Year: 1876

FROM me Layton OhiO) journal, Jug Il.


Mr. CHAIRMAN AND FELLOW CITIZENS:
Although presented myself on this occasion,
in compliance with an invitation largely
signed by gentlemen with whom l have
never been politically associated, it is
scarcely necessary for me to say that | ap
pear before you tonight as a Democrat.


| have been, as you all know, identified
all my life, politically, with that psrty-at-
tachcd to its principles as conducive in my
belief to the public welfare, and a sup
porter of It's organization. | can say, that
from the time [ first cast a Presidential
vote, in 1S4S, for General Lewis Cass,
whose election to the Presidency was de-
featcd by the detection of New York under
the lead of Martin Van Buren, who was
actively supported by Samuel j. Tilden,
have cordially supported every nomination
OF Democratic National Conventions made
since that time up to the present, as well
as every State ticket put in nomination by
the Democracy of Ohio. Whilst | may re-
gret that [ cannot act with my lifelong
party associates in supporting Mr.. Tllden' 5
nomination, L can only say that in determln-
ing my course upon such question as this,
| know of no other rule Of action than the
dictates of my own judgment and conscience.


IF | could believe the true interests of
the Democratic party, or the welfare of
the country would be promoted by Mr..
Tildens election, would support his
nomination.


CHARACTER OF THE DEMOCRACY.


The Democratic party of the United
States is no temporary organization, with
varying principles, maintained only to
secure and enjoy the hOnors and emolu-
ments of Office. Its great original and CON
tinuing mission is to preserve IN all It's de-
partments our present form of constitu-
tional governmental the guarantees of
individual, social and political liberty which
belong to that system, and to protect the
interests of the laboring and producing
people of the country from the exactions Of
those who seek by legislative intrigue to
appropriate the fruits of their enterprise
and toll.


If, in frantic pursuit for power,


THOSE WHO UsURP ITS ORGANIZATION,
forget or ignore these great purposes Of its
existence, their defeat is rather to be desired
than their success.


The party can survive a Presidential
defeat as it has already survived three
since 1864, inaugurated under the same
auspices and leadership as the present but
it cannot survive the sacrifice of the great
principle of fidelity to the rights of the
people, which it was organized to maintain.


TILDEN NOMINATED BY INTRIGUE.


The nomination of Mr. Tilden is, as |
shall attempt at least to show, the result of
political intrigue, conceived in the interest
of those who seek power for its own
advantages, and not for the public welfare ;
and carried out by precipitating in the
most insulting and offensive manner false
issue upon the Democracy of the West.


The New York regency, which has
managed to control the Democratic organiza-
ton since 1864, fearing State success for
the Democracy of Ohio in 1875 would
interfere with their head in the Presidential
campaign in 1876, at once, under the direc-
ton of Samuel j. Tilden, then an asplrant
for the Presidency, flooded the State up to