The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 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.
toms gratitude. True 1t is that this
man was condemned b. 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-
Tense, secured by our law to the African
slave. True 1t is that this outrage was COM
mitted to satiate the vengeance of an infu-
rated faction, not upon the President alone,
but also upon you. his friends, for having
dared to elect him. True it is that this was
lone to disgrace both you and him in the
eyes of mankind. But these things are past.
They belong to history. and there leave
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 ebuked the ~delinquents,
and effacted from the journal their edict of
prescription. 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-
tfves. In each section of the Union a candi-
| date was presented, in the hope that local
considerations would distract and annul the
popular will; and that the selection ofTthe
President would devolve again upon Con-
gress, where States, not men. 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 d~isappoint-
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 unfatigued in resisting
the public feeling, unabashed by the marked
displeasure of the people. impatientiy hur'
ried from the Capitol to the city Of New
York. There they assembled their partisans
proclaimed wal upon the Administration
and dispatched a committee with orders &c
the President to reverse the measure which
the people had sanctioned. and which :ht
stood solemnly pledged to pursue. This ht
was to do, in treachery to the people by
whom he was elected, in dishoner to himself
and in manifest disregard of the public wei
fare,
Thus, fellow-ciitzens, does it most clearl,
appear that the party of men, now in op
position. are the same Federal party wht
, arose at the beginning of the Government
This is manifest, first, from the identity o
aristocratic principles developed along tn,
whole line of their conduct; again, 1t is OBJ
|, vious from the uniformity of manner in which
they have ever sought to acquire power. 1t i
evident, likewise, from the deep, the un
chan ging, the immitigable hatredsthey .hav
t always expressed and still entertain towar
l the body of the people, and all who hav
shared their confidence. But can We be mis-
taken in this? Is 1t possible that their Ell
3 fort to elect Mr.. Burr, their success in tn
3 election Of 1924, their recent struggle to cleo
: another-all through the agency Of the Hous
: Of Representatives, and all the open opposl
ton to the known will of the nation; is
possible, 1 ask, that these things can fal
short Of producing convictionf Can it b
Q that party OF men who have, in all form.
g by all means, and to the last degree of vic
Ience, resisted every measure of Mr.. Jenel
t sons, Mr.. Madison's and General jackson
i Administration for four and twenty year
and that. too, while the people were as COZ
slant and uniform in sustaining these Of
ncers and measures; can 1t be possible this
8 such men can now repose confidence In tn
same people, or entertain affection for
Goyernment by the forms of which this
{ peopie have been able thus to control publ,
evsntes No fsllow-oitzzens ara Il, . = ~