ble pursuits for all, and to afford all an unfettered start
and a fair chance in the race of life," shall tread no more steps
backward. I shall enter upon my part of the labors of the canvass
believing that the Union Republican party is battling for the
right, and with undoubting confidence that the goodness of the
cause will supply the weakness of its advocates, and command in the
result that triumphant success which it deserves.

_Speech of_ GENERAL R. B. HAYES, _delivered at Zanesville, Ohio,
Thursday, August 24, 1871._

The change of principles which a majority of the late Democratic
State Convention at Columbus decided to make, commonly called the
new departure, lends to the pending political contest in Ohio its
chief interest. Indeed, there is no other salient feature in the
Democratic platform. Resolutions in the usual form were adopted on
several other political topics; but the main discussion, and the
absorbing interest of the convention, was on the question of
accepting as a finality the series of Republican measures which is
generally regarded as the natural and legitimate result of the
overthrow of the rebellion, and which is embodied in the last three
amendments to the constitution.

Certain influential Democratic leaders in Ohio had become satisfied
by the repeated defeats of their party that no considerable number
of Republicans would ever aid the Democratic party to obtain power
until it fully and explicitly accepted in good faith, as a final
settlement of the questions involved, the leading Republican
measures resulting from the war. They were convinced that
Republicans generally regarded these measures of such vital
importance that, until they were irrevocably established, other and
minor questions would not be allowed to divide that great body of
patriotic people who rallied together in support of the government
during its struggle for existence. The important principles which
Republicans claim should be accepted as settled are:

1. That the National power is the Supreme power of the land, and
that the doctrine that the States are in any proper sense
sovereign, including as it does the right of nullification and
secession, is no longer to be maintained.

2. That all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and
sub