The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-11-29
RAvENNA. THURSDAY. NOV. 90. 1873
RAvENNA, Nov. 10, 1883


RAvENNA, Nov. 10, 1883.
FRIEND HARRIS: Now that the
great political campaign has closed, let
US take look over the field.
This campaign has been one OF much
value to the people. for at least two
reasons. First, 1t has been one of lees
mud throwing aud political animosity
than any heretofore within my recol-
lection. 1t has satisfied oursel, es, and
proven to the world that the American
people can conduct great political
evldencing intelligent, wise and noble
character. Secondly. 1t has been of
much value 10 us in this, much has
been said aud written upon the great
economic policy of our country. upon
which more has been learned by the
masses of our people than was ever by
them learned upon that subject before.
Still am sorry to say, that stupidity
and ignorance upon the question still
exist in our land. But the study has
been begun, and like any effort in q
good cause, it will never go backward.
I am no prophet, but reasoning from
the conditions and circumstances of
our country and its people, their gen
eral intelligence and love of equity,
venture boldly TO assert, that the first
great work of the incoming admins
tration will be the radical reform of
our tariff, or tax laws. Anything
short of such q course would lose to
them the cooperation and support of
the great West. They will not be sat-
istied, within the narrow limits of the
Mills bill. nor with the Senate substi
tute. True, that for the little scaling
down of duties proposed by the Mills
bill, they insisted that we were free
traders, but that was simply for effect,
SOFAS thereby to alarm the millions of
our laboring people and secure their
votes for the republican party. This
yell certainly, to some extent, served
its purpose and secured them many
votes. There were many other small
er strings to the republican bow, which
were well and timely pulled for the
benefit of their party. TIE Murchison
letter to Sackviile, was low, cunning
fraud. written by three political hus
tiers, or frauds, of Pomona, Cal How
far this scheme was known to Sack
vile before he took par. in it, we do
not know but to impute his action to
his ignorance is the miidest charge
that can be brought against him, and
if even that was all of which he was
guilty, still he would be wholly unfit
to represent one of the great nations OF
the earth in our courts, and the Presi
dent done perfectly right in dismiss
ing him. According to yesterdays
reports in the Cleveland Press, Quay.
or one of his clerks, admits that they
used over three millions of dollars
with which to carry this election. And
while we may bitterly deplore the ex
istence of such state of facts, still, We
haye to admit of their existence.
might go on and enumerate many OF
the schemes employed by the republi
can party to effect their purpose, but
space forbids.
Now, a few words as to the outgoing
President. L believe that history will
write up his administration as one
wise in discrimination, noble in pre-
cepts and pure in Intention. Like ev
cry other human being, he must fall
short of perfection. Still. he is a model
President, who acts with an independ
ence unknown in the White House
since the days of Hickory Jackson
AS political trickster he is who'll,
unqualified, and for any such pursose
he Is an utter failure When he dis
covered that the substance of our peo
pie was being consumed by an over.
burdensome tax, simply for the benefit
of the few, and that thereby hundreds
Of millions of dollars Were being need
nessly and wrongfully drawn from on,
people, it would seem to have been
good sound policy for him to have de-
ferred his message upou that point un
til after the election, which would have
given him walk over, and then to
have called the attention of Congre. 9
to action upon this matter at the com
mencement of an administration, 81
that the benefits of q good work wouio
have been realized before the close of
such administration. 1 believe such a
course would have insured his re elec
Iion, would have been better for the
democratic party, and would have re
suited in the common good of all tht
people; but he cared not for conse.
quence, he was going to strike at the
head of the iniquity whenever it ap
peared. His course as to foreign DOW
ers has been wise, just and manly. AS
. people we love peace and friendship
with all the world; we bow to the in.
fringements and insults of none, pro-
tect the American flag and the Amer.
can citizen whenever insulted and
wherever found.
When the incoming administration
is seated we, as party. shall be re
]ieved of the responsibilities of this |
great and good government for the |
then coming four years. The actions
and doings of the republican party
through their executive and minis |
terial officials, will come before the
world for inspection and criticism. |
They must act for the general good OF
the whole people, or soon step aside
Let us hope that they will do wisely
and well for this whole people, Nor b,
South, East and West. OF one th ng
I assure you, they will speedily and
thoroughly revise the tariff and SCI le
1t down more than double what we
proposed to. Let US not through fraId
and to play upon ignorance and STU
p:dity, call them Free Traders.
It is one of the beauties of our gre,
American system, that when we are
beaten at the polls, we can pleasantly