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diff --git a/old/files/38809-h/38809-h.htm b/old/files/38809-h/38809-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b5686fe --- /dev/null +++ b/old/files/38809-h/38809-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,13634 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="us-ascii"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en" xml:lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Volume 9 (of 12) by Robert G. Ingersoll + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 9 +(of 12), by Robert G. Ingersoll + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 9 (of 12) + Dresden Edition--Political + +Author: Robert G. Ingersoll + +Release Date: February 9, 2012 [EBook #38809] +Last Updated: November 15, 2012 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WORKS OF INGERSOLL *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <a name="title" id="title"></a> + </p> + <h1> + THE WORKS OF ROBERT G. INGERSOLL + </h1> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + By Robert G. Ingersoll + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h4> + "HE LOVES HIS COUNTRY BEST WHO STRIVES TO MAKE IT BEST." + </h4> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + IN TWELVE VOLUMES, VOLUME IX. + </h3> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + POLITICAL + </h2> + <h3> + DRESDEN EDITION + </h3> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <table summary="" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto" cellpadding="4" border="3"> + <tbody> + <tr> + <td> + <a + href="http://www.gutenberg.org/files/38809/old/orig38809-h/main.htm">This + file has been formatted in a very plain format for use with tablet + readers. Those wishing to view this eBook in its normal more + appealing format for laptops and other computers may click on this + line to to view the original HTML file.</a> + </td> + </tr> + </tbody> + </table> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%;"> + <img alt="titlepage (62K)" src="images/titlepage.jpg" width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%;"> + <img alt="portrait (64K)" src="images/portrait.jpg" width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + Contents + </h2> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkTOC">CONTENTS OF VOLUME IX.</a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0001">AN ADDRESS TO THE COLORED PEOPLE.</a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0002">SPEECH AT INDIANAPOLIS.</a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0003">CENTENNIAL ORATION.</a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0004">BANGOR SPEECH.</a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0005">COOPER UNION SPEECH, NEW YORK.</a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0006">INDIANAPOLIS SPEECH.</a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0007">CHICAGO SPEECH.</a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0008">EIGHT TO SEVEN ADDRESS.</a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0009">HARD TIMES AND THE WAY OUT.</a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0010">SUFFRAGE ADDRESS.</a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0011">WALL STREET SPEECH.</a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0012">BROOKLYN SPEECH.</a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0013">ADDRESS TO THE 86TH ILLINOIS REGIMENT.</a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0014">DECORATION DAY ORATION.</a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0015">DECORATION DAY ADDRESS.</a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0016">RATIFICATION SPEECH.</a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0017">REUNION ADDRESS.</a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0018">THE CHICAGO AND NEW YORK GOLD SPEECH.</a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="linkTOC" id="linkTOC"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + CONTENTS OF VOLUME IX. + </h2> + <blockquote> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0001">AN ADDRESS TO THE COLORED PEOPLE.</a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> (1867.)<br /> Slavery and its Justification by Law and Religion—Its + Destructive<br /> Influence upon Nations—Inauguration of the Modern + Slave Trade by the<br /> Portuguese Gonzales—Planted upon American + Soil—The Abolitionists,<br /> Clarkson, Wilberforce, and Others—The + Struggle in England—Pioneers<br /> in San Domingo, Oge and + Chevannes—Early Op-posers of Slavery in<br /> America—William + Lloyd Garrison—Wendell Phillips, Charles Sumner, John<br /> Brown—The + Fugitive Slave Law—The Emancipation Proclamation—Dread of<br /> + Education in the South—Advice to the Colored People.<br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0006">INDIANAPOLIS SPEECH.</a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> (1868.)<br /> Suspension of the Writ of Habeas Corpus—Precedent + Established by the<br /> Revolutionary Fathers—Committees of Safety + appointed by the<br /> Continental Congress—Arrest of Disaffected + Persons in Pennsylvania<br /> and Delaware—Interference with + Elections—Resolution of Continental<br /> Congress with respect to + Citizens who Opposed the sending of Deputies<br /> to the Convention of + New York—Penalty for refusing to take Continental<br /> Money or + Pray for the American Cause—Habeas Corpus Suspended during the<br /> + Revolution—Interference with Freedom of the Press—Negroes + Freed and<br /> allowed to Fight in the Continental Army—Crispus + Attacks—An Abolition<br /> Document issued by Andrew Jackson—Majority + rule—Slavery and the<br /> Rebellion—Tribute to General + Grant.<br /> SPEECH NOMINATING BLAINE.<br /> (1876.)<br /> Note descriptive + of the Occasion—Demand of the Republicans of the<br /> United + States—Resumption—The Plumed Knight.<br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0003">CENTENNIAL ORATION.</a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> (1876.)<br /> One Hundred Years ago, our Fathers retired the Gods + from Politics—The<br /> Declaration of Independence—Meaning + of the Declaration—The Old Idea<br /> of the Source of Political + Power—Our Fathers Educated by their<br /> Surroundings—The + Puritans—Universal Religious Toleration declared by<br /> the + Catholics of Maryland—Roger Williams—Not All of our Fathers + in<br /> favor of Independence—Fortunate Difference in Religious + Views—Secular<br /> Government—Authority derived from the + People—The Declaration and<br /> the Beginning of the War—What + they Fought For—Slavery—Results of<br /> a Hundred Years of + Freedom—The Declaration Carried out in Letter and<br /> Spirit.<br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0004">BANGOR SPEECH.</a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> (1876.)<br /> The Hayes Campaign—Reasons for Voting the + Republican Ticket—Abolition<br /> of Slavery—Preservation of + the Union—Reasons for Not Trusting the<br /> Democratic Party—Record + of the Republican Party—Democrats Assisted<br /> the South—Paper + Money—Enfranchisement of the Negroes—Samuel J.<br /> Tilden—His + Essay on Finance.<br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0005">COOPER UNION SPEECH, NEW YORK.</a> + </p> + <p> + COOPER UNION SPEECH, NEW YORK.<br /> (1876.)<br /> All Citizens + Stockholders in the United States of America—The<br /> Democratic + Party a Hungry Organization—Political Parties<br /> Contrasted—The + Fugitive Slave Law a Disgrace to Hell in its Palmiest<br /> Days—Feelings + of the Democracy Hurt on the Subject of Religion—Defence<br /> of + Slavery in a Resolution of the Presbyterians, South—State of the<br /> + Union at the Time the Republican Party was Born—Jacob Thompson—The<br /> + National Debt—Protection of Citizens Abroad—Tammany Hall: + Its Relation<br /> to the Penitentiary—The Democratic Party of New + York City—"What<br /> Hands!"—Free Schools.<br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0006">INDIANAPOLIS SPEECH.</a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> (1876.)<br /> Address to the Veteran Soldiers of the Rebellion—Objections + to<br /> the Democratic Party—The Men who have been Democrats—Why + I am a<br /> Republican—Free Labor and Free Thought—A Vision + of War—Democratic<br /> Slander of the Greenback—Shall the + People who Saved the Country Rule<br /> It?—On Finance—Government + Cannot Create Money—The Greenback Dollar<br /> a Mortgage upon the + Country—Guarantees that the Debt will be Paid-'The<br /> + Thoroughbred and the Mule—The Column of July, Paris—The + Misleading<br /> Guide Board, the Dismantled Mill, and the Place where + there had been a<br /> Hotel,<br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0007">CHICAGO SPEECH.</a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> (1876.)<br /> The Plea of "Let Bygones be Bygones"—Passport + of the Democratic<br /> Party—Right of the General Government to + send Troops into Southern<br /> States for the Protection of Colored + People—Abram S. Hewitt's<br /> Congratulatory Letter to the Negroes—The + Demand for Inflation of the<br /> Currency—Record of Rutherford B. + Hayes—Contrasted with Samuel J.<br /> Tilden—Merits of the + Republican Party—Negro and Southern White—The<br /> Superior + Man—"No Nation founded upon Injustice can Permanently Stand."<br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0008">EIGHT TO SEVEN ADDRESS.</a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> (1877.)<br /> On the Electoral Commission—Reminiscences of + the Hayes-Tilden Camp—<br /> Constitution of the Electoral College—Characteristics + of the Members—<br /> Frauds at the Ballot Box Poisoning the + Fountain of Power—Reforms<br /> Suggested—Elections too + Frequent—The Professional Office-seeker—A<br /> Letter on + Civil Service Reform—Young Men Advised against Government<br /> + Clerkships—Too Many Legislators and too Much Legislation—Defect + in the<br /> Constitution as to the Mode of Electing a President—Protection + of<br /> Citizens by State and General Governments—The Dual + Government in South<br /> Carolina—Ex-Rebel Key in the President's + Cabinet—Implacables and<br /> Bourbons South and North—"I + extend to you each and all the Olive Branch<br /> of Peace."<br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0009">HARD TIMES AND THE WAY OUT.</a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> (1878.)<br /> Capital and Labor—What is a Capitalist?