The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-07-17
THE OHIO CONVENTION.

NORTON, who opened the convention by
nominating ALLEN w. THURMAN, son of
ALLEN @. THURMAS-foreyer to be fondly
remembered as the Old Roman-the state
snent of Mr.. NORTON, we say, that every
thing good under the constitution was the
inspiration of the Democratic party may
seem strong; but it is, nevertheless. true,
and it could be made stronger and still be
true, to say that everything good in the
constitution is an inspiration, If not of the
Democratic party, then at least of Demo
cratic principles. We owe it to Democratic
principles that we have constitution.
Had Federal opinions rs held by ALEx-
AMBER HAMILTON and other political
ancestors of your modern Republicans
prevailed in the constitutional convention
of 1857, we should have had here lin
tied monarchy instead of republic,
amonarchy in which we would have had
an aristocracy with all its class privileges,
ct ceteras But HAMILTON and others of
his school were met by stern Democratic
spirit which compelled them to abandon
much in their proposed form of govern
ment and to modify more, until the copsti-
tuition, minus its first ten amendments,
practically as it stands to-day, was adopted
by the convention, So bmitted to the states
and finally adopted by them.
Mr.. THURMAN, the temporary chairman
OF the convention. in his remarks on taking
the chair, made home thrust at the enemy
when be said:
The time Is here when people will express
their belief IL complete, and not restricted re-
ciprocity. when they will no longer sustain any
party which levies and collects one dollar OF
taxes over and above that which is required to
wisely and economically administer the affairs
OF the government; when they will give due
notice that the infant industries that have
been Lurssd for hundred years. have arrived
at an age when they must take care of them
selves; when they will brand protective tariff
rs stealing its advocates as beggars ana de
mand that we must have tariff for revenue
only.
Equally good was his advice, amounting
to rebuke, to the farmers now attempt
ing to organize q new party which shall
advocate such wild schemes as government
loaning on lands or upon warehouse GER
tificates; government possession Of rail-
roads, and telegraph lines: extensive in
ternal improvements also under the super
vision of the government; land a dozen
other minor issues,'' said Mr.. THURMAN,
''that lead not only to greater taxation, but
to the rankest kind of socialism" Mr..
TBURMAN's advice TO the farmers was,
''stick to the tariff issue EMIL you get what
is your due" BY the time that is accom-
plished they viii discover that much which
they now demand is not at all necessary 10
their prosperity.
In the platform itself Democratic doc
trine is splendidly put, as the following
paragraphs will prove:
1--WE are opposed TO all class legislation
and believe in tariff levied for the sole
purpose of producing revenue sufficient
to defray the legitimate expenses of the
government economically administered.
1--WE accept the issue rendered to US by
the Republican party on the subject Of the
tariff, as represented by the so-called Nc
KINLKY tariff act, confident that the YER
dict of the people of Ohio will be recorded
against the Ubiquitous policy of so-called
protection, champioDed by the Republican
party in the interest of the favored classes
against the masses"
question creates between the two parties,
MIR. MICHAEL RYAN, of Cincinnati, in his
speech renominating Governor CAMPBELL,
said:
1--WE accept the gage of battle thrown to
Us. Gladly, cheerfully, willingly viii we
fight them on the lines they marked out;
for it will be the most astounding occur
renee of the century if the progressive
intelligent enterprising people Of Ohio do
not put the seal Of their condemnation on
class legislation, high tariff robbery and
MCKINLEY in the coming election
That is the kind of talk. If there is any,
thing that is more inspiring than another
in political affairs, it is a clean-c issue,
boldly declared and bravely met. We trust
there viii be no cowardly skulking behind
reciprocity lines which the Republican
administration are as rapidly as possible
constructing Tor their bulworks in '92. Let
US hope they will have the courage to stand
out in full view On the principle OF pro-
lection. as the Democrats are willing to
stand on the principle of tariff for revenue
only. Briefly, but pointedly and with
master hand, the Ohio Democratic platform
points TO the weaknesses and sins of the
party:
We denouace the Republican billion dol
lar Congress, which by extravagant expen-
diture exhausted the surplus in the national
treasury left there by the Democratic ad-
and created deficit; which
despotic rules for free discus
sion in the House of Representatives; and
sr1l "a
of the odious force bill demanded by the
Republican President and championed by
the Republican party for the purpose of
its rule by perverting the
powers of the government,
destroying free elections and placing the
ballot box in the hands of INSCRIPTIONS
partisans in order, as declared by
Speaker REED ito register voters, super
wise elections, count ballots and declare re-
SUITS"
A paragraph which is of itself gem,
and which best reflects the spirit of
Democratic principles is the one which
says:
ssWe oppose the enactment Of all laws
which unnecessarily interfere with the
habits and customs Of any of our people
which are not offensive to the moral senti-
ment of the civilized world.''
This is the acme of Democratic principles,
individual freedom, uninterfered with by
authority only to restrain it from doing in
juries to others or interrupting the free
dom of others. Read that one plank of the
Ohio Democratic platform to the people Of
Utah, and their hearts will beat happy
to it. and those now hesitating a.
to what party they belong to or with