The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1888-02-16

Jackson County Democracy. That
its pure ethereal columns should smell
of coal oil is something incongruous.
1t is "a jewel in swine's snout." The
religio-politicus editor, like the writer,
has record, differing in this, that
he went straight from Prohibition to
Coal Oil Democracy, while the writer
journeyed from Egyptian Democracy,
through the Republican wilderness, to
Prohibition. He is now regaling him
self with milk and honey, while the
fallen Prohib is wandering among the
grinning ghosts and mummies of the
land Of the Pharaohs. The editor
was also desirous of a ride in the Off
cial chariot, and to this end sought to
corrall the labor vote Of his county,
with what result is we'll known. Hav-
ing said this, I desire to say two more
things. My political course has been
criticised, and my discussion of politi-
cal questions censured. propose
now to set myself right on these two
matters by explaining first my lapse
from the Democratic faith. Ny an
tecedents were Democratic. In my
boyhood I wore a butternut badge,
rode in Vallandigham procession,
and heard the faithful sing the low,
sad refrain
"vallandigham to-day
Is an exile far away.
For devotion to his country
And its laws.'
. [ remember the respectful terms by
which the immortal Lincoln was ad-
dressed, and the ill-concealed delight
Of some Democrats over the disastrous
defeats of Bull Run and Fredericks-
burg. I voted the ticket straight un-
til | bacame student. To my sur
prise | found that out Of nearly 700
fellow students only about so were
Democrats, and they were generally
from the South. There came time
while at college that the faith of my
fathers was questioned and | sprang
into the breach, with what results my
friend of the Waverly Republican,
who was room mate, can answer.
While at school the convention that
nominated Ewing and Rice was held,
and, donning some clean linen and
new straw hat, I started for Colum-
bus. I went simply as ''looker on
in Venice" not as a delegate. The
visions of Democratic glory that shot
athwart my mind as | neared the goal
engross my pen.
When I came to the convention
hall it was jammed, and had to pack
myself like a sardine in the gallery. l
nervously looked over that vast hall.
I shall never forget the sight. A
dense, dark-blue cloud Of tobacco
smoke hung suspended about ten feet
above thousand yelling, bowling
Democrats. The cloud was so dense
that the gas had to be lighted, and
the dim outlines Of the stalwart form
Of Gen. Steadman, the chairman, were
just visible. Being a very youthful
rustic I was planning how to get
away, when something about one Of
the jets began to blaze, and the cry Of
fire" was raised. The crowd in the
gallery started, and the way it lifted
me up and hove me down the steps
and out onto the street was holy
terror! In the melee my new straw
hat was knocked off, AS stood there
hatless and forlorn, some fellow held
toward me what looked like a wisp of
straw. ''Is this your hat?" Il reckon
it is; lost one" One poor fellow
Jared worse than 1 did. The crowd
got him down. He was corpulent,
and had evidently been very faithful
to the party. He was covered with
dust, and such swearing 1. think l
never heard from the lips of mortal
man! TIE air was birthstone hue.
Adjoining the hall was saloon,
and between the points stream Of
thirsty Democrats was going and COM
ing. As | looked in | thought of
''Dante's Inferno" Gentlemen, that
dose of Democracy settled me! Even
as | went home the next day some
Democratic tough from Toledo had
the unutterable gall to offer me a
drink of whisky! S. V. Cation, now a
prominent Prohibitionist, was dele
gate, and so was the Hon. L. @. Bur-
CESS, now a leading Republican. I
would solemnly warn Democratic
leaders to keep their pious young vo-
ters away from college and Demo-
cratic conventions. Modern Democ-
racy is a strange compound Of igno-
rance, coal oil, Bourbon whisky, Urea
son, stratagems and spoils." 90 tenn
pores! 0 mores! 0 horrabile spec
'aculum" Surely the degenerate sons
of Jefferson have fallen on evil times,
and their ways are enough to make
old Hickory" rise out Of his tomb!
Democracy, out of power for twenty