Year: 1873

OF Indiana,


At Athens, O., August, 1873.


Senator Morton began by saying
that he came to present reasons why
the Republicans should not withdraw
their confidence from their party, and
why they should give it their sup
port All free governments, con
trolled by public opinion, find theil
people divided into parties more OF
less strong New parties cannot be
created by resolutions, but are the
outgrowth of great events or new
conditions, and are always ephemeral
unless founded on some great princi.
pie which separates them from other
parties. New parties are not neces-
sary for new issues, for it is the duty
of existing parties to grapple with
them. Since last year nothing new
in government or practice has been
developed. President Grants ad-
ministration is becoming a greater
success from year to year, and com
mands the increasing confidence OF
the nation. His cabinet is able and
faithful, and each department. is well
and skillfully managed. The affairs
of the State of Ohio have been ably
and faithfully administered by your
nominee, again before you for your
suffrage. He comes fresh from the
people, and but little while back
from the battlefield, upon which he
testified to his faith by his blood.
The most significant political event
is the attempted reorganization of the
Democratic party in Ohio, and other
States, on the basis of its original
principles. This movements so gen
eral that no new party will soon take
its place. 1t is, therefore, simply a
choice between it and the Republican
party. Whatever contributes to the
fall of the latter adds to the success
of the former ''To be or not to be-
that is the question" that for two
years has agitated the Democratic
party. Many OF the wisest and ablest
Democrats believe that the war rec
ord of their party is too black to al
low of victory; SO last year they took
for candidates for President and Vice
President men who for many years
have been the most bitter revilers and
opponents of their party.


Mr.. Groesbeck, who for many years
has been splitting on the Democratic
party and declaring it unclean, but
still rides on it's platform, in a recent
letter says: 81 believe the historical
Democratic organization is spoiled
Blundering constantly during the
last ten years, and shattered by many
defeats, it surrendered finally at the
last Presidential election. It cannot
recall that surrender or the confess
ions then made, and it has no longer
strength enough for victory. In this
extremity it would be wise to lay
aside the old organization and enter
into new one" When the mem
bers of an organization are divided in
opinion as to whether it can honora-
bly, continue to exist, or ought to be
buried out of sight, it would seem
that there should be but little ground
for hesitation on the part of all men,
who are not bound to that organiza-
ton by prejudice or interest, in de-
Gliding to contribute in no respect to
bring it into power.


A majority of Democratic leaders
in Ohio, after full deiberation, have
determined to cling to the old organ
ization, with all its crimes, follies and
blunaers upon its head; to stand by



its record and its principles; and to
renew the struggle for control of the
government. The platform adopted
by the Democratic party at Columbus
declares that the party does not seek
to revive dead issues, but stands by
its principles, which are suited to all
times and circumstances. It makes
no mention as to what are dead is
sues, but in reafirming its former
principles, which it declares suited
alike to all times and circumstances,
it points to the future of the party as
defined by the past. True, it says
the Democracy of Ohio is opposed to
secession and notification, but this
means no more than Dear Sir and
Your obedient servant, put in a let
ter to stranger. The whole of the
first resolution in the mild form re
afirms the doctrine of State rights,
talks about the dangers of centraliza
ton, and clearly refers to, and re
asserts the old Democratic doctrine,
out of which secession and nullifca.
ton logically and inevitably flow.


The nomination of ex-senator Al
len for Governor signifies that the
party has rejected all ideas of pro-
gress and has returned to ante-beilum
notions and principles. His nomina-
ton is proclamation of the return to
State rights Democracy, with all the
views in regard to slavery common to
Senator Allen in his public life. II
is vain and futile attempt to ignore
the war and all the mighty lessons OF
the past twelve years. To attempt
this is as vain as the effort of the
Saxon King to command the waves.
To the statement that Mr.. Allen was
not in public life during the war, and
not responsible for his party during
that time, he would say that the
course of the Democratic party was a
logical sequence of the principles Mr..