men who refuse t.
accede to their modest and reasonable
demand. Republican policy seems tt
be to reduce the laborer to the last ne
cessity, so that on election day thu
cries of his hungry and ragged wifi
and children may induce him to sci
his vote for n small consideration, ant
: by forced contributions from appoint
i've officers with small salaries, ant
voluntary contributions from monOpo
lies and mOnOpolists, who are anxious
for continuance of Republican rule
to raise the means 10y which they can
on the approach of election, send thei
2 pay cars, under the direction of Cam
erOn or Il Dorsey, or some equally i'm
maculate Republican leader, to scatte
7 broadcast through doubtful States TIL,
money with which to buy votes ant
corrupt voters. This the Republican
boss calls shrewd party management
and he facetiously denominates thes'
cOrrupting funds, this blood money
) grease with which to lubricate th'
, wheels of the Republican machine
} To what r sad condition art thol
brought, my country. by the rule o
the Republican party! The head F.,
% fostering sOren' "rhe whole heat
sick and the whole heart faint!
Touching upon State issues, Mr.
FOllett said all good citizens must fee
shame at the conduct OF the Republic
can Legislature last Winter. "WoulG
that their acts might be bl red a. Gui-
teau was, within prison walls, and the
place of sepulchre unknown to mortal
man. 1t is c0ns0iing to know thai
there are courts to stand between such
legislatures and the people. To the
Democratic party alone can the people
look for relief, and to it will the dis
satisfied people turn. But success can
not be achieved without q desperate
struggle. The Republican party is
backed up by The aggregated wealth
of mOnopolies, the organized force OF
office holders, and the power of the
political boss. II Democrats would
succeed they must inscribe upon their
banners those principles of liberty,
fraternity, and equality that are heir
looms of the Democratic party, place
that banner i'll the hands Of tried and
true men who have the requisite cour.
age and capacity to be standard bear.
ers of such a party, in such a contest
and then rally unitedly, earnestly
zealously, and bravely in defense of it
Do this, and when the votes are count
ed out, songs of triumph and shouts o
victory will not only gladden. YOU
hearts, but bring relief to suffering
people.
AT the conclusion of Mr.. FoIiett'f
speech, the usual committees were an
n1unced, when the convention took
recess till two O'Clock
At the assembling Of the convention
after recess, the committee on creden
tials reported comp plete delegations anC
no contests.
The following were reported by the
committee as