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

THE ENQUIRER; Hubbard. of the Bellefon-
taine Democrat; Flanagan, OF the Kenton pa
per. and David s. Fisher, of the Democrat OF
the same place; Kitchener, of the Tuscarawas
Democrat; Proctor, Of the Lebanon Patriotj
Gaumer, of the Xenia Democrat; Redheld, OF
the Norwalk Experiment.; Gaumer, of the
RichIand Shield; DUNN, of the Wyandot
Union; Harris, of the Portage Democrat;
Clark, Of the Ottawa Democrat; Herzog, of the
Loudonville Sentinel; Green, of the Hooking
Sentinel; Thomas WetzIer, of the Lancaster
Eagle. Others doubt prominent as
these are at work, now faithful sentinels"
upon the Democratic watch-towers.
modestly venture the assertion that no
Stats In the Union can produce SO
many vigorous, pointed and ready po-
litical writers as can be found con-
Dected with the Democratic county journals
of Ohio. To their labors, to their active par
ticipation in political management, 10 their
earnest work in behalf of the Democrats
party. to their fidelity to its organization, to
their irmness, much of the success that has
attended the party in Ohio is Justly attribut-
able That they will do their duty 10 the
party in the approaching State and Congress
sionaI contests is as certain as they have per-
formed it thoroughly and satisfactorily in
the past.
The Democratic editors of Ohio have made
many glorious fights against the principles
promulgated by the opposition press. bot no
contest is more memorable than that of 1854
when they Errayed themselves against the
secret political society known as the Know
Nothings, which had swept the State in 1854
by an overw helning majority, totally ami.
hiiating majorities in Democratic counties
which had been regarded as almost impreg-
nable. Like a thief in the night' this mon-
ster organization, having for its avowed prin-
ciples the prescription of foreigners on ac-
count OF birth, and on 1e class of our fellow
citizens on account of their religion, burst
from its den and for a brief period held un-
disputed sway. But being attacked by DEM
ocratic orators. exposed and lashed by the
Democratic press, who appealed with unan-
swerable eloquence to the people, 1t could not
stand in the open sunlight, and soon sunk
"Back to the vile dust from which il sprung,
Unwept, unhonored and unSunG."
The campaign of 1868 proved the nerve,
courage and gameness of the Democratic ed.
itors, and, although ValIandigham was de-
feated, the result was the compIete vindiez-
tion of the right of Ohioans to exercise the
utmost freedom of speech in the discussion
of public measures and public affairs.
In the Presidential campaign of 1854, when
General Mcclellan headed the Democrats
ticket in the campaign of 1868 when Horaro
Seymour was our candidate; in 1872, when It
swallowed its prejudices for the sake OF the
country, when it ''clasped hands over the
bloody chasm," and followed the nag of
| Greeley, the Democratic press showed that its
desire for the reconciliation and harmony of
the country was prompted by patriotism
| that was above partisanism: but in 1875 and
1876 it won its greatest honors for its efficiency
for its well directed IRE into the fallacies of
| the opposition, and when, in 1870 the Presi-
dental theft was perpetrated, when the
people were robbed OF their fairly
elected President by the most un-
scrupulous and gigantic conspiracy ever
conceived in a free country, il demanded that
Tilden should take the seat to which he was
chosen by q majority of the Electoral College
and the people. But the timid of our party
in the East took counsel of their fsarst
capital became frightened and clamored for
| compromise; the leaders, who should have
been equal to the occasion and emergency.
remained silent and uttered no word, and the
Presidency, through the forms of law, was
thrown into a lottery to be decided by fifteen
men. eight of whom proved to be bitter par
tisans, and ignoring the seven honest men,
| gave the Presidency to the man who was
never elected. The moderation of the Demo-
| cratic press of Ohio, under these mortifyfnx
and humiliating circumstances, speaks well
for the patriotism of the men who control It
as they preferred, after the forms Of law had
| Deen cOmplleQ WlJnY TO quietly accept the sttu-
alton, vowing, however, as long they had
press to revoive, pen to write, paper to print
| and tongues to speak, they would work TO
| overthrow the party that made q mockery of
| the elective franchise, and secured National
power by the most infamous periuries, falsi-
hcations and corruption that have ever been
| heard of or witnessed in this or any other
| country. They worked in 1850 to right the
| wrong, but vengeance for season was post
poned. In 1884, however, the rebuks of fraud
was secured and the wrong righted.
/ "Time sets all things event.
The illustrious man who WAS laid quietly TO
rest on the 7th of August in the unpretending
cemetery of his native village, al Lebanon,
n. Y, lived to see the party he loved In
National power, and he believed by prudencs
and wisdom, by reform and economy in its
management of the Government, that It will
again become in the future as il has been In
the better days of the past the controlling
political party of the United States.
| This sketch of the history and mention Of
some of the men of the Democratic party,
/ because of the haste in which it has been pre-
pared, and the necessity of keeping It within
| the limitation of a newspaper article, must
necessarily contain some inaccuracies, but in
the old Democrat it Will revive recoIlectIons
of old times, old friends and old associates
Democrats of this State who are pressing
forward to wear the mantles that enveIoped
! their fathers.
THE CINCINNATI ENQUIRER is The t;pelS-