St. Paul daily globe., 1884-07-21
Democratic Ratification at Columbus.

east front of the capitol this evening. John G.
thompson presided and read letters from gentle
men VINO 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
umDus and the state of Ohio are determined to
complete the organization which is absolutely
essential to victory
General Durbin Ward wrote: ssI regret will
be unable to attend the ratification meeting
preferred Thurman to all men for president and
deeply regret his defeat 1t was
due him and the honor of Ohio that
ne 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 bunder 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 suffericg severely, not with
anything the matter with my heart nor feelings
L,,.1 4
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
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 civilty, to say nothing of justice,
for me to occupy but little time. Go not desire
to deprive them of the privilege of being heard,
and therefore shall be very brief.in my remarks.
l shall speak cfvilly, 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 ! shall say tonight as | 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 go. Applause. That there shall
be change in the administration of our national
affairs. Applause. In monarchia countries,
the spirit nay the very letter of their Institutions
prescribe where and when man shall rule in un-
broken perpetuity. The central ideas of Demo
cratic institutions are that power shall not long
rnc int fba how'd cOfo
hence we find in our constitutions, both state and
federal, limitations upon the power of the Off
cials whom we choose. Your president is chosen
for four years, although eligi-
BILE to reelection, yet the example set
by the father of our country, who was
reelected but once, has never been broken down
to this day There has never been but one at
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
than LIDO in the great blessings that have been
bestowed in times long gone by upon the coun-
tfybY the honored Democratic party. 1t was
the Democratic party that added such
immense territory to our country
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 outbreaking
of the civil war with the apparent fixed determi-
nation to hold it as long as the sun stone and
streams shall continue to flow. 1t is bad thing
for party to remain SO long in power. 1t is not
hat oil bod -
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 own histo-
ry, only few years back, in 1876, when Samuel j.
Tiden was elected president OF the United
States. He had a majority of the electoral votes
and majority of the popular vote. Gov. Hend-
rcks 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,
s'why didn't they keep it,. Because they were
defrauded out Of it by one of the most atrocious
and blackest 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
an atrocious crime if 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 1t if
o1a haIb baar foir ap1h
have been elected president of the United States
The chief agent was afterward given grand din
ner in New 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 trampled
under foot the liberties and rights Of the people
Shall we sustain them in power? 1t is only a
question of time until the people of this country
will teach them different lesson from that
iApplause. 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 Mobiliers. Applause
and laughter. Now, think you are going to
demonstrate that this year. / think there are
tens of thousands of rightminded and independ-
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-
tinnance of party in power, my friends, be-
comes despotic. was very much struck the
other day, at the railroad crossing at Fostoria,
with the remark OF old Irishman who was
switch tender. Said he: tsJudge, how much
better off are we il one party is continued in
power forty years than il we lived under a mon
archy?1 fAppluuse. ~ would as soon live under
Queen Vic as to live in a country where party
holds power fifty years. Applause + No per
son can deny the least half of the people OF the
United States are Democrats, yet what Democrat
IN a crowd, ever 50 well educated, ever SO up
right and moral in conversation and all the walks
OF life, has the least possible chance Of getting
federal office. There are millions who thus far
are completely disfranchised, who are ae com
pletely ostracized as any person who is subjected
knrnfntrI t.c.arcr staad Of hcit1r frn1 -.