The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-08-25

United States and Mexico on the boundary question
which soon resulted III hostilities. Early in May,
1916. President Polk, by special message 70 Com
gress announced that existed By the act OF Mex
leo The prompt response of Congress in approprl.
ating the necessary means and authorizing call
for troops enabled the Presidentto prosecute the war
with vigor and thus secure early solution of the
question after the capture of the city OF Mexico
The result of this war brought under the stars and
stripes New Mexico and Upper California giving us
a territory of more than half million OF square
miles, with all the commercial and agricultural
benefits and the enormous mineral wealth which
has accrued 10 the country therefrom. Applause,
II was during the administration of Mr.. Polk that
the Oregon question was settled with Great Britain
ON terms alike honorable TO both governments.
o Perhaps one of the most important measures con-
Guided during Mr.. Folks term was the tariff OF 1916,
which gave d mighty impulse to all industries,
dant revenue for all the wants of an economical
government
executed the high trust committed to his
charge.
Zachary Taylor, professional soldier who had dis
tinguished himself in the war with Mexico, and
General Lewis Cas-, who also had earned lame IN
important service in the cabinet and in other civil
positions His defeat was due 70 detection in the
Democratic party, headed by Martin Van Buren, rep
the Free Soil" party at that period The
of Gen. Taylor was highly respect
able and closed with his death on July 9, 1850
He was succeeded by Willard Fillmore, the vice
president during whose term the compromise
measures of 1850 were adopted. and which ended
for the time being further agitation OF the slavery
question, through the patriotic efforts of such men
as Webster Clay, Douglass, Crittenden and many
Others who regardless of party discipline contrib
uted by their craftsmanship to aay sectional strife
Nix Fillmore retired from the Presidency on the
4th of March, 1858, with the approval of his party
The contest at the election in 1852 was between
Franklin Pierce, of New Hampshire, Democrat OF
the Jeffersonian school, and General Winfield Scott
representing the Wing party. After an exciting
contest Gen. Pierce was elected triumphantly over
his gallant competitor VINO nad disIng9lSned MIN
General Pierce was inaugurated on the 4th OF
March 1858 but soon thereafter had 10 confront the
agitation of the slavery question: growing out OF the
Iecompton struggle and the appeal of the Missouri
He exhibited skill and judgment in
the management of that controversy ana leit once a
personal respect of all right minded men, VINO APP
preciated one of the truest gentlemen have ever
After the retirement of Gen. Pierce March A. 1857,
the convention, which assembled the previous year
at Cincinnati, placed in nomination James Bncn-
of Kentucky, as the standard bearers OF the Demo-
cratic parry who were elected over their opponents,
General John C. Fremont and VIM. 0. Dayton, me
first candidates of the new Republican party, which
succeeded the Wings and TOOK possession OF us
broken assets. m, ,,. ,.A
1857, with clouds of danger darkening the horizon
He found the country stirred with sectional STRIFE
which he patriutcally sought TO arrest without ef-
feet Before the conclusion Of his term civil war,
long pending, became inevitable, Whlch nave oc-
casioi TO know he deplored as deeply and as earn
estly as 1t was possible for any good citizen TO 90
after striving to arrest the peril When the truth OF
history is written his honesty fidelity ana Dest enos
TO maintain the perpetuty ofthe Union Will be seen
and fully recognized. Applause.
In this condition of things, which resulted in the
election of Abraham Lincoln to the Presidency over
his distinguished competitors. Stephen A Douglass
John G. Breckinridge and John Bell, several Of the
states resolved to withdraw from the Union before
his inauguration, March 4, 1851. The peace OF the
country then threatened, was soon followed by a
war of gigantic proportions, such as no human in
telect could have foreseen. This terrible war rged
throughout his first Presidential term with results
so vel Known to most of you that forbear to dwell
upon them, and which in my Judgment had Dettei
be consigned TO the deep oblivion Of the past.
The second term of Mr.. Lincoln began March 4th,
1866 with every prospect of speedy settlement OF
our domestic troubles, but on the 4th OF April 1863
he was struck down by the hand of an assassin;
That deadly blow appalled, the nation and spread
sorrow all over it, because the country had been de-
prived of President upon whose kindly nature and
Generous feelings the people had hoped for prompt
solution of the disturbing questions that followed
peace. They knew that the Radicals VINO had pur-
sued Lincoln would give no honorable terms OF ad-
Andrew johnson at once assumed the duties Of
President taking strong ground against the SOUTH
ern States But the intolerant spirit shown by re,
publican leaders, in and out of Congress soon led
him to favor q more conservative course, Whlcn
quickly provoked the resentment Of his then party
friends Mr. johnson in the true sense OF the term.
