Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-09-03
Hon wlI,,am ID. HilT's sneecb.

On SATURDAY lAst ~ AOntpeuer, Wunhms county
Ohio, Hon. william d. Hin, Congressman nom thi
District. made q ringing speech to the County Demo
cratic Convention, in which he commended the faith
fulDess Of Democrats Of the county in eousgeouS,
lighting for their prlnooes, year after year, wher
Republicans were Overwhelmingly In the majority
and when the Democrats had nothing 10 hope for IN
the shsps Of victory. He congratulated his hearer'
upon the change in the Administration, and ex-
pressed the hope thst the days of United States
Marshsls, armed posses aud Internal Revenue spies
at the polls were ended In this country forever. He
asserted that the Democrats enter the present can
vass with hope and confidence. He called attention
to the undesirable condition of business at the ex-
piraton Of the Republican Administration, and de
clared that whatever changes have followed have
been wholesome and 10 the interest Of the people,
adding that the ealamities which our Republican
friends predicted have not come. He outlined the
work that has been performed by the different de-
partments, dwelling particularly upon that Of the
Interior Department. and showing that the record Of
this department is one Of remarkable brillianey
The hrmness and ceaseless vigilance Of Secretary
Whitney of the Navy, in looping of barnacles and
performing other sensible and economical feats,
were highly praised by the speaker. high COM
plment was paid Attorney General Garland, and the
action OF the Secretary of the Treasury in stopping
enormous leaks by removing from the pay-rolls the
names of useless clerks, thereby saving the Govern q.
ment $a13 900 per snnum, in four years $852
was commended. Other Illustrations were made to
show that the pledges ofthe Democratic party to re-
duce expenditures had slresdy been redeemed. The
speaker said that was his idea Of Civil Service re
form, and vastly better reform, for the pockets Of
the people, tnsn the retention of Republican clerks
in the service because the law does not per NIT Of
their discharge.
Mr.. Hill said further along In his speech that he
has been amused to hear our Republic lean friends
complain Oft the President because he saw proper To
appoint some Ex-Confederates to Office. Did not
Grant and Hayes and Arthur all appoint Ex-Confed-
crates to Officer he asked. Where there any worse
rebels than Longstreet and Mosby7 Are they not
still hugging Malone to their Republican bosoms,
as the last hope for foot-hold in virginia.
This, too, is linked with the odium Of reputation
and public Generalization, continued the speaker.
Why has not Democratic President just as good
right to give "rebel" office Republican Presi
dent? Under what law and by what authority did
the Republican party obtain patent right to ap-
point what they call repentant rebels to Officer Mr..
Hill wanted to know.
On the subject of Civil Service law Mr.. Hill stated
that he was opposed to it. Hedeclared that had he
been in Congress he would have voted against it. He
will vote for its immediate repeal, becaues he would
rather trust to the good honest and purpose Of
of Cleveland and his Cabinet to make appointments
than Republican committee, for which the Con-
stitution makes no special provision, in his judg
ment.
The speaker turned his attention from the Ma
tionsl Administration to the State. He reminded
his hearers that every Democratic State Convention
held this year had indorsed the President. In re-
ferring to our ewn Empire State Of the West he
said that Ohio has spoken In no uncertain sound,
while glorious old Democratic Kentucky has thun-
dered her approval by sixtysix thousand Democratic
majority. In referring to the platform of the Ohio
Democratic Convention the speaker called it mod
Ell of brevity and plainness of speech. He said that
there was nothing uncertain in it, and then he pro-
ceeded to indulge in . dissertation the principal
features thereof claiming oh the subject of the Il
ce nse of the liquor traffic, which the platform IA
vors, that he was in favor Of wellregulated and
graded license law, because he believed that 1t is
right and proper and just to all interests in great
State. He said:
"We have in our State about three and half
mil ions Of population. They come from all coun-
tries and all climes. They do not all think alike.
Is, in my opinion, impossible to make them all eat,
drink and sleep alike. BY our organic law each one
Ia guaranteed the right to choose his own sect and
creed for religious worship. recognize the duty Of
every man and woman to obey the law, but I deny
the right Of set of men to prescribe the diet or
beverage of another, or the personal habits of an
,ther of men they infringe nobody's rights.
This Is free country. The Constitution is the
shield of every citizen, and throws around him its
mantle of protection. 1t reaches the high and the
ow alike. The provisions in it providing for taxa
lion by the Legislature specifically set forth in
plain words. II there is any business in Ohio not
reached by it, which Is not taxed and which ought
% be taxed the better plan is to amend it,"
The speaker declared that license system for the
protection Of minors and infrm classes will yield
revenue under the authority Of the law, promote
good order and protect society He asked that it be
ried once to see how it would work in Ohio. The
next subject taken up by Mr.. Hill was the Admins
ration Of Gov. Hoadley, which was spoken of in
highly complimentary terms. He pointed out many
reforms brought about by Governrr Hoadly, among
,thers that of the Ohio Penitentary and other State
In speaking on the subject Of laboriHg men, Mr..
Hill said:
"One Of the professions of the Democratic party
that has always been the friend Of labor. Capt.
al is generally able to take care of ITSELF But uu
rtunately for State and many other States, we
,ave from time to time been afflicted with labor
trikes. One of the causes of discomfort among the
aboring men is the low wages they receive. Low
PRICES for their products would necessarily decrease
heprice Of days wages, and the employer and To-
,orer suffered alike in consequence. Another cause
vas the contract labor system, under which many |
,aupers, ex-convicts and any body else they could
,et to work cheap, They brought them here by the /
thousands to take the place of intelligent American
aborers. Congress, thank Heaven, stopped that in
quitous business. We heard great deal from Re- |
ublican voters last year about the protection OF |
american labor against the pauper labor Of Europe. |
heir idea Of protecting the American laborer |
gainst the pauper labor Of Europe to have Con-
ress pass laws 10 rob the American laborer Of his
ard earned wages by selling him his manufactured
'ares at two prices And If the American objected |
hey would 60 straightway to Italy and hire paupcr
nd bring him here to work for lower wages than
he American could afford, Large dividends and
lies of wealth paraded before laborpg men last
ear to show them the country had prospered under
republican rule. But my friends, where is all that
'ealth7 Who has got 1t? Have the laboring men