Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-04-03
The Political Issues in the Approach
ing Presidential Election!

The present Republican party has
had the control and responsibility of
the administration of the Government
for the last twenty-three years. And
the first inquiry which arises, is wheth-
er this party should be continued in
power any longer, whether its ascend,
ancy should be forever, or whether the
rights interests and welfare of the
people would not be promoted by a
change of party in power. The histo-
ry of the world shows, that the same
men or dynasty, long continued in
power, become corrupt and abuse the
authority entrusted to them. The safe,
ty and welfare Of the country require
change. This ia the only way to
correct abuses, and purify the admin
istratlon of our public affairs.
In the next place, what has this par
ty done which entities it to be con-
tinued permanently in power? How
faithful has it been to the Constitu-
ton, and true to the rights safety and
welfare of the people to entitle 1t to
claim permanent lease of power?
These inquiries are directly involved
in the issues. This party is fairly and
Justly on its trial 1t has had the con
troll and the responsibilities of power,
and cannot conceal its public acts, or
shield Itself from the test scrutiny and
examination. The insldious artifce of
political leaders to cover up the abuses
and corruptions of the party in power,
by attacks upon the Democratic party.
which las been out of power all that
time, is simply absurd, and cannot be
successful before an intelligent people
The inquiry then is fairly before the
country as to the good conduct OF this
Republican party, and its claims to be
continued in power. In all candol
and fairness let it's claims to power and
public confidence be examined and in
quired into.
lst. This party came into power or
an open reputation of the most solemn
pledges of the public faith, on which
the Union had been founded, and or
the doctrine of ''higher law than the
Constitution"
ID. The commotions caused by il
and its accession to power involved the
country in the dire calamites of civil
war, in which more than million Of
the lives of citizens we've sacrificed
many thousands of millions of dollars
of public revenue expended, and
mourning, suffering, and inexpressible
trouble carried into families trough.
out the land.
Sd. The rebellion having beer
overcome by the conservative part Of
the people of the Northern States or
the pledge of the public faith un1er
the Crittenden resolution, hat the OBJ.
ject of the war was not conquest Of
subjugatiop, "but to preserve the Un
Ion wi'h all the dignity, equality and
rights of the several States unim.
paired" this party, then in power, re-
) fused to allow the Union to be re
stored and preserved as promised, bu
repudlated the pledge of the public
faith, ar d trampling down the Consti
tuition and the Union, placed ten o
the States under military despotism
converting thereby the Federal Gov
ernment into a consolidated monarchy
4th. By the corrupt machinery Of
returning boards, organized in the
Southern States to change the cleo
tion returns, and thus to control and
, defeat the voice Of the people at the
elections, this party, in 1876, counted
out the candidate of the Democratic
party elected by the people, and in
, stalled in power It's own defeated can
J didate for the Presidency; thus con
tinuing itself in power by fraud, il
shameful disregard Of the Constitu-
ton.
5th. BY raising money by mean
; most nefarious and foul, and by usinl