The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-10-17

ton Il Q monument to his memory which will
outlive those OF bronze and stone. Its moral In
fiuenoo extends infinitely beyond the immedi
ate parties to It, or the age In which II was ne
gotlated. Moro than once he displayed inde
pendence, high courage and strong sense'oi
duy by vetoing legislation which seriously
threatened the public welfare.
The men who have left the profoundest i'm
press on our history were not so much distin
guished for their wealth. or their erudition, AZ
the qualities, or some OF them, which dis.
tnguished Grant. These qualities arc essen.
tial Ingredients OF political manhood, and they
are no less useful and necessary in peace than
in war. We need men possessing them TO re-
sist the aggressions OF those who seok 10
make OF our politics both an art and mystery,
ineligible only to the adept and in.
itiated, who assume the management OF
them, by virtue of their capacity for
the deft and arttul manipulation of
their fellows Their influence upon the coun-
try IL corrupt and debasinR, ana the area OF po-
litical venality constantly enlarges under II.
According to their views the whole interest,"
that any citizen has in municipal, state or ma
tional government is measured by what he can
make out OF it. 1t is worse than idle to shut
our eyes to the existence of corrupt methods
and practices in our politics which threaten to
subvert our free institutions. The man
who accepts bribe OF any sort
places his conscience and JUDGMENT in
L0e VlleSL DOnQUge. lie lS uO lOhBtl llVOs NJ
gument is wasted on him Considerations oil
tho public veal or woe do not affect him. Bay
onets at the polls would not control his con-
duct more effectively. And men who contribute
money to buy votes, and to bribe the peoples
representatives, as well as those who ulsDurse
It, are deadly enemies Of the republic. Their
greed and love OF power are greater than their
love of country. They impair popular respect
for law which is the only safeguard for life and
property; and 1t will be an evil day for
the nation when its preservation depends
upon their patriotism and courage. They
may masquerade In tho garb Of righteousness,
and address the people in the language Of
patriotism, but their virtues are assumed;
they are hypocrites and assassins OF liberty,
and would welcome dynasty rather than shed
their blood in defense of popular government.
Their shameless and insldious attacks on free
institutions are Infinitely more dangerous than
the revolutionary teachings and practices OF O
comparatively few visionary and misguided
men and women in our large cities
1t is not such men as these, but the great
multitude, engaged in active and hardy pur-
suits, who constitute the real strength of the
nation. They are not enemies OF law and order,
! they do not envy or hate those who bave ac'
quired property by honest methods, they bear
their full share OF the public burdens, and so
long as the powers of Che nation not pervert-
cd to their injury for the enrichment Of q
| few, they will rally tV its defense with
| unselfsh and devoted patriotism. Their energy
| and courage have not been deadened by ease
| and luxury. There can be no prosperity with
out public tranquility, and the people will not
| long remain tranquil under well-founded be-
| lief that the corrupt use OF money prevents q
| free and honest expression Of their choice Of
| men and measures II public opinion cannot
| be honestly expressed In authorized ways, our
| elections will become expensive and useless
moclSerles, and free government will exist only
| in name. Let us not be deceived by mere
forms.
| Men like Grant who have sprung from tho
| people, with strong and resolute character, un'
| spoiled by luxury, clear.minded and level
he1ded, able to see men and things as they
| really are, undeceivcd by outward show and
| conventionality, are worth more to our nation
| than all its mere cunning, self-seeking politi'
clans, it's political theorists or its plutocrats.
| In war and peace these qualities lie at the
| foundation of all truo character. nation not
only needs such men hut they are indispensable
| to it, In times Of peril 1t may perish without
| them.
1t is not improper at TINS cime to call atten.
tion to baneful influences and practices which
le~er our national standard and, unchecked,
| threaten disaster. Engrossed in the cares OF
I business and laborious occupations men seem
| inattentive to the requirements OF citizenship,
| but they do not consciously and wilfully shirk
| its duties and responsibilities, when they are
! cleuTly beeu lutly uuueIsIOOu' lucJ hhJ
| be slow to act, but when danger be-
comes imminent they will assert themselves
| again as they have in the past They will not
allow the republic to perish from neglect Tho
sentiment Of patriotism is still strong in the
people 1t is neither dead nor short-lived. 1t
grows and strengthens with honest appeals to
| it, and IL may be appealed to with confidence
| for the vindication of good measures. II in
creases with every draft that is made upon it,
| and while 1t may become silent through
! neglect, it does not cease to exist. Its
| voice may be unheeded for u season,
and may be drowned by the noisier tongues OF
| greed and selfshness but it will be heard
again. II patiently submits to many affronts,
and quietly endures many indignities. But in
| its temporary silence it gathers an accumula-
tion of energy, and when the limit Of endurance
has been reached its commanding voice breaks
forth on the startled air, trumpet- tongued ant
against its mighty tones no other voice dares
lift itself.
The vast majority of the people are patriotic
and sound to the core. In them is our main
stay and chief dependence. Our confidence II
their steady and unfaltering love of country
which is indifferent about any show of itself
and speaks Only in it's acts, will never be mis-
placed. IL was this sort Of patriotism that was