Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-07-23
GOV. CAMPBELL'S SPEECH.
Accepting the Second Nomination of
His Party.

the Second Nomination of
His Party.
While gratefully accepting a second nomi.
nation from the Democratic party of Ohio
my thoughts naturally revert to the record
and achievements of that party since the,
memorable Dayton convention. Victorious
in the ensuing election, the Ohio Democracy
has iegislated for the state and administered
its affairs for eighteen months. In that
short period it has destroyed every vestage of
the dangerous GENERALIZATION which had made
the office of governor menace to the liber-
ties of the people. 1t has restored to seven
teen cities the control Of their elections. 1t
has provided new and better forms of gov
ernment, in conformity to popular desire, for
several of the larger cities. 1t has devoted
time and care to the perfection of law Sc
curing secrecy of the ballot, thereby assur-
ing an unbiased and unbought verdict of
the people at the polls. This essential re-
form was frustrated at the first session of the
general assembly by the unanimous vote of
the senators belonging to political party
which recently gathered in convention at
Columbus, and prated, with hollow mockery,
of free ballot and fair count. The Demo-
cratic party has done more to advance the
cause of higher education by its legislation
for the Ohio state university, and appro-
priations for the other universities, than had
been accomplished in all the long history of
the state and it has also been mindful of
general education by enacting a salutary
law for the cheapening of School books to
the children of the pooi. 1t had the courage
to attack the odious fee system whereby pub
lie officials were excessively compensated,
and has substituted system of just and
reasonable salaries. 1t has especially looked
after the welfare of agriculture, which has
been continuously imposed upon by Repub-
lican congresses. Sixty thousand dollars
were appropriated in one item to provide
farmers with the results of agricultural ex-
periments and in their interest laws were
passed with respect to oleomargarine and
other products. The great laboring class
which hopelessly appealed to the Republl-
can party, has not been forgotten either, as
the institution of Labor Day." important
laws for the protection of railroad employees,
and the establishment of free employment
agencies will show. The Democratic party
has done what lay in its power to rectify our
inequitabe tax laws and to provide for their
improvement through an amendment to the
constitution. 1t has decreased taxation
more than $4,000 per year by the repeal of
the sinking fund levy. 1t found deficiency
was subsequently slightly decreased by us.
The timely receipt from the federal govern
ment of the direct tax refunder was all that
prevented the startling spectacle of an empty
treasury-a direct legacy from former ad-
ministrations. 1t has been charged that our
appropriations have exceeded those of our
predecessors. Without stopping for de-
tailed explanation, merely stating that we
have not exceeded our income, let US inquire
oh of+ bo 0r1p
would curtail. have already named the ex-
penditures in behalf of agriculture and edu-
cation, do they attack these? The largest
new item of our appropriations was the sum
of 100000 for the Soldiers and Sailors
Orphans home. Do they deny the propriety
of this? When we came into power the he'll,
less orphans of men who had given all fol
their country, were dying at rate which
shocked and alarmed the public. The ad-
ministration of that institution had been one
of the most personal and partisan IN the
state. High minded trustees had been
stricken by the chief executive because they
did not prefer his interests to those of theil
dead comrades children. To restore the
health and save the lives of these orphans we
were glad to make unprecedented appro
| priations; and if there be one spot in Ohio
where citizen of the state will feel min
| gled joy and pride it is there in the midst o
the 800 happy and healthy children for whom
| a Democratic administration has freely
expended its money. We have built somt
new and roomy cottages at the Soldiers ane
| Sailors home. Do our Republican brethren
| begrudge the old veterans this additiona
comfort? We have made large appropria
tions for completing the new reformatory IL
the hope of reclaiming your convicts befort
age and bad associations have hardened
them beyond redemption. Does the Repub
can pa arty criticise the expenditure of mone.
! for the prevention of crime? We have pro
vided for an epileptic asylum, and have addet
i to the capacity of the insane asylums and t.
other benevolent and penal institutions. W.
are proud of them all. Their management
is economical, kind, firm and efficient. w
invite from the taxpayer and the humani
J tartan searching investigation and thought
| full comparison.
The electors of Ohio have other reason
for voting with us this year besides such a
solely affect this state. The battle before u
is essentially national one. Not only
this true because the result must seriousl
affect next years federal elections, but ais
because the Republicans of Ohio have un
reservedly identified themselves with ever
phase of the iniquitous legislation accom-
plished, or attempted, by the fifty first con
gress. In their platform they have reaffirm
ed their adherence to the infamous Fore
bill-the Republican lost cause-a measur
so obviously designed to destroy free cleo
tions that Republican senator's, unwilling t
violate their conscience and their oaths, re
fused to inhict it upon The country. TIL
; Republican party of Ohio appears as the dc
fender of that arbitrary disregard of minor
ity rights which disgraced the last house O
J.. representatives. 1t upholds the fraudulen
unseating of lawfully elected members; tn
steal of Montana by the Senate; and all th
other high-handed outrages by which tha
party has sought to perpetuate its powe
against the wishes of the people. 1t repre-
sents the reckless extravgance and astounG
ing prohigacy which have dissipated tn
splendid Democratic surplus; forced the e.
tension of national bonds; and compelled a
Ohio secretary Of the treasury to resort I
tricks of bookkeeping and subterfuges fic
and deceive the people.
l Pre-emipently also does the Republics