Year: 1870

or Of rebellion. Whether the neces-


fight or money to pay, or the destruc-
1 tiOn Of slavery as means of weaking
the enemy, these and all similar meas


ures met the steady and persistent OPP
position Of the Democratic party. OF


course I do not speak Of all Democrats


as individuals, but of the party organ
/ izatiOn as such. a


3. That since the war all the leading


measures deemed necessary to secure


the fruits of the contest and to prevent
/ the recurrence Of secession and rebet-
lion have met with almost unanimous


Opposition from the Democratic party.
| This statement finds ample illustra-


tion in the fact that on the passage OF
every statute and constitutional
amendment for the abolition of slav-


cry; for granting civil and political
rights to those made free by the war ;
/ for making the payment of the rebel


debt and the repudiatiOn of the ma
| tiOnal debt impossible for the restOr-
/ ing the rebelliOus States i'm the inter


est Of liberty and loyalty, for secuT-


ing equal and exact justice TO all citi-


zens-I say on the passage of all these


acts the Democratic party through ap-
prOYef representatives has been the
/ PARTY Of obstruction and hindTance,


whose chief, if not sole principle of
action has been 10 oppose whatever
( the party in power was doing.


Over against this shameful history
stands the honorable record Of the Re


publican party. Inspired with love


Of liberty and union, that party saved
and preserved both. Its pathway


across the decade Just closed is crowd
ed with imperishable monuments of
heroic sacrifice, of courageous wisdom,
of deep and abiding faith in the final
triumph OF truth and justice-monu-


ments which a grateful pOsteFity will
cherish, but in the glory of which the
Democratic party has no share. Dur
ing these terrible years the Republican
party was again and again charged
with responsibilities immeasurably
great, and with trusts precious be-
yOnd price. The very life OF the ma
ton was committed to its care. In
more than one crisis the defeat of the
Republican party would have been
the dismem berment of the Union,
the triumph of the rebellion. In ev-
cry such crisis tie defeat Of the DOM
Ocratie party was the salvation Of the
Republic. 1t is a fearful thing, fellow
citizens, 10 be member of a political
party whose success is a victory to the
armed enemies Of our country. Will
any one who hears me deny that such
would have been the result Of Val
.landingham's election, as Governor of
Ohio, IN 1858? Ichallenge theleaders
Of the Democratic party to show any
substantial measures which they pro-
posed during all those years for honor
and safety Of the enatiOn, or for secur-
ing liberty and justice to its citizens.


/ do not underestimate the value of
an opposition party in popular govern.
ment. An intelligent opposition is
always valuable as a check to the
abuse Of power. To construct, to
build, preserve and defend are the du-
ties Of those who manage public af-
fairs. TOOppose unwise measures and
offer better ones, is the worthy work
Of an opposition party. But in what
instance have the Democracy done
this? Occasionally they have been
intrusted with the conduct of affairs
in some of the States. But in every
such case their action has been re-ae-
tiOnary and violent Will they rest
theirelaim to wise craftsmanship on
their legislation for Ohio in 1S6S-9?-
That test would be, to the last degree,
perilous to their reputation. do not
claim that the past history of parties
shall be the chief reason for intrust-
ing them with power, or excluding
them from it. But such records as the
two parties Of the country have made
since 1850 afford strong presumptive
thatit is wise and safe to trust
the Republican party, and unwise and
dangerous to trust its enemy. But l
turn from this political retrOspect.-l
The life of the republic goes on devel- |
Oping new questions and new necessi- |
ties. What are its present wants and |
what policy will best meet them p
What are the two great parties doing |
and proposing for the immediate fu-
ture? To these questions I cheerful
appeal.


Others more Immediately connected /
with the government of Ohio will dis
cuss the issues of State politics. On
this occasion l shall speak mainly of
Congress and the Republican admin
istratiOn at Washington.


npcON-ssrrt rrTuTTON