CHAPTER XVII

Two New Departures-Their Permanent Effect Upon the Policy of the Democratic Party of Ohio-Radical Changes in Both the Leading Parties Close Contests in the State From 1868 to 1872-The Politics of Gen. Grant-The Democratic State Convention of 1868—The Party Still Opposed to Negro Suffrage— The United States Bank-Greenbackers and Sound Money Democrats-The Democratic State Convention of 1869—Its Strong Declaration-The Pendleton Campaign-Vallandigham's "New Departure"-The Scott Law, The Dow-Aiken Tax Law-Gen. George W. McCook-Horace Greeley and the Liberal Republican Party-The Democratic State Convention of 1872.

In the evolution and development of great political parties there are sometimes startling and dramatic periods-periods like those when cosmic convulsions bring into birth a new world or change the face of a planet. If the period of the civil war was one of partisan chaos and of revolution, the era of reconstruction was no less so, but during this sadly misnamed period the Republican and the Democratic parties began, as it were, to find themselves, and the lines of demarcation became more and more distinct. There were two things that the war between the states finally determined. It put an end to the theory of the right of secession and to chattel slavery. These stand out today, the plain and tangible results of years of civil and fraternal strife. Laws passed during fits of passion and of revenge settled little, if anything. Amendments to the Constitution during what might well be termed the period of Destruction rather than of Reconstruction aggravated what has grown, perhaps, into a more serious problem than chattel slavery ever was the Race Problem. Had the chastisement of the South ended with the surrender of Lee at Appomattox, with the loss of men in battle, with the ruin of countless homes, with the devastation of

plantations and with the desolation and humiliation of the states that attempted a dissolution of the Union, the solution of vexing problems would have been simplified. But the facts of history, however distressing, are to be dealt with, rather than speculative theories as to what might have been.

During the years from and inclusive of 1868-'73 both the great parties, especially in Ohio, underwent radical changes. While during the years 1868, '69, '70. '71 and '72 the Democracy was not victorious at the polls, the election results were generally close and the Democratic Party sustained the salutary and commanding position of a strong and virile minority, with the Republicans in constant fear of its ultimate ascendancy in the affairs of the state and nation. More or less floundering and blundering accompanied the performances of both the great parties. It was a neck and neck race between the Democracy and the Republicans of the Nation as to which of them should name Gen. Grant as a candidate for the Presidency in 1868. It was well known that Grant, if he had ever cast a vote, that vote was for the Democracy. It was well known that the great heart of the grim and silent commander was actuated more by pity and sympathy than by revenge when Lee signed the articles of surrender at Appomattox. Grant was forced to the front as the salvation of the Republican Party as its candidate for the Presidency in 1868. He would as willingly have accepted the nomination of the Democracy, then discussed in the councils of the party. Grant, knowing no politics, readily yielded to the politicians and, rather through tolerance than through weakness, he listened to and heeded the siren song of the place hunters, the lobbyists and the inimitable grafters that infested Washington during two administrations. Toward the South he was as kindly as he was toward Lee at Appomattox. "Let us have peace," is an expression that gives a key to his attitude during the desperate strife and turmoil through which he passed. A son of Ohio, a store keeper at Galena, Illinois, a failure in business, discredited by gossips whose measure of his worth was his personal habits, he was always more of an American than a Republican or a Democrat. His reputation as an impartial defender of the Union suffered when he consented reluctantly to become a partisan. His partisanship, if any he ever felt, is forgotten and his name and fame

are the common heritage of every citizen of the Republic. Plastic, perhaps, in the hands of such politicians as Roscoe Conkling, at heart and in broad sympathy, he was simply an American citizen.

It was on the 8th day of January, 1868, that the Democratic convention of Ohio assembled in Columbus. Hugh J. Jewett of Zanesville, one of the most influential of all the counsellors and leaders in the state was both temporary and permanent chairman. The ticket nominated was a strong one. William Hubbard, of Logan County, was nominated for Secretary of State; William E. Finck, of Perry County, for Supreme Judge; John M. Webb, of Mahoning, for Clerk of Supreme Court; Samuel J. Kirkwood, of Seneca, for Commissioner of Common Schools; Arthur W. Hughes of Cuyahoga member of the Board of Public Works. The delegates-at-large (The Big Four) selected to represent the Democracy of the state in the National Convention were all men of exceptional worth and character. They were: Gen. George W. McCook of Jefferson County; John G. Thompson of Franklin; Washington McLean of Hamilton and Chilton A. White of Brown. Mr. White is still living.

