Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-09-04

An Excellent Democratic Speech.

man Neal in the big Democratic Con-
vention held at Springfield last week:
Gentlemen Of the convention: / ap-
preciate most highly, and thank you
most heartily, for this manifestation of
your approval of the action of your
committee in selecting me to preside
over your deliberations.
The fact that the position has been
given 10 me, with such, unanimity,
without any personal solicitation on
my part, and in spite of my expressed
desire that some one other than myself
should enjoy the compliment, adds
greatly In my estimation to the honor
which 1t confers, and awakens within
me feelings of the deepest gratitude.
The Ohio Democracy achieved de-
cided victory In November last. We
elected a Governor and Legislature
then because united, determined, and
aggressive, we waged contest for
principle. A continuation Of the fight
then begun will give to us lasting and
permanent success In this State. We
can always win, when substituting
principle 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 patriot
ism of tho 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 Democra-
cy Of the Union, or we can restore it, as
a State, to the position 1t 90 long held
in the ranks of the Republican party.
The fulfillment of the reasonable ex-
pectations and demands of the people
will insure the former, and this, the ex-
ercise of ordinary political sagacity and
judgment, will secure. The accom-
plishment of the latter will be the nat
ural 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 advance the interests of our party
must not only escape the disapproval
of the people, but command their
earnest and positive appreciation. The
day of machine politics is passing
away and the average citizen will no
longer blindly uphold men or measures
simply because the party stamp is upon
them. Party ties are not so strong to-
day as in the past; and the bitter par
tisanship which SO long assured the
support of every member of party for
all nominations, good or bad, and all
party measures, right or wrong, cannot
now be relied upon 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-respect
will, at times, compel independent ac-
tion by those who have been, and are,
the returns in our last election and you
will find In them satisfactory, If not
conclusive, evidence of this fact. Par
tisans, men will be, and 1t is we'll that
this is so, for political parties are essen
tial to the welfare of the country. The
spirit of party rivalry Is the spirit Of
patriotism when begotton In the dis
cussion of questions of great public in
terest, or originating in the efforts of
statesmen contending for the adoption
or rejection Of important principles as
the part of a policy in the administra-
tion of the government, but when 1t de-
generates into mere struggle for the
spoils of Office it becomes demoralizing,
corrupting and dangerous in its effects,
and it ought not to be, and will not be,
tolerated by the people. This does not
mean, however, the abrogatiOn of the
doctrine that ITO the victors belong the
spoils''. Offices will continue to be be-
slowed as reward for party services
The people, with the exception of theo.
rists and Theoretical civil service re.
formers, believe that this ought to be
done. But they will demand, andgood
politics independent of their demand
, will require that In the distribution oi
! official patronage incompetent, dis.
honest and corrupt men, "b0odlers'
, and political brokers', shall be ignor.
ed, even though they may claim posi-.
tions as q reward for party services
| and that honesty, integrity and capaci
| ty, shall, in addition to such services
be the prerequisites for appointments
. to office.
Qualified and guarded in this man.
ner, there can be no better rule adopted
for the selection of public officials. But
whether there can be or not, this will
fulfill the requirements of the public
service by securing the appointment Of
honest and capable men, and at the
same time, giving to the party in pow
| er, that which of right it ought tc
have, the selection Of the agents fol
whose acts it is to be held responsible
: Political battles must, in the future
be won or lost upon principle. A bold
declaration of principles and courage
in the advocacy of such principles will
always command for us and our party
the support of the people. 1t is right
| that this should be so. But this Is moi