—The + Idle and the Industrious<br /> Artisans—No Conflict between Capital + and Labor—A Period of Inflation<br /> and Speculation—Life + and Fire Insurance Agents—Business done on<br /> Credit—The + Crash, Failure, and Bankruptcy—Fall in the Price of Real<br /> + Estate a Form of Resumption—Coming back to Reality—Definitions + of<br /> Money Examined—Not Gold and Silver but Intelligent Labor + the Measure<br /> of Value—Government cannot by Law Create Wealth—A + Bill of Fare not<br /> a Dinner—Fiat Money—American Honor + Pledged to the Maintenance of the<br /> Greenbacks—The Cry against + Holders of Bonds—Criminals and Vagabonds to<br /> be supported—Duty + of Government to Facilitate Enterprise—More Men must<br /> + Cultivate the Soil—Government Aid for the Overcoming of Obstacles + too<br /> Great for Individual Enterprise—The Palace Builders the + Friends of<br /> Labor—Extravagance the best Form of Charity—Useless + to Boost a Man<br /> who is not Climbing—The Reasonable Price for + Labor—The Vagrant and his<br /> strange and winding Path—What + to tell the Working Men.<br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0010">SUFFRAGE ADDRESS.</a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> (1880.)<br /> The Right to Vote—All Women who desire the + Suffrage should have<br /> It—Shall the People of the District of + Columbia Manage their Own<br /> Affairs—Their Right to a + Representative in Congress and an Electoral<br /> Vote—Anomalous + State of Affairs at the Capital of the Republic—Not the<br /> + Wealthy and Educated alone should Govern—The Poor as Trustworthy + as the<br /> Rich—Strict Registration Laws Needed.<br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0011">WALL STREET SPEECH.</a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> (1880.)<br /> Obligation of New York to Protect the Best Interests + of the<br /> Country—Treason and Forgery of the Democratic Party in + its Appeal to<br /> Sword and Pen—The One Republican in the + Penitentiary of Maine—The<br /> Doctrine of State Sovereignty—Protection + for American Brain and<br /> Muscle—Hancock on the Tariff—A + Forgery (the Morey letter) Committed<br /> and upheld—The Character + of James A. Garfield.<br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0012">BROOKLYN SPEECH.</a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> (1880.)<br /> Introduced by Henry Ward Beecher (note)—Some + Patriotic<br /> Democrats—Freedom of Speech North and South—An + Honest Ballot—<br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0013">ADDRESS TO THE 86TH ILLINOIS REGIMENT.</a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0014">DECORATION DAY ORATION.</a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0015">DECORATION DAY ADDRESS.</a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0016">RATIFICATION SPEECH.</a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0017">REUNION ADDRESS.</a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0018">THE CHICAGO AND NEW YORK GOLD SPEECH.</a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <a name="link0001" id="link0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + AN ADDRESS TO THE COLORED PEOPLE. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * An address delivered to the colored people at Galesburg, + Illinois, 1867. +</pre> + <p> + FELLOW-CITIZENS—Slavery has in a thousand forms existed in all ages, + and among all people. It is as old as theft and robbery. + </p> + <p> + Every nation has enslaved its own people, and sold its own flesh and + blood. Most of the white race are in slavery to-day. It has often been + said that any man who ought to be free, will be. The men who say this + should remember that their own ancestors were once cringing, frightened, + helpless slaves. + </p> + <p> + When they became sufficiently educated to cease enslaving their own + people, they then enslaved the first race they could conquer. If they + differed in religion, they enslaved them. If they differed in color, that + was sufficient. If they differed even in language, it was enough. If they + were captured, they then pretended that having spared their lives, they + had the right to enslave them. This argument was worthless. If they were + captured, then there was no necessity for killing them. If there was no + necessity for killing them, then they had no right to kill them. If they + had no right to kill them, then they had no right to enslave them under + the pretence that they had saved their lives. + </p> + <p> + Every excuse that the ingenuity of avarice could devise was believed to be + a complete justification, and the great argument of slaveholders in all + countries has been that slavery is a divine institution, and thus stealing + human beings has always been fortified with a "Thus saith the Lord." + </p> + <p> + Slavery has been upheld by law and religion in every country. The word + Liberty is not in any creed in the world. Slavery is right according to + the law of man, shouted the judge. It is right according to the law of + God, shouted the priest. Thus sustained by what they were pleased to call + the law of God and man, slaveholders never voluntarily freed the slaves, + with the exception of the Quakers. The institution has in all ages been + clung to with the tenacity of death; clung to until it sapped and + destroyed the foundations of society; clung to until all law became + violence; clung to until virtue was a thing only of history; clung to + until industry folded its arms—until commerce reefed every sail—until + the fields were desolate and the cities silent, except where the poor free + asked for bread, and the slave for mercy; clung to until the slave forging + the sword of civil war from his fetters drenched the land in the master's + blood. Civil war has been the great liberator of the world. + </p> + <p> + Slavery has destroyed every nation that has gone down to death. It caused + the last vestige of Grecian civilization to disappear forever, and it + caused Rome to fall with a crash that shook the world. After the + disappearance of slavery in its grossest forms in Europe, Gonzales pointed + out to his countrymen, the Portuguese, the immense profits that they could + make by stealing Africans, and thus commenced the modern slave-trade—that + aggregation of all horror—that infinite of all cruelty, prosecuted + only by demons, and defended only by fiends. And yet the slave-trade has + been defended and sustained by every civilized nation, and by each and all + has been baptized "Legitimate commerce," in the name of the Father, the + Son and the Holy Ghost: + </p> + <p> + It was even justified upon the ground that it tended to Christianize the + negro. + </p> + <p> + It was of the poor hypocrites who had used this argument that Whittier + said, + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "They bade the slaveship speed from coast to coast, + Fanned by the wings of the Holy Ghost." +</pre> + <p> + Backed and supported by such Christian and humane arguments slavery was + planted upon our soil in 1620, and from that day to this it has been the + cause of all our woes, of all the bloodshed—of all the + heart-burnings—hatred and horrors of more than two hundred years, + and yet we hated to part with the beloved institution. Like Pharaoh we + would not let the people go. He was afflicted with vermin, with frogs—with + water turned to blood—with several kinds of lice, and yet would not + let the people go. We were afflicted with worse than all these combined—the + Northern Democracy—before we became grand enough to say, "Slavery + shall be eradicated from the soil of the Republic." When we reached this + sublime moral height we were successful. The Rebellion was crushed and + liberty established. + </p> + <p> + A majority of the civilized world is for freedom—nearly all the + Christian denominations are for liberty. The world has changed—the + people are nobler, better and purer than ever. + </p> + <p> + Every great movement must be led by heroic and self-sacrificing pioneers. + In England, in Christian England, the soul of the abolition cause was + Thomas Clarkson. To the great cause of human freedom he devoted his life. + He won over the eloquent and glorious Wilberforce, the great Pitt, the + magnificent orator, Burke, and that far-seeing and humane statesman, + Charles James Fox. + </p> + <p> + In 1788 a resolution was introduced in the House of Commons declaring that + the slave trade ought to be abolished. It was defeated. Learned lords + opposed it. They said that too much capital was invested by British + merchants in the slave-trade. That if it were abolished the ships would + rot at the wharves, and that English commerce would be swept from the + seas. Sanctified Bishops—lords spiritual—thought the scheme + fanatical, and various resolutions to the same effect were defeated. + </p> + <p> + The struggle lasted twenty years, and yet during all those years in which + England refused to abolish the hellish trade, that nation had the + impudence to send missionaries all over the world to make converts to a + religion that in their opinion, at least, allowed man to steal his brother + man—that allowed one Christian to rob another of his wife, his + child, and of that greatest of all blessings—his liberty. It was not + until the year 1808 that England was grand and just enough to abolish the + slave-trade, and not until 1833 that slavery was abolished in all her + colonies. + </p> + <p> + The name of Thomas Clarkson should be remembered and honored through all + coming time by every black man, and by every white man who loves liberty + and hates cruelty and injustice. + </p> + <p> + Clarkson, Wilberforce, Pitt, Fox, Burke, were the Titans that swept the + accursed slaver from that highway—the sea. + </p> + <p> + In St. Domingo the pioneers were Oge and Chevannes; they headed a revolt; + they were unsuccessful, but they roused the slaves to resistance. They + were captured, tried, condemned and executed. They were made to ask + forgiveness of God, and of the King, for having attempted to give freedom + to their own flesh and blood. They were broken alive on the wheel, and + left to die of hunger and pain. The blood of these martyrs became the seed + of liberty; and afterward in the midnight assault, in the massacre and + pillage, the infuriated slaves shouted their names as their battle-cry, + until Toussaint, the greatest of the blacks, gave freedom to them all. + </p> + <p> + In the United States, among the Revolutionary fathers, such men as John + Adams, and his son John Quincy—such men as Franklin and John Jay + were opposed to the institution of slavery. Thomas Jefferson said, + speaking of the slaves, "When the measure of their tears shall be full—when + their groans shall have involved heaven itself in darkness—doubtless + a God of justice will awaken to their distress, and by diffusing light and + liberality among their oppressors, or at length by his exterminating + thunder manifest