Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1888-07-26

/ area per cent. Oh SuSdI. anu lIuLl W "
| 100 per cent. on rice, seem to be the
Southern idea of free trade. This sec
tional Iopsidedness of legislative opin-
/ ion shows the make up of the Democrat
| ic party. Nine-tenths of its actual pow
/ er comes from States which were dis
/ lOval to the Union. and its leaders are in
many eases men who owe their person
al freedom, if not their lives, to the
magnanimity of the cOnquering North.
As to the Northern Democracy, South
ern Democratic writer has said: In
fact, the Republicans of the North rep
resent the wealth and refinement of
/ their people. They constitute their best
society. The Democratic party of the
North has got 15 per cent. of all the rag
/ tag and bob-tail element in it-all the
Scurf of immigration that lands at the
Battery" We of the North know how
truly this Southern Democrat has de-
picted the Northern section of his party.
This is saying nothing against the de-
cent Northern element of the Democra-
| cy. except that it is a helpless minority
and in bad company. There is no more
anomalous spectacle in politics than the
few honest Northern members of the
Democratic party. The Southern brother
holds the power and he lashes them into
line with perfect ease, born of long prac-
tice with the party scOurge. They are
forced into measures in opposition to
their own interests, and to build up the
Southern interests at the expense of
their own. 1t is surprising that any
man who fought in defense of the Union
and won in the fight, should now play
lick-spittle and lacquey to the very men
whom he aided in vanquishing. Such
line of action is certainly the result of
prejudice. Here then is our opponent.
The South, which to say the least is anti
North; IS per cent. of the Northern rag
tag and bob-tail element and few real
ly honest but mistaken Northern men.
The history Of this combination is trea-
son and obstruction; its position to-day
is strongly anti-American.
We have one other opponent. 1t is
political parasite. 1t is the waste
basket for political ineficiency and
wOrthlesSneSS. 1t is a sort of flume where
sore heads, party pariahs, hot-headed re-
form agitatOrS and talkative women may
go, and yell up at the Republican party.
refer to that combination which put
the Democracy in power four years ago,
and which has been and is the saloons
best ally-the alleged Prohibition party.
Contrast with these the Republican par
ty with its history of principles his
tory that challenges and receives the ad-
miration of the world. The party itself
composed, as says our Democratic South
erner. of the best elements of the North.
Do you see how far that is going? The
best elements of the North are the best
of the country, and no patriot will ad-
nit that the best of the United States |
is not the best of the world. But that |
is Just what we claim to be, the best of
the world. In the march of civilization
the United States holds the last and
highest place. That civilization which |
rose in Central Asia and spread gradual |
when it crossed the Atlantic and found |
a home in the United States. 1t can 90
no farther, for it has encircled the world. |
Westward the course of empire takes its way;
The first four acts already past,
A
Times nObleSt offspring is the last
All the revelations of history, all the |
signs of the times, all things past and
present, point to the United States as the |
arena on which is beginning to be en-
acted the last act in the worlds drama
the elimination of the worlds civiliza-
tiOn. Napoleon before the Pyramids of
Egypt, said to his soldiers, "FOrty cen
turies look down upon you," but in the
presence of the towering pyramids of
our civilization we can well boast, ''fif-
ty centuries look down on u.s." we are
their product; the heirs of the ages, fif-
ty centuries rush with the blood and
thrOb with the quick heart and brain of
every American. This is proud posi-
tiOn to occupy, but when we consider
that not only are we citizens of the fore
most nation of all time, but also mem
bers of that nations greatest party-the
best of the best-we have indeed a
thought for congratulation and enthusi-
asm. To live in the rush and progress
of the nineteenth century is thing to
be thankful for; to be endowed with the
rights of citizenship in this free Repub-
lie is a God given privilege. What then
shall we say of the inestimable boon of
living in addition to these, loyal and
consistent members of the Republics
first party, its preserver in war, its pro-
tector in peace?
The policy Of the Republican party in
guarding the country's rights has won
for it, both at home and abroad, the
proud title of the American party; while
the policy of the Democracy has made it
equally widely recognized as the Ameri-
can champion of foreign ideas, and earn
ed for it the hearty friendship and sup
port of England, our only rival. This
then is what we are. Now on what basis
do we stand? 'PlatfOrms," says recent
writer in the North american Recielc,
'are usually glittering generalities, spe-
ciflc only as to the present and nebulous
as to the future" When it was said to
Emerson that the terms of the Declara-
ton of Independence were glittering
generalities, he Indignantly exclaimed,
"Glittering generalitiesI Say rather
blazing U6tquitieS" So we say of the ;
of this document; contrary ;
to the rule, contrary to the example set !
at st. Louis, they are not a schedule
of misrepresentation and generalities
framed to deceive fools and to lure hon ;
est men, but platform, the most open, !
frank, fearless and true that has appear s
ed for many years. at is a bold decla-
ration" say our opponents. at takes our I
BREATH" say free traders. Asa campaign {
document, its influence will be immense.
With not an additional argument or
principle mentioned, the fight might be {
made and won on it alone. Questions
of vital interest, on which the Demo- i
cratic platform is silent are brought out {
here. Tremendous evils which exist as I
a menace to the cOuntry-unnoticed by S
the Democratic platform, are strongly I
Chief among these are (
weak and inefficient naval service, trusts f