Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1890-07-24
COY. FORAKER'S
RINGING SPEECH BEFORE THE CON-
YENTION AT CLEVELAND.

After returning thanks to the com
mittee for selecting him to be tempora
ry Chairman of the Convention, ant
making some other preliminary remarks
Gov. Foraker proceeded as follows:
L want to talk chiefly about the cam
paign upon which we are entering, bu
l have a few words to say first concern
ing that of last year.
We did not come out of the last con
test very well. We lost the Governor
ship, the General Assembly and the L
5. Senatorship; the three great objective
purposes of the canvass and later, as q
consequence, we also lost the Lieutenant
Governorship, the control of all the State
institutions, and only time and the next
election can tell how many Representa-
tives in Congress. 1t was slaughter
not only for the head of the ticket. but
all along the line. a great many peo-
pie got hurt who did not even dream OF
such thing supposed they were
entirely out of harms way. The tax
payer, whose burdens were being con-
stantly lightened, must now confront
deficient revenues and an increase of
eight millions of local Indebtedness
alone; and our dissatisfied German
| friends of Cincinnati, who, in the name
of personal liberty, deserted US and
fought with the enemy for their Sunday
beer, find to their CONSERVATION and
amazement that they have only brought
on themselves and their fellow citizens
famine of water. Naturally much has
Some of this talk has been profitable,
but most of it has been worse than pro-
fitless. 1t is gratifying, therefore, to
realize that we have now reached a point
in the progress of time and events when
it is our duty to quit looking backward.
From now benceforward let every Re-
publican look to the front. The last
campaign should be remembered only in
so far as it teaches lessons of benefit for
the future. All connected with it that
may be the cause of criticism or bitter
ness of feeling should be forgotten, but
if there be those who must have victim,
those whose minds are so constituted
that they can not be satisfied without
definitely fixing fault, to all such | have
an appeal to make. My appeal is that
you place the blame upon me. Whether
it be just or unjust for you to do SO, L
shall not stop to question. Neither
shall utter word of complaint, but,
on the contrary, bear most gladly all
that the bitterest enemy can even imag-
inc as appropriate to be laid upon my
shoulders, if thereby l can in the slight
est degree promote the common good of
our common cause. What happens to
me or to any other individual, is of no
consequence in political sense, to any
body, but what happens to the great Re-
publican party is of the highest con-
Germ to all.
No matter therefore, what may have
been the cause; no matter who may have
been at fault; no matter what Republi-
cans may have voted for the Democratic
candidate, it is all of the past, and only
heart burnings and dissensions can be
the result of cherishing such recollec-
tions. Away, then, with bitterness;
away with animosity; away with preju
dice; away with rivalry; away with
everything that stands between our party
and our party's triumph. Let our minds
be filled rather with the truth that there
is great duty resting upon us. We are
in the presence of the enemy. The Dem
ocratic party is in power. 1t must be
turned out. 1t can be and it will be, if
every Republican does his duty. 1t can't
be and it won't be if we do not rally as
one man and go forward with our whole
strength.
If we had nothing more involved than
the election of our standard bearer the
result would be of sufficient Importance
to justify this admOnition; for when
Ohio next speaks she must, regardless of
the occasion, proclaim she is still Re-
publican State.
To elect again this year, as we did
last, the head of the Democratic ticket,
would be inexcusable. Such a defeat
could not be attributed to accident. 1t
could not be set down to petty malice
or jealousy. 1t would be an unmistaka-
BILE encouragement to Democracy and
Democratic ideas and purposes, and
corresponding encouragement to the
cause of Republicanism. 1t would be
an Endorsement not only of Democracy,
but according to even Democratic testi-
mony, it would be an Endorsement of
one of the worst forms of Democracy
that we have ever been afflicted with in
this State.
We have still more at stake in this
contest than these moral effects. There
ono cov,o hioblr,
PRACTICAL RESULTS
To be worked out that must not be lost
sight of. We choose this year not only
State officials, but also members of Con-
gress. On this account our next cleo
tion has reference to National as well as
State affairs The vote of Ohio next
November may determine political as
tendency in the National House of
Representatives, and on continued Re-
publican ascendency there depends, in
no small degree, the success of the. Ad-
of President Harrison. No
matter how capable, how patriotic, how
devoted may be the occupant of the
White House, he can accomplish but lit
tie unless supported by the coordinate |
branches of government. Our fight is,
therefore, not only for Ohio, but for the
whole Nation; and in measuring our
present duty we must recognize and ap-
preciate that it is as broad as the whole
country.
THE DEMOCRATIC HOME-RULE
Cry of the last campaign was but false
pretense, while the Administration has
been so far only an abuse of confidence
and breach of promise.
Because the General Assembly had |
required the Governor, although against
his advice and preference, to appoint
certain municipal Boards, the charge
was made that he had robbed the control
of their own affairs, and that justice,
liberty and the rights of the citizens all
alike demanded that such legislation
should be undone.
How many Of thpce Rnor1S were there |