his attention to the things of this world, and that they + are not left to the guidance of a blind fatality." + </p> + <p> + Thomas Paine said, "No man can be happy surrounded by those whose + happiness he has destroyed." And a more self-evident proposition was never + uttered. + </p> + <p> + These and many more Revolutionary heroes were opposed to slavery and did + what they could to prevent the establishment and spread of this most + wicked and terrible of all institutions. + </p> + <p> + You owe gratitude to those who were for liberty as a principle and not + from mere necessity. You should remember with more than gratitude that + firm, consistent and faithful friend of your downtrodden race, Wm. Lloyd + Garrison. He has devoted his life to your cause. Many years ago in Boston + he commenced the publication of a paper devoted to liberty. Poor and + despised—friendless and almost alone, he persevered in that grandest + and holiest of all possible undertakings. He never stopped, or stayed, or + paused until the chain was broken and the last slave could lift his + toil-worn face to heaven with the light of freedom shining down upon him, + and say, I am a Free Man. + </p> + <p> + You should not forget that noble philanthropist, Wendell Phillips, and + your most learned and eloquent defender, Charles Sumner. + </p> + <p> + But the real pioneer in America was old John Brown. Moved not by + prejudice, not by love of his blood, or his color, but by an infinite love + of Liberty, of Right, of Justice, almost single-handed, he attacked the + monster, with thirty million people against him. His head was wrong. He + miscalculated his forces; but his heart was right. He struck the sublimest + blow of the age for freedom. It was said of him that, he stepped from the + gallows to the throne of God. It was said that he had made the scaffold to + Liberty what Christ had made the cross to Christianity. The sublime Victor + Hugo declared that John Brown was greater than Washington, and that his + name would live forever. + </p> + <p> + I say, that no man can be greater than the man who bravely and heroically + sacrifices his life for the good of others. No man can be greater than the + one who meets death face to face, and yet will not shrink from what he + believes to be his highest duty. If the black people want a patron saint, + let them take the brave old John Brown. And as the gentleman who preceded + me said, at all your meetings, never separate until you have sung the + grand song, + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "John Brown's body lies mouldering in the grave, + But his soul goes marching on." +</pre> + <p> + You do not, in my opinion, owe a great debt of gratitude to many of the + white people. + </p> + <p> + Only a few years ago both parties agreed to carry out the Fugitive Slave + Law. If a woman ninety-nine one-hundredths white had fled from slavery—had + traveled through forests, crossed rivers, and through countless sufferings + had got within one step of Canada—of free soil—with the light + of the North Star shining in her eyes, and her babe pressed to her + withered breast, both parties agreed to clutch her and hand her back to + the dominion of the hound and lash. Both parties, as parties, were willing + to do this when the Rebellion commenced. + </p> + <p> + The truth is, we had to give you your liberty. There came a time in the + history of the war when, defeated at the ballot box and in the field—driven + to the shattered gates of eternal chaos—we were forced to make you + free; and on the first day of January, 1863, the justice so long delayed + was done, and four millions of people were lifted from the condition of + beasts of burden to the sublime heights of freedom. Lincoln, the immortal, + issued, and the men of the North sustained the great proclamation. + </p> + <p> + As in the war there came a time when we were forced to make you free, so + in the history of reconstruction came a time when we were forced to make + you citizens; when we were forced to say that you should vote, and that + you should have and exercise all the rights that we claim for ourselves. + </p> + <p> + And to-day I am in favor of giving you every right that I claim for + myself. + </p> + <p> + In reconstructing the Southern States, we could take our choice, either + give the ballot to the negro, or allow the rebels to rule. We preferred + loyal blacks to disloyal whites, because we believed liberty safer in the + hands of its friends than in those of its foes. + </p> + <p> + We must be for freedom everywhere. Freedom is progress—slavery is + desolation, cruelty and want. + </p> + <p> + Freedom invents—slavery forgets. The problem of the slave is to do + the least work in the longest space of time. The problem of free men is to + do the greatest amount of work in the shortest space of time. The free + man, working for wife and children, gets his head and his hands in + partnership. + </p> + <p> + Freedom has invented every useful machine, from the lowest to the highest, + from the simplest to the most complex. Freedom believes in education—the + salvation of slavery is ignorance. + </p> + <p> + The South always dreaded the alphabet. They looked upon each letter as an + abolitionist, and well they might. With a scent keener than their own + bloodhounds they detected everything that could, directly or indirectly, + interfere with slavery. They knew that when slaves begin to think, masters + begin to tremble. They knew that free thought would destroy them; that + discussion could not be endured; that a free press would liberate every + slave; and so they mobbed free thought, and put an end to free discussion + and abolished a free press, and in fact did all the mean and infamous + things they could, that slavery might live, and that liberty might perish + from among men. + </p> + <p> + You are now citizens of many of the States, and in time you will be of + all. I am astonished when I think how long it took to abolish the + slave-trade, how long it took to abolish slavery in this country. I am + also astonished to think that a few years ago magnificent steamers went + down the Mississippi freighted with your fathers, mothers, brothers, and + sisters, and maybe some of you, bound like criminals, separated from + wives, from husbands, every human feeling laughed at and outraged, sold + like beasts, carried away from homes to work for another, receiving for + pay only the marks of the lash upon the naked back. I am astonished at + these things. I hate to think that all this was done under the + Constitution of the United States, under the flag of my country, under the + wings of the eagle. + </p> + <p> + The flag was not then what it is now. It was a mere rag in comparison. The + eagle was a buzzard, and the Constitution sanctioned the greatest crime of + the world. + </p> + <p> + I wonder that you—the black people—have forgotten all this. I + wonder that you ask a white man to address you on this occasion, when the + history of your connection with the white race is written in your blood + and tears—is still upon your flesh, put there by the branding-iron + and the lash. + </p> + <p> + I feel like asking your forgiveness for the wrongs that my race has + inflicted upon yours. If, in the future, the wheel of fortune should take + a turn, and you should in any country have white men in your power, I pray + you not to execute the villainy we have taught you. + </p> + <p> + One word in conclusion. You have your liberty—use it to benefit your + race. Educate yourselves, educate your children, send teachers to the + South. Let your brethren there be educated. Let them know something of art + and science. Improve yourselves, stand by each other, and above all be in + favor of liberty the world over. + </p> + <p> + The time is coming when you will be' allowed to be good and useful + citizens of the Great Republic. This is your country as much as it is + mine. You have the same rights here that I have—the same interest + that I have. The avenues of distinction will be open to you and your + children. Great advances have been made. The rebels are now opposed to + slavery—the Democratic party is opposed to slavery, <i>as they say</i>. + There is going to be no war of races. Both parties want your votes in the + South, and there will be just enough negroes without principle to join the + rebels to make them think they will get more, and so the rebels will treat + the negroes well. And the Republicans will be sure to treat them well in + order to prevent any more joining the rebels. + </p> + <p> + The great problem is solved. Liberty has solved it—and there will be + no more slavery. On the old flag, on every fold and on every star will be + liberty for all, equality before the law. The grand people are marching + forward, and they will not pause until the earth is without a chain, and + without a throne. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link0002" id="link0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + SPEECH AT INDIANAPOLIS. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Hon. Robert G. Ingersoll, Attorney-General of Illinois, + spoke at the Rink last night to a large and appreciative + audience among whom were many ladies. The distinguished + speaker was escorted to the Rink by the battalion of the + Fighting Boys in Blue. Col. Ingersoll spoke at a great + disadvantage in having so large a hall to fill, but he has a + splendid voice and so overcame the difficulty. The audience + liberally applauded the numerous passages of eloquence and + humor in Col. Ingersoll's speeeh, and listened with the best + attention to his powerful argument, nor could they have done + otherwise, for the speaker has a national reputation and did + himself full justice last night—The Journal, Indianapolis, + Indiana, September 23, 1868. +</pre> + <p> + GRANT CAMPAIGN + </p> + <p> + THE Democratic party, so-called, have several charges which they make + against the Republican party. They give us a variety of reasons why the + Republican party should no longer be entrusted with the control of this + country. Among other reasons they say that the Republican party during the + war was guilty of arresting citizens without due process of law—that + we arrested Democrats and put them in jail without indictment, in Lincoln + bastiles, without making an affidavit before a Justice of the Peace—that + on some occasions we suspended the writ of <i>habeas corpus</i>, that we + put some Democrats in jail without their being indicted. I am sorry we did + not put more. I admit we arrested some of them without an affidavit filed + before a Justice of the Peace. I sincerely regret that we did not arrest + more. I admit that for a few hours