Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1890-07-24
New Series, Vol. 80, No 80

time. 1t is sufficient, now, to say tina
no city, no office, no public institution
no scheme oftaxation, nothing, in short
that promised political plumber or Dem
ocratic aggrandizement, has been spared
but that everything has been wickedly
sacrificed to Democratic greed.
To use their own classic expression
they "ripped up the penitentiary, asy
lums, the reform schools, the election
laws, municipal governments generally
the State Constitution particularly, and
the doctrine of of home rule, both gen
orally and particularly. OF this they
left not a shred.
1t is to right such wrongs as these, to
turn out of power such party as this. that
every Republican in Ohio is this day
summoned to battle. Under such cir
cumstanees, everything that stands in
the way of party zeal and party fealty
must be put to one side, and every Re-
publican must be up and doing. To be
lukewarm, to halt, to hesitate, to doubt
to grumble, growl and whine, is, like
open treachery, a political crime that NO
Republican can afford.
No matter, therefore, who carried ra-
ZorS last year, see that you do not car
ry one this year. If any man did less
than his duty last year, make him asham-
ed of himself by doing more than your
duty this. Show him that you are for
harmony and victory when you are not
personally interested as well as when
you are. Do not punish him at the ex-
pense of the enemy, by setting better
example. Such is our duty.
But, gentlemen of the Convention,
great men and great questions are not
all dead. We do not need to live in the
past or on the past. The Republican
party to-day, as much as ever before,
represents the highest aims, the purest
purposes and the loftiest ambitions of
the American people. Who are to-day
the champions of American labor and
industry? Where lies hope for the pre-
servation of sound financial system?
To whom are the people of this country
looking at this very hour for free bal
lot and fair count? What would suf-
frage and political equality be worth to
this party and its promises? AT whose
hands are the men who periled their
lives that this nation might live, to re
ceiye the benefits of pension legislation
that will mete out to them just recog
milton of their invaluable services? Who
is to-day, with wise, patriotic and far
seeing craftsmanship, binding the States
of North and South America together
in the bonds of commercial union? Who
settled the Samoan question? Who is de-
Tending our interests in the Northern
seas? Who is, every hour almost, add
ing to the dignity and the greatness of
this nation, and making more and more
respected everywhere the flag of the
United States? When,in time of peace
had we to deal with graver matters,
and when had we greater success or
more capable leaders?
When did the country have a more
careful, patriotic, moral and high mind
ed Chief Magistrate than Benjamin Har-
rison2 When since our Government
was founded had American interests a
better defender or Republicanism an
ADLER and more brilliant representative
than is James G.. Blaine? When was
there sturdier advocate of the right
and justice of our cause in the chair of
the Speaker of the House of Represent
atives than is Thomas B. Reed? And
when among the great men of the ma
tion did the Republican representatives
of Ohio stand higher than they do to-
day? In all the Senate no man out
ranks John Sherman, and in the House
of Representatives our party never had
a more gifted, more capable, or more
successful leader than is William Nc
Kinley, Jr., and no leader of his party
ever had abler assistants than are his
colleagues from this State. The truth |
is, Republicanism never had greater |
cause to be both proud and satisfied.
But look ahead. Six new States have |
just been admitted to the Union
Bright, beautiful and promising sisters
they are. They will have nineteen Re-
publican votes in the next Electoral
College. In the language of Garfield,
''the stars in their courses have fought |
for u.s." and we can add, that they have
gained the day. Are we, like parcel
of petulent children, to fritter away this
advantage, or are we to be men, and
make Republicanism invincible? Are
we to desert the ranks of this mighty
column with whose victories we have
been so long identified in the same mo-
ment that it receives this splendid re6n-
An, no! Our duty is plain.
We must stay where we belong, and
with these new sisters march on to new
and new glories. We have a
right to be proud of the past and proud
IF the present. Let us here and now
resolve, because of what we shall make
It, to be proud also of the future. The
a wonderful future it will
be! Who can describe its development?
Great as is this people-mighty as have
been its works-a greater people and
still mightier works are before us. Our
will shortly be numbered by
hundreds of millions, and, no matter
where our territorial boundary lines may
'un, the spirit and genius of our institu-
ions will ultimately dominate every
'oot of North American soil. Our ships
will plow every sea and float the Stars
Ind Stripes in every port. To admins
er this country's affairs, to maintain
Ter rights, to extend her commerce, to
oerserve her peace, and maintain her
lonor through all this coming growth of
physical and political power, is duty
worthy of the best days of the Re-
publican party. In special sense this
luty is ours. If we fail to fully and
discharge it we shall disap-
point the just claims of both our fathers
md our posterity. We must not fail.
Dur opportunity is here. This is the
starting point. Are we ready to meet
he issue and and answer the demands
hat rest upon US? The man who does
not say "yes" is not Republican; the
nan who says ''yes" and then sulks in
his tent because he doesn't like candi-
late, or doesn't like committee, or
Doesn't like some other thing of the
Kind, is false to his party, false to his