Year: 1875

for q selfgoVernment. The rising gen


Grafton they were resolved should be ed
ucated and brought up to that standard
of intelligence that they might safely ex-


ercise the great powers that they had de-


clared to be fundamental in the govern


ment. Upon that foundation was laid


our school system Applause.


need not go into detail upon that


subject in this Convention You will


find it deliberated everywhere in the


fundamental laws of the States Money


was raised for this school purpose. To


foster the enlightenment and happiness


of the rising generation, this sacred fund


of the State was set apart renewed ap-


plause. to be applied to this purpose and


this alone. Applause.] No hand shall


touch it, no ecclesiastical power or sect


or party shall ever lay hold on any part


of it. EGreat applause.


| may be pardoned, gentlemen of the


Convention, for dwelling little on this


subject in personal allusion on this oc-


casion. More than twenty years ago


was called upon to bear an unimportant


part in framing the fundamental laws of


this State, We were careful to insert in


the instrument then adopted that this
school fund should forever be inviolate
and unassailable. Applause. To hear


myself and others now charged in the


newspapers with an attempt to murder
our own offspring Laughter and ap-
plause, with design to go back upon
all our principles, and leave the rising


generation to grope in darkness and ig-
norance-to hear this charged upon US, L
say, does surprise me, and makes me feel
indignant, l confess. Who adopted these
Constitutions, and this one in Ohio, un-
der which we live? WHO framed it and
adopted it? This very Democratic party
thGt is now assembled here. Applause.


need not stop, my fellow-citizens, to
allude further to this matter. You all
understand the bearing of this question;
you all understand why it is that vile as
sertions are made; you know very well
that it is the beginning already of an
other crusade on religion and national
ity. [Great applause,l Let me say, fur
ther, we will not be deferred from the
main purposes for which we have as
sembled to-day by this clamor and cry.
1t is to its abuses, its crimes that you are
called upon to look, to see if as intelli-
gent men of the great State of Ohio,
whether there is proof of them or not.


And now, my fellew-citizens, with these
principles distinctly before US, let me
state the further fact that after the adop-
tion of the Federal Constitution, now
more than three-quarters of a century
ago, it became necessary, in the judgment
of the great men of that time-and that
was the time of great men-it became
necessary to form an association, or par
ty, called the Democratic party, what
for? What was its object and purposes?
Simply to defend and perpetuate the
principles that were announced by the
booming of the cannon at Bunker Hill


applause; announced by the Declara-
ton of Independence: announced again
in the Federal Constitution; announced
again in in every constitution adopted by
the various States 1t is simply the Of
fee and purpose of the Democratic party
to take care and see that all men have
equal rights before the law Applause
1t is to take care and see that the pro-
eeeds of the labor of every person shall
90 to his own benefit. Applause 1t
S to take care and see that this cluster
or confederacy of States, which our faith
forever. Applause 1t is to
AXE care and see that that great domain
that lies between conscience and God
shall never be invaded by the civil gov
EApplause. This is the office
md purposes of the Democratic party.
# it is more, l don't know it; and al
hough l may be stigmatized as an old
ogy, old fogy let it be- advise all men
% come back to these principles, to the
,ure and better days of the Republic; to
he men who guided our destinies during
he first half century of our existence.
Applause. And now, gentlemen of the
let us reflect for moment
lpon the vast responsibilities that are on
Is; let US reflect for single moment up
IN what is required of US as successors of

'us party-not for days alone, not des-
ined to live only long enough to accom-,
,lish personal ends or private gains but


party on q great basis on which alone
rec government can be sustained, and to
ndure forever. You are the represen-
atives and successors of the great men
Tho have gone before you, and if there
-as ever a proud descent this is one.


You have not been connected with the
phemeral existence in the form of par
les predicated on theorism or something
ess. You belong to that great organiza-
on that has a history for more than
of century, and represent
le weight of that great party. And you
and in the light of the past and see
our way in the future. This makes
ian feel the responsibilities that are on
i'm, and makes him proud of the posi-
on that deyolves on him.


And now, fellow-citizens, let us ap-
roach the duties Of this day-for this is


day of unusual impertance-let us APP
roach the duties of this day as our faith
rs did in the olden times. Let us lay
side all prejudices and more private


Jews and harmonic on those great prin-
piles that 1 have mentioned to you, re-
living to take the country back to those
,eat principles, and to the purity of
le first administration of the Govern
ent That is our business, gentlemen,
ere to-day; and now, what work have
e to do to-day in exposing those who
e arrayed against US? Gentlemen, l am
most appalled, at the task. For more than
alf century fhe Democratic party has
lided the destinies of the country, and
lring that period the boundaries of the
,untry have been spread from ocean to
,ean, and this great Northwest has been
Fought into the Union, and peopled, and
ade into happy States; and during all
lat period no man, whether in the most
slant quarter of the ocean or of the


nines of civilization-no man had oc-
sion to say that this Government was
1t forward in protecting him in his just
ghts whenever they were invaded.
ow, without going through the tedious
story of the present time, let me say
at the existing Administration of the
ederal Government has trampled on
,arly every principle that our fathers
I'D dear, and that we are met here to
sfend What have they done? 1t would
Ike too long to enumerate all that they
ave done. They have invaded personal
'operty in u way which in q few genera
ons of time would take away complete


from us our liberties A distinguished
,lder was put at the head of the Gov
nment, and he seemed to have no idea be-