Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1886-05-13
Secession in Ohio : !


possible, the Democratic senators yes
terday resorted to the most revolution
airy measures ever known in the biStor1
of Ohio in order to prevent action OF
the four contests from Hamilton county
They have shown the weakness of theil
case and made sure the dissolution Of
organic fraud, force and forgery by de-
sertion. There may be honor in defeat
in being completely routed. hut there /:
none in turning tail in disgraceful flight
The fact that at last date was fixed by
concurrent action to hear the cases OF
the four frauds, brought about by an out
ragged public, and when it came every
Democratic senator was absent by de
cree of d party caucus the previous night
is clear case of confessed judgment. In
the demagOgv of partisan agitation by
facing the music they might have posed
as martyrs, but they have lost the force
of all that, and not G. ly the sympathy
but also The respect of their own party.
| They have shown to the world that they
were in the wrong by fleeing as evil
doers from justice. Those senators who
went to this extremity to staDd by the
boodlers and bPnefclarieS of fraud have
become parties to the case. 1t was left
to the Democrats of Ohio to complete
the complement of secession in 1886, that
while Jeff Davis was lord of all in the
South, Northern Democrats were break
ing for Canada and across Mason and
DiXOn'S line. The secession of boodlers
treason in the South Both are charac-
terized by selfish spirits to rule or ruin !;
both are enemies to the state, to our free
institutions, honest government and the
interests of the people.
No language can express the contempt
of the intelligent constituency of Ohio
for such an outrageous procedure as that
of the Democratic members of the state
senate, who were willing to sacrifice all
public interests for partisan purposes.
They are traitors to Ohio as much as
jeff Davis and his gang to the Union,
but the gang methods in Ohio for the
past three years naturally enough lead
to such a termination. While the gang
is on the run the state is left in deplor-
able condition. The investigations of
fraud have occupied most of the time of
the Legislature, which is now left help
less. The general appropriation bill has
not been by the presiding officers signed,
and this can be done only in the pres
ence of the Senate and House. The
Senate, consisting of 81 members. is left
with II members, two less than que
run, and all the state government. in
GLIDING the aSylums and other state in
stitutiOns, without a cent for running
expenses. At the same time the last
Democratic administration bankrupted
the state and the Cope bill to issue $780,
900 has passed only the House and awaits
the action of the Senate, so that there is
not only nothing appropriated. but moth
ing in the Treasury to go on. TIE liquor
tax bill has also passed the House and
with a large grist of other measures
awaits the concurrence of the Senate,
which body is very much behind with
its business at this time when public
servants show no regard for public
trusts. The Legislature is not like
man. 1t cannot go on one leg. Without
the concurrent action Of both branches
nothing whatever can be done. A bill
that passes one body is not even half
law; it is no law until it is certified that
it has been passed by constitutional
majority of both houses, and bears the
signatures of both presiding officers and
clerks. The state government in Ohio
has been brought to bankruptcy and
then deserted by those responsible for
the disgrace of corruption and misman>
agement. 1t is responsibility that no
party can bear; the people will not stand
it. Meantime, while the House is left
helpless and the Senate paralyZed, the
ship of state will be piloted by Governor
FOraker's administration with all posi-
BILE care, economy and safety, and the
day of retribution will come.-O S. Jour
nal, 9th.