WAS a self.made man As an original Democrat he
deeply sympathized with the people, and returned
to his former political allegiance. This change OF
front eXaSper0ted the hepuDllCdD OOuBTess thai
they resorted TO every scheme of legislation TO dwarf
his power as Chief Magistrate and finally articles OF
impeachment were presented by the House OF KEEP
tracted trial. thus leaving him in the exercise OF the
office until the qualification of his elected successor
II may be said of Mr.. johnson, whose term expired
March 1865 that he was capable honest and faith
ful To the constitution, and his public views. ana
acts were dictated by desire TO promote the best
interest of his countrymen.
General L s. Grant was twice elected President,
and served out both terms His service as President
began March 4, 1869, and terminated March 4 ls1I;
He was marked for fidelity to his friends under all
The contest which Immediately followed was be
tween Rutherford B. Hayes. of Ohio, and Samuel J.
Tildeu of New York, which finally resulted in what
has been Justly regarded as stupendous fraud upon
our form Of government
There was not O Democrat in the country who
ever entertained the slightest doubt that Mr. Tden
had been fairly elected, and in that opinion many
Republicans shared To use cant phrase he was
counted out to inaugurate for the first time in our
history President in violation of the expressed Will
of the people, and of the constitution and laws.
The people accepted this result only because they
felt ii necessary TO preserve the peace OF the Unio
which had so recently been eonvulsed by the hor-
ofa frghtful civil war MT Hayes returned 70
official term with less consideration than any OF MS
predecessors
of Ohio defeated the Democratic candidate General
Winfield Scott Hancock, the superb soldier an
accomplished gentleman. He was inaugurated Pres
ident with much pomp and ceremony, March 4th,
1881.
General Garfelds career was bref, and termi-
mated BY the hand of an assassin named Guiteau,
whose foul shot fired on the eve of the President
departure from the capital July 1881, ended in his
death at Elberton New Jersey, the following 10Th
day of September, causing regret and deep sorrow
throughout the entire country.
Chester A. Arthur, then Vice President, on the
death of General Garfield entered upon the duties
Of the Presidential Office under circumstances well
calculated to embarrass him, but his genial man
and fine 5ng 1adsT In SSe sS aa
pathy and he quilted official lie March A. 1879, 10
Inc fegret of many devoted personal friends, not
II is thus seen that from March 4th 1861 to the 4th
of March 1885 the government was controlled by the
Republican party, embracing period Of twenty
public patience had never before been put to so
severe test owing TO the brutal exercise OF power
in the absence OF any legitimate reason therefor.
Citizens in almost every of the loyal states were
imprisoned without due process of law, the courts
in all these states intact ready to punish the
guilty and protect the innocent, but William II;
States the INDUSTRIOUS doctrine of law higher than
& ineoIn he made his bosst to Lord LYONS then
British Minister at Washington, that no exercised
greater power over the American oItisen, than any
despot In Elrope could over his subject, IL being
only necessary for him to ''tingle (hs) my little
belt 10 secure the arrest and Imprisonment of any
citizen whatever might be his position Upon the
declaration of such atrocious doctrines, coming
from a man of his high prominence, II is easy to
understand why men occupying inferior positions
influenced by passion and prejudice committed .
lived 10 regret
These personal wrongs will hardly be remem-
bered except by those upon whom they were infiet-
ed but the effect of Republican rule for so long
period must be felt for many years to come, in the
creation of an enormous public debt which has
caused the people to be heavily taxed. The need
less waste of the public money in every FORM during
the period whenever the government has been con-
trolled by that party, only shows their inability TO
manage wisely or uprghty the affairs of free neo-
pie They squandered and voted to corporations
nearly two hundred millions Of acres of the grand
public domain acquired by the wisdom OF jefferson,
Monroe and Polk Tor honest and industrious settlers
These gifts procured by penal legislation represent
more land than is contained in the states of New
York Pennsylvania, New jersey Indiana, Michigan
and Wisconsin, or enough TO make twenty-three
states OF the size of Maryland Tho effect of Repub
lican rule has been to promote what are familiarity
known as trusts pools, syndicates and other combi-
nations of capital to prey upon labor by arbitrarily
fixing the prices of all productions before they reach
the market so that the farmer. mechanic and labor
er are at the mercy of these organized plunderers
The price of sugar has advanced nearly two cents
a pound in nine months by that trust" and that
advance means a tax of one dollar head on every
man. woman and child in the country.
am not among those who would strike down or
excite public sentiment against capital. On the
contrary Il should have all proper protection. just
perity OF the nation, and tho property Of invested
capital.
The country has received further legacy from
the Republican administration in the luxury of q
civil pension list for United States Judges and the
retired army and navy officers, costing the govern
ment annually several millions OF dollars. An I'M
warranted expenditure like this the fathers OF the
Republic never supposed to be possible under our
system 1t Is part of the arisocra lie growth import
ed from England and fastened on Us by servile imi-