The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-10-19
ATHENS, ONO, Oct. 4, 1886.

arrives at the age of voter, and by
virtue of the constitution and laws
of his Government becomes factor
in the commonwealth. You have
reached that period, and are about
to enter upon the highest duty of a
citizen of free republic. l feel a
special interest to you. I don't deny
and it would be useless for me to
do it-that / am anxious to secure
votes for myself in the coming con-
test for Congressman in this district;
but want you to feel that, in addi-
tion to this, / have an interest in
you based upon higher and worth
ier ground. / believe that the fu-
ture welfare of the people of this
country is largely involved in the
future success and triumph of the
Republican party; believe that the
features of our nation-its growth
in material greatness, its stand in
favor of liberty, its illustration of
the doctrine of equal rights-is all
due to the handiwork of the Repub
lican party. 1t was the inspiration,
+ the spirit of that party which saved
the country in war; it was the fdel-
! ity of that party to principles which
engraved the results of the war upon
the statute books of the nation; it
was the persistent honesty and in
telligent craftsmanship of that par
ty which made our currency sound
and rewarded labor every where; it
made the product of the farm conver-
tible into cash at renumerative pri-
ces: it made the nation respectable
in the eye of the world and to-day
the thing about the American Re-
public which other nations commend
and emulate is the development of
republican ideas and principles. So
I long to see the young men of the
country, whether born of Republican
or Democratic parents studying the
history of the past twenty-five years,
and acting intelligently upon the
!! Judgment thus formed. solicit from
you without hesitation your vote. If
you believe my record in Congress
been just representative one of the
best ideas of the people of this dis
trict say so by your vote at the No
vember election, and if upon full re-
Election you decide to support me,
may / ask that you will do SO act
lively, vigorously and enthusiastical-
i "? I would rather have the active
support of three: young men than five
old ones. There is no disgrace to a
young man tobe active in politics.
: You have hyed out the probation
which the laws of your country pro-
'vide, and you are as much entitled
to impress that opinion upon others
land upon the results of the election
as is the man who has lived thirty
: years longer than you have. 1 adj
dress your judgment in this matter,
and shall be glad to hear from you,
or from others, that you agree with
me in the proper cause to pursue,
very respectfully yours, -.
1. 60 ~ r G. II. GRosvENoR.
As one of the "young men," we
have considered the above letter care
fully, and feel, General, that YOU
have a ';great interest" in us, and
3 especially. in, the coming election,
and that your interest i based upon
the highest and worthiest grounds
you occupy, is that of securing our
votes for Congressman at the No
4 yember election. We find, also, in
four research that it was neither the
''inspiration'' nor the spirit of the
Republican party (which saved the
country in war;" but the valor o1
the heroic ''boys in blue" led by
such men as General Warner. 1,
was your party that demonetized
! the silver dollar in 1873, and there
by changed the "measuring unit
> of our currency, and increased every
. poor mans debt correspondingly il
the whole. country. If you call thi'
making our currency sound," yoI
: are entitled to the credit. Whel
the Republican party. came int,
power and took control of our nav,
it compared fayorably with most na
vies of the European Powers, and
after having control of. the navy 70
twenty-four years, and having spen
> $400,0O0,000 of the peoples none,
L under the pretext of supporting ant
q improving the navy, it was not cap
y able of coping with the weakest nav,
v in the world. When your, part,
d took control of the National Govern
IL ment our commerce on the seas wa
e scarcely surpassed; to-day we hav
q almost none. 1t is a good navy an
U, large commerce that makes "natio
IN respectable in the eyes ofthe world.
1t is true that our country mad
ia some progress in the last twenty-fiy
In years, but it was due to the gres
&c thrift Of the people, notwithstandin
1.-THE retardation caused by the supr
macy of what you call Republica
90 principles. We are in sympath
'r, with you in longing to see the youn
IN men studying the history ofA IL
past twenty-five years, and acting il
telligently upon the judgment thr
ne formed" and know that if they di
We so the Democratic State ticket woul
IL be elected by an overwhelming m;
jority, and General Warmers majo