The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1891-02-26

filled its mission; that IL was no longer
political party but machine, controlled
by large business interests. This | be-
lieye, is truth, no matter how melancholy
il may sound in loyal Republican ears. AT
all events, IL Is unquestionably true that
today many men have got themselves in
TO political power, moved by no patriotic
love of country, but for purely personal
These men are shrewd,
manipulators and leaders OF
men, by touching their baser and
not their nobler motives. The
influence of these men in free Republic
is one of the dangers point
I'd out to us by De Tocqveville
in his democracy in America" That
keen, practical observer said, 1.-THE course
OF time always gives birth to different in
terests, and so the early stages OF National
existence are the only ones in which IL is
possible to make legislation strictly logi-
cal.n That is to say, make legislation
strictly in the interests of the whole peo-
pie, for he says the rules of logic are
always broken where interests are op-
posed to argumeuts.n Our own political
history has exemplined this prophetic
statement of the great Frenchman more
than once.
AT the formation of the Constitution in
1857, slavery was "a cloud like unto n mans
hand.n From north to south slavery has
been gradually dying out, and the opinion
was distinctly set forth by many delegates
in the convention. In Maryland and Vir-
ginia there were growing abolition par
tics.
Not even the Pinckueys vcntured to de-
fend slavery on principle. But cotton, by
the inventions Of Arkwright and Har-
grave, Cartwright, Watt and Whitney,
made slavery profitable. The abolition
party i'm the face of "iutcrestsN disap-
peared, and Virginia, the metropolis of
patriots, made slavery the bulwdrk of
great personal gain, and vested property
interests stood in the way OF humane pro
grcss on the highway of "equal and exact
Justice to all" De TOcque"ille's prophecy
was fulfilled. The rules of logic and jus
tiCe and reason all were broken, and
supreme and lordly interests opposed to
the arguments of Sumner, Seward, Phil
lips, Lowell, Becchcr and Lincoln and q
host of greatest souls that ever influenced
a majestic world. And strange to say
that these descendants of the Cavaliers,
with large property interests, drew after
them large part of, and almost wrecked,
the grandest political party the world
ever saw. This Is one of the mistakes of
the Democratic party. 1t split on the
rock of vested unjust property interests,
and property withal blisterug to its pos.
SCISSORS. Ii had been the leader of the
people, il had wrcsted the government
from the hands of the aristocracy; II had
established the doctrine of personal liber-
ty; il had long line of lordly and inspir-
ing traditions, but its traditions and past
glory did not keep il in power. II could
not see, or would not see that personal
liberty was incompatible with slavery. In
short, II opposed "interestsN to arguments.
The sequel the world knows. How great
and mighty party sprung like Phoenix
from the ruin that vested personal prop
erty in slaves had wrought. That great
Republican party far quarter OF CCu-
tury has ruled the Messiah of Nations
1t has its traditions of an hundred battle
fields, liberal constitutional construction,
and sound finance; but its traditions have
not saved il from defeat and disgrace.
The prophecy of the great Frenchman is
again fulfilled.
What argument has been opposed to
to tariff reform, and in favor of excessive
tariff taxation but the argument when
stripped Of its euphOni5m Of unjust vest
ed property interests, maintained by rob-
berry and indireCuOB? When the ldns of
November came in, il was apparent that
not only had great party been trium-
pbaut, but that great principles Of a great
party had been viudicated. And | wish to
emphasize that that great principle tri-
umphrd because of its reasonablCness,
and because of the splendid unanimity
and mauliness Of the organization that
because it attracted to its
support the thinking and patriotic
men from the Republican ranks.
II was contest, not against
the great Republican party in the golden
prime of its manhood and usefulness,
when it was aCtuated by patriotic and un-
selfish motives, but il was a victory over
a remnant of that great party deserted by
its great men of convictions-a victory
over the disciples and interests of Quay
and Dudley and Carnegie and Wan
amaKer, and not over the followers
of Lincoln and Chase, Sumner and Sew
ard. II was victory of a great party,
not because it had great traditions, but
because it was united on a principle that
was to be a tradition and a stone in the
historic building of the Republic. A prin-
ciple that appealed to all men of reason,
free from bondage of unjust vested prop.
erty interests, without regard to party or
previous affiliations.
Says David Dudley Field: ut cost ages
of cruel strife to implant in the
minds of men the belief that the relations
between each of them and his Maker was
a personal relation, within whose sacred
precincts no other man was privileged to
enter.n That is a tradition in the history
of liberty, and is part of our glorious insti-
tutions.
But the most perfect liberty and
portunity for the highest hui
man development, will not be until
every man shall have the right to buy in
the cheapest market and sell in the dear
est; TO use what he has earned with his
own hand and brain, without paying part
to the building up of giant monopolies,
which fetter the commerce of the world.
This is the principle we seek to make a
grand tradition for posterity.
This is no easy task, for the benefc-
iaries of unjust taxation hold in their
ruthless hands the very life of their fell
lows, for the money man earns is in a
high sense a part of his life. Money
earned has a double value, aside from an
intrinsic it has an extrinsic value; for
instance like our flag, which has little in
trinsic value ii is only rag, but il has
an extrinsic value which is what IL stands
for, viz: our glorious country. So 81,
which is an average days wages, stands
for day in mans life, and therefore a
part of his being. / can see how a man
may look on his accumulations as some
thing sacred. 1t calls to mind his seasons
of joyful activity and enterprise. 1t is a
monument Of his fidelity and accomplish
ments. And when he gives that which is
the means of his life with free hand and
heart, il is deeply beautiful and Christ
like. / can think of no more sacred thing,
To spend II freely and untramIneled is
his highest birthright, sacred and God
given. If this be true, what, in the eyes
of the great all-Father, is the Nervousness
of the crime that takes il unjustly, with
out his consent, by stealth and indi-
rection.
The enemies of Tariff Reform are a
proud cabal of INSCRIPTIONS citizens
whose vast maws are straining to devour
the rights of the struggling commoner,
though the blood of Hampden do course
in his veins. In the face OF their audac-
ious combinations, in Burke's language,
when bad men combine, good men must
associate, else they will fall one by one, an
unpitied sscriice in contemplate strug-
gle.n
QYoung gentlemen, 1t is important in
this juncture that we step cautiously but
firmly forward. First. We muat ba "a