The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1889-10-23

in office because, forsooth, hs does what
we elected him to do? Is honest compe-
tency so scarce in Ohio that we are re-
stricted in our choice of candidate for
Governor to one person? The gist Of
the Ohio State Journals argument, if it
has any gist to it, is that men should re-
main in, Office during good behavior;
that we should at once proceed to estab-
lish an office-holding aristocracy; that
the longer a man holds an office the
stronger becomes his claim to be con-
tinued in it. 1t is by such plausible fall
lacies as these that Governors, Consuls
and Presidents have become Emperors.
The Journals logic is that of despotism
the world over and from the beginning
of time. 1t assumes that there is one
man better than all tho rest, and that
he, therefore, should be king. This, is
Forakerism, not Republicanism. The
Republicans of Ohio, 1 venture to afirnA,
are not yet ready to commit themselves
to a doctrine which would ultimately, if
not at once, fasten upon them perma-
nent boss.
3. Has any man magnified the Office
more than theipresent Incumbent" This
is the Journals question, and my an
swer to it is, yes. Corwin, Chase, Den
nison, Brough, Tod, Hayes and Cox,
each did vastly more to magnify the Of
fee. They did not make the Office a
rallying point for tricky politicians: the
present incumbent has. They did not
make it Matching place for plots to
capture delegates and pack conventions;
the present incumbent has. They did
not make it place from which to ped
die out appointments as rewards for per-
sonal sereice; the present incumbent
has. They did not select their
own railroad commissioner, prt-
vate secretary and State librarian to
run the party machine in their own in
terest, and to the exclusion of other Re-
publicans; the present incumbent has.
They did not use the power of the exec
uAve office to build up an Individual
following; the present incumbent has.
They did not appoint ward strik.
ers like George B. Cox to i'm.
portant positions in the civil
service; the present incumbent has.
They did not whine about the made
quacy of their compensation; the present
incumbent has. They did not announce
that they would not be candidates
in order to obtain a nomination by
stealth; the present incumbent has.
They did not seek to overthrow an es
tablished usage by thrusting them
selves upon the party for a third term
the present incumbent has. They did
not keep themselves before the people
by means of an organized corps OF
buffers; the present incumbent has
They did not neglect the legitimate bust
ness of the executive Office in order te
attend parades, banquets, picnics and
fairs, the present incumbent has.
In short, three of the men named
Dennison, Tod and Brough-occupied
the executive office in the most trying
period known to American history
Their hours of service began at dawr
and continued until midnight. The
most difficult problems were constantly
arising for their solution. The perma
nency of the Union was in a degree de
pendent upon their loyalty, energy and
wisdom. Their struggle with the ever
pressing duties of their office was a:
wearing upon mind and body, as con
tinuous battle. And yet this man o.
the Ohio State Journal, in spirit o.
abject toadyism which is pitiful, asks
HAS any man magnified the office more
than the present Incumbent" MagnifieG
the office! Great Cesar! The present
incumbent has not been at the Office
half the time. The business has beer
done by the clerks, while he was absent
galloping about the country on one
FOOLS GRAND and another. All this tall
about his magnifying the Office is
simply preposterous nonsense, printed
because paid for.
Boss Tweed played the same game il
New York to perpetuate himself il
power that Boss Foraker is attempting
to play in Ohio. The time to combat
such departure from fair methods
honest administra ton and old customs
is when its true character becomes man
ifest. 1t would be folly to wait until the
evil had become intrenched, in every
branch of the State, county and munich
pal government and could plead age anG
precedent in justification of it's existence
An ounce of prevention is worth pound
of cure in politics as we'll as medicine.
1t is now simply question whether
the Republican party shall continue to
exist in Ohio or be supplanted by the
Foraker party. The difference between
the two is as obvious as that between
cleanness and corruption, truth and
falsehood, solidity and sham, fair, open
manly dealing and the most offensive
treachery.
1t is doubtless true that the Demo
cratic party has ringsters in it, but this
is not a valid reason why we should sup
port men of the same class who assume
to be Republicans. We are not bound tt
make choice between two evils. The cit
liens duty ends when he has avoided
both. The mote in our own eye is the
thing to be cast out first So long al
| tricksters may whip US in by the argu
ment that other men are tricksters, We
shall be ruled by trickery; and so soo1
as the Republican party ceases to seel
good ends by fair methods its strength
will disappear, and its only title to re
spect rest in the grandeur of it's pas
achievements. JOHN BEATTY.