Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-09-28
VICTORY ASSURED.


OF the campaign is hardly more than be-
gun, but the result may be readily fore
told.
The difference between the inherent mo-
tives OF the Democratic and Republican
parties is irreconcilable. The Republican
party is the embodiment OF the purpose OF
Alexander Hamilton, the nrislocrnt as
opposed TO the principles of Thomas
Jefferson, the Democrat.
The tendency of the Republican party
is toward class rule, Capitalization and
monopoly. Uuder its rule special privil-
lges have been granted TO the few at the
expense OF the many. 1t is the defender
Of "trusls" nnd the creator OF The system
of taxing the people for the purpose OF en-
riching corporations or individuals. 1t
assumes through ils representatives IN the
Legislatures to regulate the habits and
to restrict the personal liberties ui the
citizen. 1t declares that the great masses
of the people are unfit 10 govern them
selves aud incapable of regulating their
own affairs, and il, therefore, and upon
that ground, refuses the right of local self.
government to towns aud cities. In n
word, the Republican party is the enemy
of popular government,
The Democrat party, on the other hand,
embcdes the principle of government
of the people, by the people, lor the reo-
pie. It's tendency is toward decentraliza-
tion. Ii desires to refer all questions to
the popular will, and TO enable the people
TO regulate their local affairs in their own
way. 1t abhors privileged classes, and
demands that all the nflais Of government
shall be regulated with the purpose TO
secure the greatest good for the greatest
number. In a word, the Democratic
party is the friend OF popular government.
The great majority OF the people are
Democrats in princle, and have been from
the first. Issues have arisen changing
the positions and relative st,enght OF par
ties, but the principle OF Democracy has
never wdned. The agitation growing
out Of the slavery question gave ascend
ency to the Republican party, and it WIS
sustained during the war by II large pro.
portion of the same men who are now
supporting Grover Cleveland.
The popular vote cast twelve years ngo
for Til,len showed that the great majority
OF the people were Democrats and opposed
to the principles and methods OF the Re
publican party. Again, eight years ago,
the Democratic candidates had a majority
of The popular vote. Had it not heen for
the conservative apprehension of those
who feared n change and pictured to them.
selves the dire consequences Of an imagin-
AIRY mad rush Of idmished office seeker,
for places under new administration.
that vote would have been much greater.
Four years later the change came, but
the mad rush did not. The anticipated
npheavNl and disturbance did not material
ize. On the contrary, the Government has
never been more satisfactorily or econom-
icaly administered. The people
know that Grover Cleveland is conducting
know that under Democratic administra-
ticn business principles, economy and
Official integrity are enforced in every
department of the Government, and they
are satisfied. The conservative citizen
who iears the consequences of change is
n, W On the side OF the Democratic party.
In other words, the Democratic party
was largely in the majority when itelected
Cleveland, and since then, because Of the
popular approval of his administration, ii
has made great gains, and is, therefore
correspondingly stronger than it was four
years ago. 1t follows, therefore, that the
Democratic party cannot be defeated al
this time unless il has lost more than it
has gained.
Since the abolition Of slavery and the
conclusion of our Civil War there has not
been any great issue before the people
other than the question as TO which party
might be more safely trusted with the
public interests. That question has been
80 well and so satisfactorily answered by
the administration OF President Cleveland
that opposition to his re election upon that
issue would be hopeless. Upon what
ground, then, does the Republican party
base its expectation of success?
The tariff has never been party ques-
ton. A very large proportion of Repub-
icans have been free-traders and con-
siderable NUMBER of Democrats have been
hightariff men. Leading men, high in
the councils Of the Democratic party, are
Morton, the Republican candidate for
Vice President, has been recently denounc.
ed as n free-trader by some OF the most
influential Republican journals.
But while there has been the widest DIFF
ference between those affiliated with
either party in the theoretical discussion
of the tariff question, both parties have
agreed upon the proposition that the
tariff must he so sdjuested rs to put the
least possible tax upon the necessaries OF
life, such rs ordinary food and clothing,
ing the highest tax necessary to protect
wages. And ii was promised by both
parties that the tariff should be 30 reduced
ns to avoid the accumulation Of surplus
revenue.
Four years ago the declaration OF the
Republican platform was:
The Repnblican party pledges itself TO
correct he inequalities Of the tariff and to
reduce the surplus.
That Of the Democrat platform was:
The necessary reduction in taxation can
and must be effected without depriving
American labor Of the ability TO compete
with foreign labor.
In another column we print the declara-
iion Of the Republican leaders TO the same
effect. The pledges Thus made were not
fulfilled, because the Republican members