on one or two occasions we interfered + with the freedom of the press; I sincerely regret that the Government + allowed a sheet to exist that did not talk on the side of this Government. + </p> + <p> + I admit that we did all these things. + </p> + <p> + It is only proper and fair that we should answer these charges. Unless the + Republican party can show that they did these things either according to + the strict letter of law, according to the highest precedent, or from the + necessity of the case, then we must admit that our party did wrong. You + know as well as I that every Democratic orator talks about the fathers, + about Washington and Jackson, Madison, Jefferson, and many others; they + tell us about the good old times when politicians were pure, when you + could get justice in the courts, when Congress was honest, when the + political parties differed, and differed kindly and honestly; and they are + shedding crocodile tears day after day—praying that the good old + honest times might return again. They tell you that the members of this + radical party are nothing like the men of the Revolution. Let us see. + </p> + <p> + I lay this down as a proposition, that we had a right to do anything to + preserve this Government that our fathers had a right to do to found it. + If they had a right to put Tories in jail, to suspend the writ of <i>habeas + corpus</i>, and on some occasions <i>corpus</i>, in order to found this + Government, we had a right to put rebels and Democrats in jail and to + suspend the writ of <i>habeas corpus</i> in order to preserve the + Government they thus formed. If they had a right to interfere with the + freedom of the press in order that liberty might be planted upon this + soil, we had a right to do the same thing to prevent the tree from being + destroyed. In a word, we had a right to do anything to preserve this + Government which they had a right to do to found it. + </p> + <p> + Did our fathers arrest Tories without writs, without indictments—did + they interfere with the personal rights of Tories in the name of liberty—did + they have Washington bastiles, did they have Jefferson jails—did + they have dungeons in the time of the Revolution in which they put men + that dared talk against this country and the liberties of the colonies? I + propose to show that they did—that where we imprisoned one they + imprisoned a hundred—that where we interfered with personal liberty + once they did it a hundred times—that they carried on a war that <i>was</i> + a war—that they knew that when an appeal was made to force that was + the end of law—that they did not attempt to gain their liberties + through a Justice of the Peace or through a Grand Jury; that they appealed + to force and the God of battles, and that any man who sought their + protection and at the same time was against them and their cause they took + by the nape of the neck and put in jail, where he ought to have been. + </p> + <p> + The old Continental Congress in 1774 and 1776 had made up their minds that + we ought to have something like liberty in these colonies, and the first + step they took toward securing that end was to provide for the selection + of a committee in every county and township, with a view to examining and + finding out how the people stood touching the liberty of the colonies, and + if they found a man that was not in favor of it, the people would not have + anything to do with him politically, religiously, or socially. That was + the first step they took, and a very sensible step it was. + </p> + <p> + What was the next step? They found that these men were so lost to every + principle of honor that they did not hurt them any by disgracing them. + </p> + <p> + So they passed the following resolution which explains itself: + </p> + <p> + <i>Resolved</i>. That it be recommended to the several provincial + assemblies or conventions or councils, or committees of safety, to arrest + and secure every person in their respective colonies whose going at large, + may, in their opinion, endanger the safety of the colony or the liberties + of America.—Journal of Congress, vol. 1, page 149. + </p> + <p> + What was the Committee of Safety? Was it a Justice of the Peace? No. Was + it a Grand Jury? No. It was simply a committee of five or seven persons, + more or less, appointed to watch over the town or county and see that + these Tories were attending to their business and not interfering with the + rights of the colonies. Whom were they to thus arrest and secure? Every + man that had committed murder—that had taken up arms against + America, or voted the Democratic or Tory ticket? No. "Every person whose + going at large might in their opinion, endanger the safety of the colony + or the liberties of America." It was not necessary that they had committed + any overt act, but if in the opinion of this council of safety, it was + dangerous to let them run at large they were locked up. Suppose that we + had done that during the last war? You would have had to build several new + jails in this county. What a howl would have gone up all over this State + if we had attempted such a thing as that, and yet we had a perfect right + to do anything to preserve our liberties, which our fathers had a right to + do to obtain them. + </p> + <p> + What more did they do? In 1777 the same Congress that signed the immortal + Declaration of Independence (and I think they knew as much about liberty + and the rights of men as any Democrat in Marion county) adopted another + resolution: + </p> + <p> + <i>Resolved</i>. That it be recommended to the Executive powers of the + several States, forthwith to apprehend and secure all persons who have in + their general conduct and conversation evinced a disposition inimical to + the cause of America, and that the persons so seized be confined in such + places and treated in such manner as shall be consistent with their + several characters and security of their persons.—-Journal of + Congress, vol. 2, p. 246. + </p> + <p> + If they had talked as the Democrats talked during the late war—if + they had called the soldiers, "Washington hirelings," and if when they + allowed a few negroes to help them fight, had branded the struggle for + liberty as an abolition war, they would be "apprehended and confined in + such places and treated in such manner as was consistent with their + characters and security of their persons," and yet all they did was to + show a disposition inimical to the independence of America. If we had + pursued a policy like that during the late war, nine out of ten of the + members of the Democratic party would have been in jail—there would + not have been jails and prisons enough on the face of the whole earth to + hold them. . + </p> + <p> + Now, when a Democrat talks to you about Lincoln bastiles, just quote this + to him: + </p> + <p> + <i>Whereas</i>, The States of Pennsylvania and Delaware are threatened + with an immediate invasion from a powerful army, who have already landed + at the head of Chesapeake Bay; and whereas, The principles of sound policy + and self-preservation require that persons who may be reasonably suspected + of aiding or abetting the cause of the enemy may be prevented from + pursuing measures injurious to the general weal, + </p> + <p> + <i>Resolved</i>, That the executive authorities of the States of + Pennsylvania and Delaware be requested to cause all persons within their + respective States, notoriously disaffected, to be apprehended, disarmed + and secured until such time as the respective States think they may be + released without injury to the common cause.—-Journal of Congress, + vol. 2, p. 240. + </p> + <p> + That is what they did with them. When there was an invasion threatened the + good State of Indiana, if we had said we will imprison all men who by + their conduct and conversation show that they are inimical to our cause, + we would have been obliged to import jails and corral Democrats as we did + mules in the army. Our fathers knew that the flag was never intended to + protect any man who wanted to assail it. + </p> + <p> + What more did they do? There was a man by the name of David Franks, who + wrote a letter and wanted to send it to England. In that letter he gave it + as his opinion that the colonies were becoming disheartened and sick of + the war. The heroic and chivalric fathers of the Revolution violated the + mails, took the aforesaid letter and then they took the aforesaid David + Franks by the collar and put him in jail. Then they passed a resolution in + Congress that inasmuch as the said letter showed a disposition inimical to + the liberties of the United States, Major General Arnold be requested to + cause the said David Franks to be forthwith arrested, put in jail and + confined till the further order of Congress. (Jour. Cong., vol. 3, p. 96 + and 97.) + </p> + <p> + How many Democrats wrote letters during the war declaring that the North + never could conquer the South? How many wrote letters to the soldiers in + the army telling them to shed no more fraternal blood in that suicidal and + unchristian war? It would have taken all the provost marshals in the + United States to arrest the Democrats in Indiana who were guilty of that + offence. And yet they are talking about our fathers being such good men, + while they are cursing us fordoing precisely what they did, only to a less + extent than they did. + </p> + <p> + We are still on the track of the old Continental Congress. I want you to + understand the spirit that animated those men. They passed a resolution + which is particularly applicable to the Democrats during the war: + </p> + <p> + With respect to all such unworthy Americans as, regardless of their duty + to their Creator, their country, and their posterity, have taken part with + our oppressors, and, influenced by the hope or possession of ignominious + rewards, strive to recommend themselves to the bounty of the + administration by misrepresenting and traducing the conduct and principles + of the friends of American liberty, and opposing every measure formed for + its preservation and security, + </p> + <p> + <i>Resolved</i>, That it be recommended to the different assemblies, + conventions and committees or councils of safety in the United Colonies, + by the most speedy and effectual measures, to frustrate the mischievous + machinations and restrain the wicked practices of these men. And it is the + opinion of this Congress that they ought to be disarmed and the more + dangerous among them either kept in safe custody or bound with sufficient + sureties for their good behavior. + </p> + <p> + And in order that the said assemblies, conventions, committees or councils + of safety may be enabled with greater ease