Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1884-05-01

, against the Government in a spirit of le
niency and forgiveness never hitherto
paralleled by any civilized nation on
earth. Under its benign influence States
grew and multiplied and cities and towns
took the place of the wigwam and the
, hut Commerce stretched its iron bands
across the continent, and fastened its
hooks of steel in the coral reefs of the
Pacific ocean. No Nation ever expert
enced material growth such as we have
growth in wealth, growth in education,
growth in intelligence yiltue and Chris
tian civilization.
We see it eonferring political equality
upon every man. woman and child of the
Nation. The four million of slaves re
deemed from servitude by the Republi
can party have been, by its benign legis-
lation, lifted up, and placed upon the
plane of manhood and citizenship, and
have been hidden by the American Con-
stitution Godspeed in their struggle for
actual equality among the people of the
earth.
\ 1t has never failed to punish the un-
faithful in its own ranks. Il has demand
ed of every official of the Government
faithfulness of duty. 1t has discharged
its sacred obligation ito bind up the Ma
tion's wounds, TO care for him who has
borne the brunt of battle. and for his
widow and orphans" 1t has lifted the
old flag to a plane of higher dignity and
lgrandeur in the great galaxy of the na
tions. Emerging from the war with
$4,000, 100000 of debt, it has reduced it
fifty per cent. and made the deprecated
money of the country par in gold and
silver.
1t has been honest in administration
1t has reduced the losses of the Govern
mert from defalcatiOn from 81 90 on the
thousand under Jackson, and $1l II under
Van Buren, to less than four fifths of a
mill under Hayes administration. Rail
roads In the country have increased from
80, 900 miles in 1850 to 10000 in 1884,
The population of the country has in
creased from 100000 in 1860 to more
than 50,O00.O00 in 1884.
By its administration of the tariff laws,
by its introduction and defense of the
principle of protection protection for
protection-it has made the condition of
the laboring classes of this country better
by fifty per cent. at least than their con-
dition in any civilized country of the
world, and to-day the Republican party
! is the only power that protects the in
dustrious, the educated, the intelligent
masses of American laborers from the
demoralizing and pauperizing effect of
| the cheap labar of other lands.
A brief retrospect of the Democratic
party during all this great period shows
| it to have been the agency of mere OBJ
struction and hinderance 1t has blocked
aud blockaded the pathway of progress.
1t voted against every one of the Consti-
tutional amendments which carry into
execution the ideas of liberty and equal
rights. 1t resisted all attempts at re-
construction upon the basis of loyalty to
the Government.
1t resisted every attempt to re-establish
loyal State Governments in the South. 1t
voted solidly in the South and in the
North against the giving to the colored
man che right to vote, because they de-
clared him too ignorant, while, at the
same time, they steadily refused to vote
for the appropriation of public money to
educate the unfortunate freedman. 1t
denounced as Revolutionary, unconstitu-
tionaI and void" tne enactments of Con
gress and of the State Legislatures which
abolished slavery and gave equal rights
and political privileges. 1t battled against
the restoration of the credit of the Gov
ernment. IT. sought to fasten upon the
business interest of the country the curse
of irredeemable paper money. 1t denoun-
ced and opposed the resumption of specie
payments, and fell prostrate and demor-
allied before the genius of the Republican
party, as administered in the great work
OF resumption by John Sherman. of Ohio. |
No act of the American Congress which !
has been passed and took effect during
this quarter of a century which was in
the interestof abor, of education, of in
dustrial prosperity, of national growth. of
greater civilization, that the Democratic |
party has not obstructed and resisted |
During that great period it has had no
policy that has not been condemned by
the voice of the people, and no policy has
been adopted which has furthered the
magnificent growth Of the country that it
has not resisted. 1t has been a party of
negatives. a party of obstruction, party
of condemnation, and the people of the
country have repudiated it whenever it
was possible.
Thus, fellow citizens, we stand today. |
And now, for moment, for an introspec'
tive view. The Republican party stands |
today the champion and defender of its
own magnificent history and career. On
the one hand it points to what it has |
done, on the other it promises the people |
equal or better results in the future. |
Recently it has been said by Ohio's gifted |
Governor that the thing most needed was |
to turn out of power the Republican party, |
and condemn it because of its failure of |
administrative reform. The reforms of |
the Democratic party are manifested |
throughout this whole State today, in |
broken promises, forfeited pledges, and |
Violated words of honor. One year ago, |
in consideration that an interest. mighty |
in financial wealth in Ohio, would come |
to the rescue of the exchequer of the
Democratic party, that party pledged it |
self everywhere, on the stump, in the
press, in its platform, and throughout the
whole length and breadth of its ranks,
that, in consideration of the aid thus to |
be given, whereby it could again ride
into power in the legislative department |
of the State Government. it would wipe |
from the statute book the Scott law-ob' |
noxious to certain interest in Ohio |
They promised that they would wrest |
from the treasures nearly two million
dollars, which the Republican party had |
found the means to raise by taxation |
upon the liquor traffic, under system so
benign, SO just, and ultimately to become
so popular, that it is the pride of the Re-
publicans of the State today, and an hon
or to the venerable statesman whose
name it bears.
They got into power. Their allies con-
tribuled of their means with profuse liberali /
ty, and every sub-committeeman throughout
the State was almost, by comparison with his
former condition at least, substantially mil> |
lionaire, as he marched bravely up to the bal> |
lot box to deposit bis ballot in favor Of ''per>
sonal liberty" And when the election was
over. a shout went up throughout the length |
and breadth of Ohio: ''Now we care not for
the decision Of the Supreme Court; we care