The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-08-19

1t is that the venerable President, with
his scar-covered body bent almost to the
grave by the tolls of q life spent in the service
of his country, and sustained, as he was, in
the endurance of his remaining labors, only
by his devotion to the nation, and by the ma
tion's gratitude. True 1t is that this
man was condemned by the Senate as a
violator of his oath, of the constitution and
OF the law. True IL is that he was branded
with the odium of perjury and treason; and
that, too. without the forms of accusation,
the solemnities of trial, or the benefits of de-
fense, secured by our law to the African
slave. True it is that this outrage was COM
mftted to satiate the vengeance of infu-
riated faction, not upon the President alone,
but also upon you, his friends, for having
dared to elect him. True it is that this was
done to disgrace both you and him in the
eyes of mankind. But these things are past.
They belong to history, and there Ileave
them.
In the midst of this scene the people stood
firm. They yielded not to the corruptions of
the bank, nor covered to the threats of its
mercenaries. They rebuked the delinquents,
and effacted from the journal their edict of
cription. And yet, after all this-after
eight years of unavailing hostility to the
President and his measures-the Federal
party, still struggling to rule, in despite of
the nation, came forward and openly sought
to transfer the late Presidential election
from the people to the House of Representa-
tives. In each section of the Union a candi-
date was presented, in the hope that local
considerations would distract aud annuI the
popular will; and that the selection ofEthe
President would devolve again upon Con-
gress, where States, not mon, decide the con-
test, and where ambition and avarice would
furnish bonds sufficiently strong to unite all
the aspirants in successful conspiracy,
against the choice of the nation,
Once more were they fated to disaopoint-
ment. Each great region of the Republic
concurring, Mr.. Van Buren, was placed at the
head of the Government. But the leaders of
the aristocracy, still unfstigued in resisting
the public feeling, unabashed by the marked
displeasure of the people, impatiently hur-
ried from the Capitol to the city of New
York. There they assembled their partisans,
proclaimed war upon the Administration,
and dispatched a committee with orders TO
the President to reverse the measure which
the people had sanctioned, and which The
stood solemnly pledged to pursue. This be
was to do, in treachery to the people by
whom he was elected, in dfshoner to himself
and in manifest disregard of the public well
fare,
Thus, fellow-ciitzens, does 1t most clearly
appear that the party of men, now in OPP
position, are the same Federal party who
arose at the beginning of the Government.
This is manifest, first, from the identity of
aristocratic principles developed along the
whole line of their conduct; again, it is OBJ
vious from the uniformity of manner in which
they have ever sought to acquire power. 1t is
evident, likewise, from the deep, the un-
chan ging, the i'm mmitigable hatredithey have
always expressed and still entertain toward
the body of the people, and all who have
shared their confidence. But can we be mis-
taken in this? Is it possible that their ef-
fort to elect Mr.. Burr, their success in the
election of 1924. their recent struggle to elect
another-all through the agency of the House
of Representatives. and all the open opposi-
ton to the known will of the nation is it
possible, I ask, that these things can fall
| short of producing conviction? Can it be
that party of men who have, in all forms,
| by all means, and to the last degree of yio-
| Ience, resisted every measure of Mr.. Jeffer-
sons. Mr.. Madison's and General Jackson's
| Administrations for four and twenty years,
and that, too, while the people were as con-
slant and uniform in sustaining these Of
| f1cers and measures; can 1t be possible that
such men can now repose confidence in the
same people, or entertain affection for a
Government by the forms of which that
people have been able thus to control public
evsntsf No, fellow-c1tizsns; and II, o. q sYi.