and facility to carry this + resolution into execution, + </p> + <p> + <i>Resolved</i>, That they be authorized to call to their aid whatever + Continental troops stationed in or near their respective colonies that may + be conveniently spared from their more immediate duties, and commanding + officers of such troops are hereby directed to afford the said assemblies, + conventions, committees or councils of safety, all such assistance in + executing this resolution as they may require, and which, consistent with + the good of the service, may be supplied—Journal of Congress, vol. + i, p. 22, + </p> + <p> + Do you hear that, Democrat? The old Continental Congress said to these + committees and councils of safety: "Whenever you want to arrest any of + these scoundrels, call on the Continental troops." And General Washington, + the commander-in-chief of the army, and the officers under him, were + directed to aid in the enforcement of all the measures adopted with + reference to disaffected and dangerous persons. And what had these persons + done? Simply shown by their conversation, and letters directed to their + friends, that they were opposed to the cause of American liberty. They did + not even spare the Governors of States. They were not appalled by any + official position that a Tory might hold. They simply said, "If you are + not in favor of American liberty, we will put you 'where the dogs won't + bite you.'" One of these men was Governor Eden of Maryland. Congress + passed a resolution requesting the Council of Safety of Maryland to seize + and secure his person and papers, and send such of them as related to the + American dispute to Congress without delay. At the same time the person + and papers of another man, one Alexander Ross, were seized in the same + manner. Ross was put in jail, and his papers transmitted to Congress. + </p> + <p> + There was a fellow by the name of Parke and another by the name of Morton, + who presumed to undertake a journey from Philadelphia to New York without + getting a pass. Congress ordered them to be arrested and imprisoned until + further orders. They did not wait to have an affidavit filed before a + Justice of the Peace. They took them by force and put them in jail, and + that was the end of it. So much for the policy of the fathers, in regard + to arbitrary arrests. + </p> + <p> + During the war there was a great deal said about our occasionally + interfering with the elections. Let us see how the fathers stood upon that + question. + </p> + <p> + They held a convention in the State of New York in Revolutionary times, + and there were some gentlemen in Queens County that were playing the role + of Kentucky—they were going to be neutral—they refused to vote + to send deputies to the convention—they stood upon their dignity + just as Kentucky stood upon hers—a small place to stand on, the Lord + knows. What did our fathers do with them? They denounced them as unworthy + to be American citizens and hardly fit to live. Here is a resolution + adopted by the Continental Congress on the 3d of January, 1776: + </p> + <p> + <i>Resolved</i>, That all such persons in Queens County aforesaid as voted + against sending deputies to the present Convention of New York, and named + in a list of delinquents in Queens County, published by the Convention of + New York, be put out of the protection of the United Colonies, and that + all trade and intercourse with them cease; that none of the inhabitants of + that county be permitted to travel or abide in any part of these United + Colonies out of their said colony without a certificate from the + Convention or Committee of Safety of the Colony of New York, setting forth + that such inhabitant is a friend of the American cause, and not of the + number of those who voted against sending deputies to the said Convention, + and that such of the inhabitants as shall be found out of the said county + without such certificate, be apprehended and imprisoned three months. + </p> + <p> + <i>Resolved</i>, That no attorney or lawyer ought to commence, prosecute + or defend any action at law of any kind, for any of the said inhabitants + of Queens County, who voted against sending deputies to the Convention as + aforesaid, and such attorney or lawyer as shall countenance this + revolution, are enemies to the American cause, and shall be treated + accordingly. + </p> + <p> + What had they done? Simply voted against sending delegates to the + convention, and yet the fathers not only put them out of the protection of + law, but prohibited any lawyer from appearing in their behalf in a court. + Democrats, don't you wish we had treated you that way during the war? + </p> + <p> + What more did they do? They ordered a company of troops from Connecticut, + and two or three companies from New Jersey, to go into the State of New + York, and take away from every person who had voted against sending + deputies to the convention, all his arms, and if anybody refused to give + up his arms, they put him in jail. Don't you wish you had lived then, my + friend Democrat? Don't you wish you had prosecuted the war as our fathers + prosecuted the Revolution? + </p> + <p> + I now want to show you how far they went in this direction. A man by the + name of Sutton, who lived on Long Island, had been going around giving his + constitutional opinions upon the war. They had him arrested, and went on + to resolve that he should be taken from Philadelphia, pay the cost of + transportation himself, be put in jail there, and while in jail should + board himself. Wouldn't a Democrat have had a hard scramble for victuals + if we had carried out that idea? Just see what outrageous and terrible + things the fathers did. And why did they do it? Because they saw that in + order to establish the liberties of America it was necessary they should + take the Tory by the throat just as it was necessary for us to take rebels + by the throat during the late war. + </p> + <p> + They had paper money in those days—shin-plasters—and some of + the Democrats of those times had legal doubts about this paper currency. + One of these Democrats, Thomas Harriott, was called before a Committee of + Safety of New York, and there convicted of having refused to receive in + payment the Continental bills. The committee of New York conceiving that + he was a dangerous person, informed the Provincial Congress of the facts + in the case, and inquired whether Congress thought he ought to go at + large. Upon receipt of this information by Congress an order for the + imprisonment of the offender was passed, as follows: + </p> + <p> + <i>Resolved</i>, That the General Committee of the city of New York be + requested and authorized, and are hereby requested and authorized to + direct that Thomas Harriott be committed to close jail in this city, there + to remain until further orders of this Congress.—Amer. Archives, 4th + series, vol. 6, P. i, 344. + </p> + <p> + And yet all that he had done was to refuse to take Continental money. He + had simply given his opinion on the legal tender law, just as the + Democrats of Indiana did in regard to greenbacks, and as a few circuit + judges decided when they declared the Legal Tender Act unconstitutional. + It would have been perfectly proper and right that they, every man of + them, should be, like Thomas Harriott, "committed to close jail, there to + remain until further orders." + </p> + <p> + Did our forefathers ever interfere with religion? Yes, they did with a + preacher by the name of Daniels, because he would not pray for the + American cause. He thought he could coax the Lord to beat us. They said to + him, "You pray on our side, sir." He would not do it, and so they put him + in jail and gave him work enough to pray himself out, and it took him some + time to do it. They interfered with a <i>lack</i> of religion. They + believed that a Tory or traitor in the pulpit was no better than anybody + else. That is the way I have sometimes felt during the war. I have thought + that I would like to see some of those white cravatted gentlemen "snaked" + right out of the pulpits where they had dared to utter their treason, and + set to playing checkers through a grated window. + </p> + <p> + It is not possible that our fathers ever interfered with the writ of <i>habeas + corpus</i>, is it? Yes sir. Our fathers advocated the doctrine that the + good of the people is the supreme law of the land. They also advocated the + doctrine that in the midst of armies law falls to the ground; the doctrine + that when a country is in war it is to be governed by the laws of war. + They thought that laws were made for the protection of good citizens, for + the punishment of citizens that were bad, when they were not too bad or + too numerous; then they threw the law-book down while they took the cannon + and whipped the badness out of them; that is the next step, when the + stones you throw, and kind words, and grass have failed. They said, why + did we not appeal to law? We did; but it did no good. A large portion of + the people were up in arms in defiance of law, and there was only one way + to put them down, and that was by force of arms; and whenever an appeal is + made to force, that force is governed by the law of war. + </p> + <p> + The fathers suspended the writ in the case of a man who had committed an + offence in the State of New York. They sent him to the State of + Connecticut to be confined, just as men were sent from Indiana to Fort + Lafayette. The attorneys came before the convention of New York to hear + the matter inquired into, but the committee of the convention to whom the + matter was referred refused to inquire into the original cause of + commitment—a direct denial of the authority of the writ. The writ of + <i>habeas corpus</i> merely brings the body before the judge that he may + inquire why he is imprisoned. They refused to make any such inquiry. Their + action was endorsed by the convention and the gentleman was sent to + Connecticut and put in jail. They not only did these things in one + instance, but in a thousand. They took men from Maryland and put them in + prison in Pennsylvania, and they took men from Pennsylvania and confined + them in Maryland, Whenever they thought the Tories were so thick at one + point that the rascals might possibly be released, they took them + somewhere else. + </p> + <p> + They did not interfere with the freedom of the press, did they? Yes, sir. + They found a gentleman who was speaking and writing against the liberties + of the colonies, and they just took his paper away from him, and gave it + to a man who ran it in the interest of the colonies, using the Tory's type + and press. [A voice—That was right.] Right! of course it was