Year: 1875

the AulA siue o. success anu possession OF power
separated themselves from that party, and asserted
their right of independent political action. This
party IRON which they went had been for most Of
them their political pride and ''strong tower


Boruof the mighty struggle of abstract principle
of moral right, against compact, wealthy, apow.
erful and an INSCRIPTIONS, slaveocracy, they had
seen this party, small in its beginnings-"a cloud
ike a aman hand, ,"-Overspread the political heav
ems. They had seen it first secure to the free la-
borer the right to the vast public domain. Thes
had seen it head, organize, and conduct the great
popular uprising to uphold the honor OF the old flag
and the integrity of the nation. They had seen II
with firm hand safely guide the nation, through de-
preston and disaster into victory assured and COM
plete. They had seen it 'Iet the enslaved ec
free" All this these men had seen, and part Of
it they had been.


when they thought they saw in the signs Of
thsfsaeF that the wheels of greatipoltical revo.
luton were revolving too far; when they became
alarmed lest the influence of organized military
power, increased by long and bloody contest
should be exerted too much in the spirit of oppres
sion; when they thought they saw tendencies to
ward Capitalization, and favortism in high places
painful though the struggle was, reluctantly they
went out from the old political home, to rear as
they thought, another political edifce, that might
shelter the Southern white man as well as the South.
| ern black.


Most of these men were honest, though among
them were some of the demagogues and disappoint
ed seekers for place, who fasten upon every new
political movement. They came, in part, from the
''Old Liberty Guard, who in the days of mobs and
Fugitive Slave laws and social ostracism, at the
peril Of desolated hearthstones and personal
safety, had held high before all the people the ban
ner of personal liberty.


But now came something still more strange
The old Democratic party, in the humiliation Of
crushing popular rebuke, and the ignominy of con.
dent predictions falsied by events, stretched forth
its hand to the new party, crying, "save or perish
and then stepped bodily upon the platform of the
Liberals, and accepted, to the wonderment of the
world, its candidate for the Presidency.


The result is history. This strange coalition suf-
fered crushing and bitter defeat, and the country
decided that for that time at least it had no fears
of Capitalization, nepot SIN, or favortism, and De-
mocracy was thought to be dead, and awaiting in
| terment


But when the election of '73 came round the old
leaders Of the Democracy, headed by Senator Thur
man, the most able of them ALL chagrined, not on
at their defeat Of the year BEFORE but at the hu-
miarions attending it, essayed the task of breath
ing into the dead party the breath of life anew and
of starting ii again on the old ideas which n had
aforetime advocated. This attempt was in ores,
measure successful, and the revived Democracy in
its Convention of that year in Ohio. stunp bv the
poor success of its alliance with the Liberals treat
ed them with cavalier and pronounced neglect
Helped by the general stupor in politics, by the
exposure of the Credit Mobilier frauds and the f.
nancial panic of T3, the Democracy, much to Their
own surprise, were that year partially and the next
year generally, successful and are now entering Nd
on the political campaign in Ohio, confident of o
success which shall be the initiation OF grand tri
umph in the Presidential contest of 76.


OF the considerable number of men who left the
Republican party in ~, of whom the writer was
one, some have returned to their old political place.
others have remained neutral in politics, and still
others have In the main voted and acted with the
Democracy. But politics constantly present new
phases, and 1t may now become a question with
Liberals with whom to act and vote in this, the in
ception of the great contest 'T6.


Had the "New Departure" announced in "a
been adhered to, and acted upon this might not be
matter which Liberals would have much to
consider. But the "New Departure" was soon and
summarily departed from, and the Influence of Lib
eralism in the councils of the Democracy has been
cypher. We have been advised to blot from our
memories the glorious record of the party to which
we belonged before and during the war, and to
forget that we were Republicans"


And in return for this, what are we to expect, and
what are we promised?


Let us look for moment at State affairs.


In the winter of 72 committee was appoint
ed, at the instance of the Democratic minority in
the Ohio Legislature to investigate certain charges
of corruption made by this minority in regard to
the management of State affairs. at that time the
Republican party had been in almost exclusive con
troll of the State for many years. and this too dur
ing the extraordinary expenses and the confusion
incident to the war. A majority of this committee
as was proper, were Democrats. They investigat-
ed to their hearts content And they reported that
there was nothing of which to complain.


In 'I3 the Democracy got control of the State and
set out on their promised reforms. We have the
resnlt An increased expenditure in State affairs,
Mr.. Pendleton to the contrary notwithstanding.
We have more serious charges of bribery and cor
ruption in the Legislature-charges made by Demo-
Gratis against Democrats-than have been made be-
fore In the history of the State. And we have an
investigation into these charges stied and check
ed by the Democratic majority.


But the Democracy of Ohio, in Convention as
sembled, have chosen to turn from State affairs,
and insert in their platform a plank or planks for
them to stand on as to National affairs This part
of their platform has instantly attracted attention
and discussion throughout the country, and if the
party are successful in the Ohio canvass, this nan-
cia plank of the platform viii be the principal is
sue upon which they will 90 before the country
next year. If they succeed this year and next, we
Liberals must help them. Let us see what it is we
are asked to do.


As discussed by Messrs. Pendleton and Thur
man, one sentence in the sth resolution contains
the gist of the platform on the important national
issue. 1t is this:


ave demand that this policy (the Republican
policy be abandoned, and that the volume of the
currency be made and kept equal to the wants Of
trade" etc.


If the currency Is now equal to the wants OF
trade, there could be no object in this resolve. Il
greater than the wants of trade, it could have nc
object. What then is meant by it? Unless the
Democratic Convention intended to deal in plati.
tude, and tre with the intelligence of the people
and this is the charitable construction of Thurman
and Pendeton) it is meant that the currency is moi
now sufficient, and should be made SO. And, with
the exception Of the two we have mentioned, such
is the construction put upon ii by Democratic ora
tors, and the press throughout the country AnC