The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1897-05-21
Our Duty.

Everything indicates an over
whelming victory for Democracy
Ohio is the state upon which will
be centered the eyes of the nation
for it is the home of Mckinley and
Hanna and is the only state of
prominence to elect COVER nor this
fall.
Every effort will be made by the
national administration to secure
Ohio to the republicans as an in
dorsement of the dilatory and dis
appointing Mckinley administra-
tion. The Democratic party must
not confidence of victory to disarm
it. We must fight as though lead
ing forlorn hope. The party of
false promises and hypocrisy and
fraud must be placed beyond the
possibility of a resurrection. For
four years we have suffered from
what we are pleased to call hard
times. Last fall, through the hope
that possibly the promises of the
Republican party so profusely
made, might eventuate in some
mitigation of the suffering to which
labor was exposed, many were per-
suaded to put aside their convict
ions on the vital question at issue,
and the cause of silver was hinder
ed. After the lapse of half a year
it needs no very acute mind to see
the fallacy. "Prosperity" based up.
on confidence" has been the will
o'-the-wisp that has led our people
farther into the bog. We have no
harsh things to say of Mr.. McKin-
ley. He is perhaps the ablest man
in the republican organization.
But we have no sympathy with re-
publicanism. Its leaders are hypo-
crits, its statesmen are dwarfs.
The greed after Office and the "op-
portunities" afforded forbid man
hood, and craftsmanship is choked
by tine weedy growth of patronage.
There is nothing to hope from the
Republican party. And this is
necessarily so. The Republican
party had its rise in crisis of our
history. 1t was based upon one
idea-abolition. 1t accomplished
its purpose; it lived its normal life,
and it ought to have gone out with
the cause of its being. Its life now
is, and for quarter of a ceAtury
past has been, fungus growth,
parasite on the body polite, and
battens on spoils. "The good of
the party and d-n the people" is
the principle on which it acts. 1t
is unworthy the support of those
who loveth country, for you can.
not find in all its platforms one def
mite principle that makes for
good.
On the other hand, the Demo-
cratic party, ds 1t has lived in his
tory, has always been a party of
definite opinions. Its fundamental
doctrines are personal liberty, local
representation, simple governmt mt,
low taxation, and strict construc.
tion of the constitution. 1t stands,
as it always has stood, for the
rights of the people and opposed to
class legislation. Its cardinal
principle is Equal rights for all
and special privileges for none"
The history Of our government is
very largely the history of the
Democratic party. Her great men
were Democrats, from Jefferson
down. The policies that have been
adopted and have worked out the
development both of our land and
our people, were originated by the
Democratic party. or course the
Democratic party at times has been
annoyed by "camp-followers" who
fed upon Democratic success, and
who now and then have assumed
to own and operate the party.
But these have always been shaken
off, and the party cleansed has al
ways stood for the good of the peo-
pie. Such was the process through
which we as a party passed last
fall. AS the good ships, returned
from long voyage, must be freed
from barnacles that 1t may success
fully accomplish its purpose; so
last year was our inspection on the
docks, and the barnacles fell from
Democracy and like a good ship
prepared, she will safely bear the
welfare Of the people into the de-
sired haven. Hope not realized
sharpens the intellect, and the peo-