right. + What right has a newspaper in Indiana to talk against the cause for which + your son is laying down his life on the field of battle? What right has + any man to make it take thousands of men more to crush a rebellion? What + right has any man protected by the American flag to do all in his power to + put it in the hands of the enemies of his country? The same right that any + man has to be a rascal, a thief and traitor—no other right under + heaven. Our fathers had sense enough to see that, and they said, "One + gentleman in the rear printing against our noble cause, will cost us + hundreds of noble lives at the front." Why have you a right to take a + rebel's horse? Because it helps you and weakens the enemy. That is by the + law of war. That is the principle upon which they seized the Tory printing + press. They had the right to do it. And if I had had the power in this + country, no man should have said a word, or written a line, or printed + anything against the cause for which the heroic men of the North + sacrificed their lives. I would have enriched the soil of this country + with him before he should have done it. A man by the name of James + Rivington undertook to publish a paper against the country. They would not + speak to him; they denounced him, seized his press, and made him ask + forgiveness and promise to print no more such stuff before they would let + him have his sheet again. No person but a rebel ever thought that was + wrong. There is no common sense in going to the field to fight and leaving + a man at home to undo all that you accomplish. + </p> + <p> + Our fathers did not like these Tories, and when the war was over they + confiscated their estates—took their land and gave it over to good + Union men. + </p> + <p> + How did they do it? Did they issue summons, and have a trial? No, sir. + They did it by wholesale—they did it by resolution, and the estates + of hundreds of men were taken from them without their having a day in + court or any notice or trial whatever. They said to the Tories: "You cast + your fortunes with the other side, let them pay you. The flag you fought + against protects the land you owned and it will prevent you from having + it." Nor is that all. They ran thousands of them out of the country away + up into Nova Scotia, and the old blue-nosed Tories are there yet. + </p> + <p> + In his letter to Governor Cooke of Rhode Island, Washington enumerates an + act of that colony, declaring that "none should speak, write, or act + against the proceedings of Congress or their Acts of Assembly, under + penalty of being disarmed and disqualified from holding any office, and + being further punished by imprisonment," as one that met his approbation, + and which should exist in other colonies. There is the doctrine for you + Democrats. So I could go on by the hour or by the day. I could show you + how they made domiciliary visits, interfered with travel, imprisoned + without any sort of writ or affidavit—in other words, did whatever + they thought was necessary to whip the enemy and establish their + independence. + </p> + <p> + What next do they charge against us? That we freed negroes. So we did. + That we allowed those negroes to fight in the army. Yes, we did, That we + allowed them to vote. We did that too. That we have made them citizens. + Yes, we have, and what are you Democrats going to do about it? + </p> + <p> + Now, what did our fathers do? Did they free any of the negroes? Yes, sir. + Did they allow any of them to fight in the army? Yes, sir. Did they permit + any of them to vote? Yes, sir. Did they make them citizens? Yes, sir. Let + us see whether they did or not. + </p> + <p> + Before we had the present Constitution we had what were called Articles of + Confederation. The fourth of those articles provided that every free + inhabitant of the colony should be a citizen. It did not make any + difference whether he was white or black; and negroes voted by the side of + Washington and Jefferson. Just here the question arises, if negroes were + good enough in 1787 and 1790 to vote by the side of such men, whether + rebels and their sympathizers are good enough now to vote alongside of the + negro. + </p> + <p> + Did they let any of these negroes fight? In 1750, when Massachusetts had + slaves, there appeared in the Boston Gazette the following notice: + </p> + <p> + "Ran away from his master, Wm. Brown, of Framingham, on the 30th September + last, a mulatto fellow, about 27 years of age, named Crispus, about 6 feet + high, short curly hair, had on a light colored bear-skin coat, brown + jacket, new buckskin breeches, blue yarn stockings and check woolen + shirt," etc. + </p> + <p> + This "mulatto fellow" did not come back, and so they advertised the next + week and the week following, but still the toes of the blue yarn socks + pointed the other way. That was in 1750. 1760 came and 1770, and the + people of this continent began to talk about having their liberties. And + while wise and thoughtful men were talking about it, making petitions for + popular rights and laying them at the foot of the throne, the King's + troops were in Boston. One day they marched down King street, on their way + to arrest some citizen. The soldiery were attacked by a mob, and at its + head was a "mulatto fellow" who shouted "here they are," and it was + observed that this "mulatto fellow" was about six feet high—that his + knees were nearer together than common, and that he was about 47 years of + age. The soldiers fired upon the mob and he fell, shot through with five + balls—the first man that led a charge against British aggression—the + first martyr whose blood was shed for American liberty upon this soil. + They took up that poor corpse, and as it lay in Faneuil Hall it did more + honor to the place than did Daniel Webster defending the Fugitive Slave + Law. + </p> + <p> + They allowed him to fight. Would our fathers have been brutal enough, if + he had not been killed, to put him back into slavery? No! They would have + said that a man who fights for liberty should enjoy it. If a man fights + for that flag it shall protect him. Perish forever from the heavens the + flag that will not defend its defenders, be they white or black. + </p> + <p> + Thus our fathers felt. They raised negro troops by the company and the + regiment, and gave his liberty to every man that fought for liberty. Not + only that, but they allowed them to vote. They voted in the Carolinas, in + Tennessee, in New York, in all the New England States. Our fathers had too + much decency to act upon the Democratic doctrine. + </p> + <p> + In the war of 1812, negroes fought at Lake Erie and at New Orleans, and + then the fathers, as in the Revolution, were too magnanimous to turn them + back into slavery. You need not get mad, my Democratic friends, because + you hate Ben. Butler. Let me read you an abolition document. + </p> + <p> + You will all say it is right; you cannot say anything else when you hear + it. Butler, you know, was down in New Orleans, and he made some of those + rebels dance a tune that they did not know, and he made them keep pretty + good time too: + </p> + <p> + <i>To the Free Colored Inhabitants of Louisiana:</i> + </p> + <p> + Through a mistaken policy you have heretofore been deprived of a + participation in the glorious struggle for national rights in which our + country is engaged. This shall no longer exist. As sons of freedom you are + now called upon to defend our most inestimable blessing. As Americans, + your country looks with confidence to her adopted children for a valorous + support as a faithful return for the advantages enjoyed under her mild and + equitable government. As fathers, husbands and brothers you are summoned + to rally around the standard of the eagle—to defend all which is + dear in existence. Your country, although calling for your exertions, does + not wish you to engage in her cause without amply remunerating you for the + services rendered. Your intelligent minds can not be led away by false + representations. Your love of honor would cause you to despise a man who + should attempt to deceive you. In the sincerity of a soldier and the + language of truth I address you. To every noble-hearted, generous free man + of color volunteering to serve during the present contest and no longer, + there will be paid the same bounty in money and lands now received by the + white soldiers of the United States, viz: $124 in money and one hundred + and sixty acres of land. The noncommissioned officers and privates will + also be entitled to the same monthly pay and daily rations and clothing + furnished any American soldier. + </p> + <p> + On enrolling yourselves in companies, the Major General commanding will + select officers for your government from your white fellow-citizens. Your + non-commissioned officers will be appointed from among yourselves. Due + regard will be paid to their feelings as freemen and soldiers. You will + not by being associated with white men in the same corps, be exposed to + improper companions or unjust sarcasm. As a distinct battalion or regiment + pursuing the path of glory, you will undivided receive the applause and + gratitude of your countrymen. + </p> + <p> + To assure you of the sincerity of my intentions and my anxiety to engage + your valuable services to our country, I have communicated my wishes to + the Governor of Louisiana, who is fully informed as to the manner of + enrollment, and give you every necessary information on the subject of + this address. + </p> + <p> + This is a terrible document to a Democrat. Let us look back over it a + little. "Through a mistaken policy." We had not sense enough to let the + negroes fight during the first part of the war. "As sons of freedom" we + had got sense by this time. "Americans." Oh! shocking! Think of calling + negroes Americans. "Your country!" Is that not enough to make a Democrat + sick? "As fathers, husbands, brothers." Negro brothers. That is too bad. + "Your intelligent minds." Now, just think of a negro having an intelligent + mind. "Are not to be led away by false representations." Then precious few + of them will vote the Democratic ticket. "Your sense of honor will lead + you to despise the man who should attempt to deceive you." Then how they + will hate the Democratic party. Then he goes on to say that the same + bounty, money and land that the white soldiers receive will be paid to + these negroes. Not only that, but they are to have the same pay, clothing + and rations. Only think of a negro having as much land, as much to eat and + as many clothes to wear as a white man. Is not this a vile abolition + document? And yet there is not a Democrat in Indiana that dare open his + mouth against