St. Paul daily globe., 1884-07-21

has very little influence upon the tariff question
one way or the other He has vote to give
upon tariff bills, ard it is notorious that congress
gives little heed to the presidents recommends
tions upon that question, whether they are in
favor of higher or lower duties.
Democratic Ratification at Columbus.
COLUMBUS, o., July 19-About 5000 people
attended a Democratic ratification meeting at the
east front of the capitol this evening. John G.
Thompson presided and read letters from gentle
men who had been invited to be present.
Gov. Cleveland wrote: 81 thank you for
words of encouragement and assurances Of hearty
support. am convinced the Democracy of Col
umbus and the state of Ohio are determined to
complete the organization which is absolutely
essential to victory
General Durbin Ward wrote: "I regret will
be unable to attend the ratification meeting. I
preferred Thurman to all men for president and
deeply regret his defeat 1t was
due him and the honor of Ohio that
he should have had solid vote, and for that
worked. Those who opposed it, opposed the
popular will party and weakened and defeated
Thurman by dividing the vote in favor of can
didate who had no following whatever outside of
the state. That was blunder worse, as Tally
rand says, than crime. But we must condone
all and heartily support Cleveland, the nominee.
With Thurman Ohio was safe to the nominee.
Let us work and hope to make it so for Cleve-
land. The public welfare requires the defeat of
Blaine. Ohio must do her share and bury per-
sonal defeats in work for the cause. The latter
word was received with demonstrations.
Letters were also read from Governor Hoadly,
Secretary of State Newman, and others. Judge
Thurman delivered the principal speech of the
evening, and was warmly greeted. He spoke
substantially as follows
Mr.. President and fellow citizens, when 1 ac-
cepted the invitation to address you tonight, it
was my purpose to speak somewhat fully on
some OF the great questions now under consider
alton by the American people, but the last few
days have been sufericg severely, not with
anything the matter with my heart nor feelings
caused by disappointment or regret, but from
that which old men like myself sometimes are
subjected, an attack of rheumatism, and the
consequence is l am in no condition to make
anything like an elaborate speech. However, if
l were in the best possible condition should oc-
cupy but small portion of your time for
this reason. There are numerous speakers here,
and some of them from abroad, and it would be
but common cvity, to say nothing of justice,
for me to occupy but little time. / Go not desire
to deprive them of the privilege of being heard
shall speak civilly, as has always been my habit
of life to do, and shall not depart from SO
good habit tonight. / shall speak civilly of
our political opponents, as we'll as Of ourselves.
We are at the outset of a most important politi-
cal campaign, which shall decide whether the
reigns of government shall longer continue in
the hands of the Republican party. l have
never in my life been so thoroughly
convinced of the truthfuluess OF
what I shall say tonight as I now am
The spirit of our institution, the welfare of our
country and the rights Of the citizens of our
great commonwealth all demand the Republican
party shall 60. [Appause That there shall
be change in the administration Of our national
affairs. Applause. In 1nonarchial countries,
the spirit, nay, the very letter of their institutions
prescribe where and when a man shall rule in un-
broken perpetuity. The central ideas of Demo-
cratic institutions are that power shall not long
rest in the hands of any one man or set of men ;
hence we find in our constitutions, both state and
federal, limitations upon the power of the Off
cias whom we choose. Your president is chosen
for four years, although elg-
BILE to reelection, yet the example set
by the father of our country, who was
re- e-elected but once, has never been broken down
to this day. There has never been but one as
tempt to break it, and it was signal failure '
Also your senators in congress are elected for
limited terms, and likewise your members of the
house of representatives. The officers compos-
ing the state governments are also elected to
limited terms The same is true of your mem
bers of the Legislature, city and township officials
Hence, we see the central idea of a Democratic
form of government is to prevent long continu-
ance in office. What is true OF individuals is
true Of parties No man believes more firmly
THANH do in the great blessings that have been
bestowed in times long gone by upon the coun-
try by the honored Democratic party. 1t was
the Democratic party that added such
that added SO much wealth to our
country that distinguishes its principles far and
near throughout its length and breadth. But
this has all finally come to an end. The Repub-
lican party came into power at the outbrcal1ng
of the civil war with the apparent fixed determi-
nation to hold 1t as long as the stone and
streams shall continue to flow. 1t is bad thing
for party to remain 80 long in power. 1t is not
necessary that it shall have bad motives; it is
not necessary that it shall be unpatriotic and
corrupt in order to be turned out. You may grant
them honesty and patriotism, yet long continu-
ance in power brings with it evils in the first
place The inevitable tendency is to create rings
and leaders who at last from long continued sue
cess, come to think the government belongs to
them, and belongs to them in perpetuary some
thing like Divine right. Therefore,
any detestable means is justifable
to keep them in power. Look at our own histo-
ry, only few years back, in 1875, when Samuel j.
Tilden was elected president OF the United
States. He had a majority of the electoral votes
and a majority Of the popular vote. Gov. Hend-
ricks was at the same time vice president. A
voice, .'and will be elected again" agree with
you, Laughter. If any two men were ever
elected in this country they were. A voice,
''why didn't they keep it'll Because they were
defrauded out Of it by one of the most atrocious
and blacklist deeds which blacken our free form
of government. Applause. The leaders of the
Republican party would never have dared in
augurate, much less dared carry into effect, such
atrocious crime il 1t had not been for their
long continuance in power. In 1880, four years
afterwards, the election of president turned
upon Indiana. They inaugurated and
carried through one of the most
corrupt schemes that ever disgraced the annals of
any country The vote Of that state was given
against Hancock, who would have received It IL
the election had been fair and honest, and would
have been elected president of the United States.
The chief agent was afterward given grand din
ner in News York. Now, my friends, such
thing would never have taken place, had it not
been for their long continuance in power They
came to the conclusion they would win, no matter
IL they violated the constitution and tratnpled
under foot the liberties and rights OF the people
Shall we sustain them in power? It is only
question Of time until the people Of this country
will teach them different lesson from that
lApplause. That there are other interests
In our county besides those OF the Re-
publican rings and leaders. That there are others
interested besides star route plunderers and
whisky rings, and Credit Mobiiiers. TApplause
and laughter. Now, think you are going to
demonstrate that this year. / think there are
tens of thousands of right-minded and indcpend-
ent Republicans who will clasp hands with us to
teach these men that this government does not
belong to the Republican party, but to the people
OF the United States. Applause. The CON
tinuance Of party in power, my friends be-
comes despotc. was very much struck the
other day, at the railroad crossing at Fostoria.
with the remark Of an old Irishman who was
switch tender. Said he: "Judge, how much
better off are we il one party Is continued in
rnruax fnrfY vears than IL lived ttndnr