The question of negro suffrage was still predominant. The Democrats of Ohio took no middle ground in expressing themselves upon the subject. They declared:

"That we are opposed both in principle and in policy to negro suffrage; that the state of Ohio, having by the emphatic majority of 50,000 rejected it for herself, is strongly opposed to its forced imposition upon other states, and that we stigmatize such an imposition by the Federal Government as a most base usurpation; and that the practical effect of the so-called Reconstruction Acts of Congress to deliver over ten states to the official and political control of negroes, and to place the lives, liberties and fortunes of the whites residing therein in the hands of a barbarous people, would inevitably lead to the Africanization of the South."

The academician may have certain set rules and theories as to what is sound in finance. The United States Bank had its trial and failed; the state banking system with its "Red Dog" currency served its day and generation with results both beneficial and disastrous. The Greenback saved the Union. It was issued as an expedient and en

countered the opposition of so-called "Sound Money" Democrats. When the Greenback was discarded by the Republican Party after it had survived its period of approval, it was championed, not without sound reasons, by the Democracy of the Nation. What more plausible than the reasoning that if the Greenback had saved the country during the war between the states, it should have been equal to the emergencies of peace? George H. Pendleton had opposed the issue of Greenbacks when a member of Congress during the Civil War, but, recognizing its province in that emergency, became its champion after the close of the war. But questions of tariff and of finance are ever changing. The gold standard advocate of today may be the free silver man of tomorrow. No nation has ever ultimately and everlastingly settled the question of finance. The morrow may see the basest of metals at a premium with gold a drug on the market. The McKinley who voted for the Bland-Allison Act of 1878 and the Sherman Silver Act of 1890 was the same McKinley that signed the gold standard act of the first year of his administration as President of the United States.

The campaign of 1869 was a heated one with Gov. Hayes a candidate for reelection and the brilliant Pendleton as the candidate of the Democracy. The convention, held in the Grand Opera House in Columbus, was one of unusual interest and excitement, but the campaign following was in many respects unsatisfactory although the result was far from disspiriting to the Party. There were eight candidates voted for on the governorship. They were Gen. W. S. Rosecrans, then temporarily residing in California; Judge Rufus P. Ranney of Cuyahoga County; George H. Pendleton, Hamilton; Chilton A. White, Brown; Milton Sayler, Hamilton; Samuel F. Carey, Hamilton; A. Saunders Piatt, Logan; William P. Richardson, Tuscarawas; and Lewis D. Campbell of Butler.

GEORGE H. PENDLETON, one of the most notable men of Ohio and a life long Democrat, was born in the city of Cincinnati, June 19, 1825. He was carefully educated by private tuition which was supplemented by instruction at different schools including the old Cincinnati College. After completing his literary studies he took an extended trip over Europe, where he remained for some time, returning

to America in 1846. In that year he married Alice Key, daughter of Francis S. Key, celebrated as the author of "The Star Spangled Banner." He was admitted to the bar in 1847 and soon afterwards formed a partnership with George E. Pugh which lasted until Mr. Pugh became Attorney-General in 1852. In 1853 Mr. Pendleton was elected to the State Senate and was one of the first members of the Legislature under the second Constitution. In 1854 he was nominated for Congress but was defeated. In 1856 he again received the nomination and was elected that year. He opposed the admission of Kansas under the Lecompton Constitution, and being a very fine orator he became prominently identified with all the stirring times and important questions, not only throughout the war but up to the end of the Reconstruction period. He was four times elected to Congress, namely, in 1856, 1858, 1860 and 1862, but was defeated in 1864 and again in 1866. In his eight years in Congress he made many notable speeches in the House. He was Ohio's candidate for President in 1868 but failed to get the nomination at the National Convention when Horatio Seymour was the successful candidate in the convention. In 1869 he was the Democratic candidate for Governor of Ohio, but was defeated by 7,000 votes. Mr. Pendleton was a strong advocate of the Greenback cause and continued to take a prominent part in Ohio politics over a long period of time. He was finally appointed Ambassador to Germany by President Cleveland and died in that country.

Gen. Rosecrans declined the nomination in a telegram addressed to Allen G. Thurman and upon the 11th of August the Democratic State Committee met in Columbus and selected George H. Pendleton in Gen. Rosecrans' place. Mr. Pendleton had discouraged the use of his name in the convention of one month before and reluctantly accepted the tender of the nomination made by the committee. The platform upon which the Democrats waged their campaign declared radically against the exemption from taxation of $2,500,000 government bonds and securities; denounced the National Banking System as one of the worst outgrowths of the bonded debt, and the policy of granting negroes equal suffrage with the whites in the state of Ohio.