The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-09-27
SPEECH OF CHAIRMAN
LAWRENCE r. NEAL
At the State Democratic Convention
Mt Springfield, August 26, 1890. ~

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appreciate most highly, and thank
you most heartily, for this mani.
festation of your approval of the
action of your committee in select.
ing me to preside over your delib.
erations.
The fact that the position has
been given to me, with such unan.
unity, without any personal solici'
tation on my part, and in spite ol
my expressed desire that some one
other than myself should enjoy the
compliment, adds greatly, in my es-
timation, to the honor which it con
fers, and awakens within me feel
ings of the deepest gratitude.
The Ohio Democracy achieved a
decided victory in November last
We elected Governor and Legis-
lature then because united, deter
mined, and aggressive, we waged a
contest for principle. a cortinua-
tion of the fight then begun will
give to us lasting and permanent
success in this State. We can al
ways win, when substituting prin-
riple for policy, and turning our
faces most strongly in favor Of the
right and against the wrong, we
make our appeal to the intelligence
and patriotism of the people.
Let us remember then that upon
us rests the responsibility for the
future of our party in this State.
We can place Ohio in the vanguard
of the Democracy of the Union, or
we can restore it, as state, to the
position it so long held in the ranks
of the Republican party. The full
tillment of the reasonable axpecta-
tions and demands Of the people
will insure the former and this, the
exercise of ordinary political sa-
gacity and judgment, will secure.
The accomplishment of the latter
will be the natural and inevitable
result of our acts, either of omission,
or commission, which, though they
may not merit the condemnation
of the people, will fail to receive
their approval, for our work to adj
vance the interests of our party
must not only escape the disappro-
val of the people, but command
their earnest and positive approba-
tion. The day of machine politics
is passing away and the average
citizen will no longer blindly up
hold men or measures simply be-
cause the party stamp is upon
them. Party ties are not so strong
today as in the past; and the bitter
partisanship which so long assured
the support of every member of a
party for all nominations, good or
bad, and all party measures, right
or wrong, cannot now be relied up
on for either the one purpose or
the other. Love of country is to-
day stronger than love of party,
and even self-interest and self-re-
spect will, at times, compel inde-
pendent action by those who have
been, and are, true and devoted
partisans. Look to the returns in
our last election and you will find
in them satisfactory, if not conclu-
sive, evidence of this fact. Parti-
sans, men will be, and it is well
that this is so, for political parties
are essential to the welfare of the
country. The spirit of party rival
ry is the spirit of patriotism when
begOtten in the discussion of ques-
tions of great public interest, or
originating in the efforts of states
men cOntending for the adoption
or rejection Of important principles
as the part of policy in the adj
miEistration of the government,
but when it degenerates into
mere struggle for the spoils of
Office it becomes demOralizing, cor
rupting and dangerous in it's effects,
and it ought not to be, and will not
be, however, the abrogation
of the doctrine that "to the victors
belong the spoils." Offices will
continue to be bestowed as a re-
ward for party services. The peo-
pie, with the exception of theorists
and theoretical civil service reform
ers, believe thai this ought to be
done. But they will demand, and
good politics independent of their
demand, will require that i'm the
distribution of official patronage
incompetent, dishonest and cor
rupt men, "boodlers" and political
brokers" shall be ignored, even
though they may claim positions
as reward for party services; and
that honesty, integrity and capaci-
ty shall, in addition to such servi-