Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-09-05

Inc commune returned WIN hertIt.
Campbell, Kline and Neal. and as Chairman,
Harter's voice was giving out DR.. Norton
presented Mr.. Campbell as the next governor
Of Ohio, and he was greeted with tremendous
applause. Mr.. Campbell looked cool and
collected and spoke in deliberate, forcible
manner. The greatest applause was given
when he first uttered the words "tariff re-
FORM"
Mr.. cLMPBELL's SPEECH.
"Mr. Chairman, gentlemen of the conven-
tion and friends: 1t is with keen sense Of
responsibility to the people Of Ohio as we'll
as to the Democratic party. that gratefully
accept the nomination which in your parti-
ality rou have bestowed. This is no ordi-
nary campaign. The task confronting us is
not one Of mere routine. The duties devolv-
ing on every voter, irrespective of party, are
unmistakable and one of the most obvious of
these duties is to rebuke those who have de-
fed the unwritten law which DEGREES that no
man may three times aspire to the highest
executive Office in State or nation. The
father of his country scorned to accept
third term; the great soldier of Appomattox
failed of its achievements, the very thought
is repugnant to the instincts of the people
who see therein an attempt to perpetuate i'll
used power, yet in the face of honored usage
and public sentiment. the strangers into
whose greedy NAV the Republicans of Ohio
has disappeared, have the audacity to de-
mand third successive term for the most
impericus and profigate administration ever
inflicted upon US.
"Two years ago the chairman of our state
convention promulgated great but nnap-
preciated truth when he said that the execu-
tive department of our state government had
for nearly two years past been administered
to promote the personal ambition and politi-
cal fortunes of those in control. Unluckily
the people did not at the time realize the
selfish chara ;ter of the state administration.
It had not then been sufficiently odious to
arouse the universal indignation which now
prevails and it was permitted to continue it's
career of tyranny and extravaganza. The
self-seeking politicians who compose it be-
came blinded by success. Cities were seized
and given over to the baleful sway of incom-
petent boards. which became with their
thousands of appointees) the political tools
of the governor. No qualification weighs SO
heavily for appointment thereon az that of
subservience to him. In these unhappy
municipalities the public moneys are ex-
pended without the consent and participa-
tion of the people and against their interests
and desires. So gross are the outrages per-
petrated by the governors heuchmen and
their followers that the leading Republican
congressman from the greatest city of the
state felt moved lately by very shame to de-
clare that 5000 voters representing the worst
element in politics in this city practically
dictated to the 10000 who believed in clean
and wholesome methods. The dearest rights
of the people have been wrested from them
to uphold and strengthen a despotism such
rs never had been dreamed of in this land of
liberty. All this has been remorselessly done
by one who, before he was elected to the
governorship, proclaimed from the state
house steps that If there was anything sacred
to the American people it was local self gov
ernment.' The Democratic party has ever
opposed GENERALIZATION in whatever shape it
came; but the unprecedented powers which
have been consolidated in the hands of the
governor, even against the protest of the best
element of his own party, and his fragrant
abuse of those powers may well alarm, not
the Democracy alone but all other friends of
popular government; and we call upon every
citizen who favors home rule to join us in
stamping out executive usurpation.
"The disordered ambition which prompts
the governor of Ohio to grasp absolute con-
troll in the cities does not stop even there
He has gone farther and has prostituted the
charitable institutions of the state to partisan
uses and has impaired their efficiency to
crafty personal malice. Pure and able men
connected with their management, although
high in the counses of his own party, have
been ruthlessly stricken down whenever they
refused to betray trusts at the behest of their
master and to increase his overgrown power
by trafficking in the misfortunes of humani-
ty. What then is to be done, my fellow
countrymen-and again appeal to you re-
gardless of party-what is to be done with
this dangerous autocrat? 1t may not be that
the people of Ohio will fail to dethrone him,
Turning from state to national affairs the
| first duty which confronts US is to discuss
and educate the people upon the reform OF
the tariff. This being the chief issue in
federal politics, and our present struggle in
| Ohio being the preliminary skirmish to the
| general battle of '92, it is proper that we de-
fine our position and keep alive the agita-
tion. We are accustomed to boast that ouI
country excels the world in natural resources,
in agricultural and mineral wealth and
| in advantageous location. We rejoice in a
vast area of unoccupied lands, which Offer
cheap homes to all. We claim to be the
freest and the most intelligent, inven'
tive, industrious and enterprising people on
earth, To these combined causes do We
truthfully ascribe our phenomenal increase
in prosperity, wealth and greatness. We dc
not accept the dogma that these glorious re-
suits are due to an exorbitant tariff or the
custom house been the predominating factol
of natural growth. On the contrary we deem
the tariff as it now exists to be burdensome
crudely constructed and inequitably adjusted
bearing lightly on the rich and heavily on thu
poor. We concur with the late Republican
convention of Iowa in its declaration that thu
protective system fosters trusts and trade
| conanirociaa, Roth of the great Doliticn