it, full of negro equality as it is. Now, let us see when + and by whom this proclamation was issued. You will find that it is dated, + "Headquarters 7th Military District, Mobile, September 21st, 1814," and + signed "Andrew Jackson, Major General Commanding." + </p> + <p> + Oh, you Jackson Democrats. You gentlemen that are descended from + Washington and Jackson—great heavens, what a descent! Do you think. + Jackson was a Democrat? He generally passed for a good Democrat; yet he + issued that abominable abolition proclamation and put negroes on an + equality with white men. That is not the worst of it, either; for after he + got these negroes into the army he made a speech to them, and what did he + say in that speech? Here it is in full: + </p> + <p> + <i>To the Men of Color:</i> + </p> + <p> + Soldiers—From the shores of Mobile I called you to arms. I invited + you to share in the perils and to divide the glory with your white + countrymen. I expected much from you, for I was not uninformed of those + qualities which must render you so formidable to an invading foe. I knew + that you could endure hunger, thirst, and all the hardships of war. I knew + that you loved the land of your nativity, and that like ourselves you had + to defend all that is most dear to man. But you surpass my hopes. I have + found in you united to these qualities that noble enthusiasm which impels + to great deeds. Soldiers, the President of the United States shall be + informed of your conduct on the present occasion and the voice of the + representatives of the American nation shall applaud your valor as your + General now praises your ardor. The enemy is near. His sails cover the + lakes. But the brave are united, and if he finds' us contending among + ourselves, it will be only for the prize of valor, its noblest reward. + </p> + <p> + There is negro equality for you. There is the first man since the heroes + of the Revolution died that issued a proclamation and put negroes on an + equality with white men, and he was as good a Democrat as ever lived in + Indiana. I could go on and show where they voted, and who allowed them to + vote, but I have said enough on that question, and also upon the question + of their fighting in the army, and of their being citizens, and have + established, I think conclusively, this: + </p> + <p> + <i>First</i>. That our fathers, in order to found this Government, + arrested men without warrant, indictment or affidavit by the hundred and + by the thousand; that we, in order to preserve the Government that they + thus founded, arrested a few people without warrant. + </p> + <p> + <i>Second</i>. That our fathers, for the purpose of founding the + Government, suspended the writ of <i>habeas corpus</i>; that we, for the + purpose of preserving the same Government, did the same thing. + </p> + <p> + <i>Third</i>. That they, for the purpose of inaugurating this Government, + interfered with the liberty of the press; that we, on one or two + occasions, for the purpose of preserving the Government, interfered with + the liberty of the press. + </p> + <p> + <i>Fourth</i>. That our fathers allowed negroes to fight in order that + they might secure the liberties of America; that we, in order to preserve + those liberties, allow negroes to fight. + </p> + <p> + <i>Fifth</i>. That our fathers, out of gratitude to the negroes in the + Revolutionary war, allowed them to vote; that we have done the same. That + they made them citizens, and we have followed their example. + </p> + <p> + As far as I have gone, I have shown that the fathers of the Revolution and + the War of 1812 set us the example for everything we have done. Now, Mr. + Democrat, if you want to curse us, curse them too. Either quit yawping + about the fathers, or quit yawping about us. + </p> + <p> + Now, then, was there any necessity, during this war, to follow the example + of our fathers? The question was put to us in 1861: "Shall the majority + rule?" and also the balance of that question: "Shall the minority submit?" + The minority said they would not. Upon the right of the majority to rule + rests the entire structure of our Government. Had we, in 1861, given up + that principle, the foundations of our Government would have been totally + destroyed. In fact there would have been no Government, even in the North. + It is no use to say the majority shall rule if the minority consents. + Therefore, if, when a man has been duly elected President, anybody + undertakes to prevent him from being President, it is your duty to protect + him and enforce submission to the will of the majority. In 1861 we had + presented to us the alternative, either to let the great principle that + lies at the foundation of our Government go by the board, or to appeal to + arms, and to the God of battles, and fight it through. + </p> + <p> + The Southern people said they were going out of the Union; we implored + them to stay, by the common memories of the Revolution, by an apparent + common destiny; by the love of man, but they refused to listen to us—rushed + past us, and appealed to the arbitrament of the sword; and now I, for one, + say by the decision of the sword let them abide. + </p> + <p> + Now, I want to show how mean the American people were in 1861. The vile + and abominable institution of slavery had so corrupted us that we did not + know right from wrong. It crept into the pulpit until the sermon became + the echo of the bloodhound's bark. It crept upon the bench, and the judge + could not tell whether the corn belonged to the man that raised it, or to + the fellow that did not, but he rather thought it belonged to the latter. + We had lost our sense of justice. Even the people of Indiana were so far + gone as to agree to carry out the Fugitive Slave Law. Was it not low-lived + and contemptible? We agreed that if we found a woman ninety-nine one + hundredths white, who, inspired by the love of liberty, had run away from + her masters, and had got within one step of free soil, we would clutch her + and bring her back to the dominion of the Democrat, the bloodhound and the + lash. We were just mean enough to do it. We used to read that some + hundreds of years ago a lot of soldiers would march into a man's house, + take him out, tie him to a stake driven into the earth, pile fagots around + him, and let the thirsty flames consume him, and all because they differed + from him about religion. We said it was horrible; it made our blood run + cold to think of it; yet at the same time many a magnificent steamboat + floated down the Mississippi with wives and husbands, fragments of + families torn asunder, doomed to a life of toil, requited only by lashes + upon the naked back, and branding irons upon the quivering flesh, and we + thought little of it. When we set out to put down the Rebellion the + Democratic party started up all at once and said, "You are not going to + interfere with slavery, are you?" Now, it is remarkable that whenever we + were going to do a good thing, we had to let on that we were going to do a + mean one. If we had said at the outset, "We will break the shackles from + four millions of slaves" we never would have succeeded. We had to come at + it by degrees. The Democrats scented it out. They had a scent keener than + a bloodhound when anything was going to be done to affect slavery. "Put + down rebellion," they said, "but don't hurt slavery." We said, "We will + not; we will restore the Union as it was and the Constitution as it is." + We were in good faith about it. We had no better sense then than to think + that it was worth fighting for, to preserve the cause of quarrel—the + bone of contention—so as to have war all the time. Every blow we + struck for slavery was a blow against us. The Rebellion was simply slavery + with a mask on. We never whipped anybody but once so long as we stood upon + that doctrine; that was at Donelson; and the victory there was not owing + to the policy, but to the splendid genius of the next President of the + United States. After a while it got into our heads that slavery was the + cause of the trouble, and we began to edge up slowly toward slavery. When + Mr. Lincoln said he would destroy slavery if absolutely necessary for the + suppression of the Rebellion, people thought that was the most radical + thing that ever was uttered. But the time came when it was necessary to + free the slaves, and to put muskets into their hands. The Democratic party + opposed us with all their might until the draft came, and they wanted + negroes for substitutes; and I never heard a Democrat object to arming the + negroes after that. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + [The speaker from this point presented the history of the + Republican policy of reconstruction, and touched lightly on + the subject of the national debt. He glanced at the + finances, reviewing in the most scathing manner the history + and character of Seymour, paid a most eloquent tribute to + the character and public services of General Grant, and + closed with the following words: ] +</pre> + <p> + The hero of the Rebellion, who accomplished at Shiloh what Napoleon + endeavored at Waterloo; who captured Vicksburg by a series of victories + unsurpassed, taking the keystone from the rebel arch; who achieved at + Missionary Ridge a success as grand as it was unexpected to the country; + who, having been summoned from the death-bed of rebellion in the West, + marched like an athlete from the Potomac to the James, the grandest march + in the history of the world. This was all done without the least flourish + upon his part. No talk about destiny—without faith in a star—with + the simple remark that he would "fight it out on that line," without a + boast, modest to bashfulness, yet brave to audacity, simple as duty, firm + as war, direct as truth—this hero, with so much common sense that he + is the most uncommon man of his time, will be, in spite of Executive + snares and Cabinet entanglements, of competent false witnesses of the + Democratic party, the next President of the United States. He will be + trusted with the Government his genius saved. + </p> + <p> + SPEECH AT CINCINNATI.* + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * The nomination of Blaine was the passionately dramatic + scene of the day. Robert G. Ingersoll had been fixed upon to + present Blaine's name to the Convention, and, as the result + proved, a more effective champion could not have been + selected in the whole party conclave. + + As the clerk, running down the list, reached Maine, an + extraordinary event happened. The applause and cheers which + had heretofore broken out in desultory patches of the + galleries and platform, broke in a simultaneous, thunderous + outburst from every part of the house. + + Ingersoll moved out from the obscure corner and advanced to + the central stage. As he walked forward the thundering + cheers, sustained and swelling, never ceased. As he reached + the platform they took on an increased volume of sound, and + for ten minutes the surging fury of acclamation, the wild + waving of fans, hats, and handkerchiefs transformed the + scene from one of deliberation to that of a bedlam of + rapturous delirium. Ingersoll waited with unimpaired + serenity, until he should get a chance to be heard. * * * + And then began an appeal, impassioned, artful, brilliant, + and persuasive. * * * + + Possessed of a fine figure, a face of winning, cordial + frankness, Ingersoll had half won his audience before he + spoke a word. It is the attestation of every man that heard + him, that so brilliant a master stroke was never uttered + before a political Convention. Its effect was indescribable. + The coolest-headed in the hall were stirred to the wildest + expression. The adversaries of Blaine, as well as his + friends, listened with unswerving, absorbed attention. + Curtis sat spell-bound, his eyes and mouth wide open, his + figure moving in unison to the tremendous periods that fell + in a measured, exquisitely graduated flow from the + Illinoisan's smiling lips. The matchless method and manner + of the man can never be imagined from the report in type. To + realize the prodigious force, the inexpressible power, the + irrestrainable fervor of the audience requires actual sight. + + Words can do but meagre justice to the wizard power of this + extraordinary man. He swayed and moved and impelled and + restrained and worked in all ways with the mass before him + as if he possessed some key to the innermost mechanism that + moves the human heart, and when he finished, his fine, frank + face as calm as when he began, the overwrought thousands + sank back in an exhaustion of unspeakable wonder and + delight.—Chicago Times, June 16, 1876. +</pre> + <p> + SPEECH NOMINATING BLAINE. + </p> + <p> + June 75, 1876. + </p> + <p> + MASSACHUSETTS may be satisfied with the loyalty of Benjamin H. Bristow; so + am I; but if any man nominated by this convention can not carry the State + of Massachusetts, I am not satisfied with the loyalty of that State. If + the nominee of this convention cannot carry the grand old Commonwealth of + Massachusetts by seventy-five thousand majority, I would advise them to + sell out Faneuil Hall as a Democratic headquarters. I would advise them to + take from Bunker Hill that old monument of glory. + </p> + <p> + The Republicans of the United States demand as their leader in the great + contest of 1876 a man of intelligence, a man of integrity, a man of + well-known and approved political opinions. They demand a statesman; they + demand a reformer after as well as before the election. They demand a + politician in the highest, broadest and best sense—a man of superb + moral courage. They demand a man acquainted with public affairs—with + the wants of the people; with not only the requirements of the hour, but + with the demands of the future. They demand a man broad enough to + comprehend the relations of this Government to the other nations of the + earth. They demand a man well versed in the powers, duties and + prerogatives of each and every department of this Government. They demand + a man who will sacredly preserve the financial honor of the United States; + one who knows enough to know that the national debt must be paid through + the prosperity of this people; one who knows enough to know that all the + financial theories in the world cannot redeem a single dollar; one who + knows enough to know that all the money must be made, not by law, but by + labor; one who knows enough to know that the people of the United States + have the industry to make the money, and the honor to pay it over just as + fast as they make it. + </p> + <p> + The Republicans of the United States demand a man who knows that + prosperity and resumption, when they come, must come together; that when + they come, they will come hand in hand through the golden harvest fields; + hand in hand by the whirling spindles and the turning wheels; hand in hand + past the open furnace doors; hand in hand by the flaming forges; hand in + hand by the chimneys filled with eager fire, greeted and grasped by the + countless sons of toil. + </p> + <p> + This money has to be dug out of the earth. You cannot make it by passing + resolutions in a political convention. + </p> + <p> + The Republicans of the United States want a man who knows that this + Government should protect every citizen, at home and abroad; who knows + that any government that will not defend its defenders, and protect its + protectors, is a disgrace to the map of the world. They demand a man who + believes in the eternal separation and divorcement of church and school. + They demand a man whose political reputation is spotless as a star; but + they do not demand that their candidate shall have a certificate of moral + character signed by a Confederate congress. The man who has, in full, + heaped and rounded measure, all these splendid qualifications, is the + present grand and gallant leader of the Republican party—James G. + Blaine. + </p> + <p> + Our country, crowned with the vast and marvelous achievements of its first + century, asks for a man worthy of the past, and prophetic of her future; + asks for a man who has the audacity of genius; asks for a man who is the + grandest combination of heart, conscience and brain beneath her flag—such + a man is James G. Blaine. + </p> + <p> + For the Republican host, led by this intrepid man, there can be no defeat. + </p> + <p> + This is a grand year—a year filled with recollections of the + Revolution; filled with proud and tender memories of the past; with the + sacred legends of liberty—a year in which the sons of freedom will + drink from the fountains of enthusiasm; a year in which the people call + for the man who has preserved in Congress what our soldiers won upon the + field; a year in which they call for the man who has torn from the throat + of treason the tongue of slander—for the man who has snatched the + mask of Democracy from the hideous face of rebellion; for the man who, + like an intellectual athlete, has stood in the arena of debate and + challenged all comers, and who is still a total stranger to defeat. + </p> + <p> + Like an armed warrior, like a plumed knight, James G. Blaine marched down + the halls of the American Congress and threw his shining lance full and + fair against the brazen foreheads of the defamers of his country and the + maligners of his honor. For the Republican party to desert this gallant + leader now, is as though an army should desert their general upon the + field of battle. + </p> + <p> + James G. Blaine is now and has been for years the bearer of the sacred + standard of the Republican party. I call it sacred, because no human being + can stand beneath its folds without becoming and without remaining free. + </p> + <p> + Gentlemen of the convention, in the name of the great Republic, the only + republic that ever existed upon this earth; in the name of all her + defenders and of all her supporters; in the name of all her soldiers + living; in the name of all her soldiers dead upon the field of battle, and + in the name of those who perished in the skeleton clutch of famine at + Andersonville and Libby, whose sufferings he so vividly remembers, + Illinois—Illinois nominates for the next President of this country, + that prince of parliamentarians—that leader of leaders—James + G. Blaine. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link0003" id="link0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + CENTENNIAL ORATION. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Delivered on the one hundredth Anniversary of the + Declaration of Independence, at Peoria, Ill., July 4, 1876. +</pre> + <p> + July 4, 1876. + </p> + <p> + THE Declaration of Independence is the grandest, the bravest, and the + profoundest political document that was ever signed by the representatives + of a people. It is the embodiment of physical and moral courage and of + political wisdom. + </p> + <p> + I say of physical courage, because it was a declaration of war against the + most powerful nation then on the globe; a declaration of war by thirteen + weak, unorganized colonies; a declaration of war by a few people, without + military stores, without wealth, without strength, against the most + powerful kingdom on the earth; a declaration of war made when the British + navy, at that day the mistress of every sea, was hovering along the coast + of America, looking after defenceless towns and villages to ravage and + destroy. It was made when thousands of English soldiers were upon our + soil, and when the principal cities of America were in the substantial + possession of the enemy. And so, I say, all things considered, it was the + bravest political document ever signed by man. And if it was physically + brave, the moral courage of the document is almost infinitely beyond the + physical. They had the courage not only, but they had the almost infinite + wisdom, to declare that all men are created equal. + </p> + <p> + Such things had occasionally been said by some political enthusiast in the + olden time, but, for the first time in the history of the world, the + representatives of a nation, the representatives of a real, living, + breathing, hoping people, declared that all men are created equal. With + one blow, with one stroke of the pen, they struck down all the cruel, + heartless barriers that aristocracy, that priestcraft, that kingcraft had + raised between man and man. They struck down with one immortal blow that + infamous spirit of caste that makes a god almost a beast, and a beast + almost a god. With one word, with one blow, they wiped away and utterly + destroyed, all that had been done by centuries of war—centuries of + hypocrisy—centuries of injustice. + </p> + <p> + One hundred years ago our fathers retired the gods from politics. + </p> + <p> + What more did they do? They then declared that each man has a right to + live. And what does that mean? It means that he has the right to make his + living. It means that he has the right to breathe the air, to work the + land, that he stands the equal of every other human being beneath the + shining stars; entitled to the product of his labor—the labor of his + hand and of his brain. + </p> + <p> + What more? That every man has the right to pursue his own happiness in his + own way. Grander words than these have never been spoken by man. + </p> + <p> + And what more did these men say? They laid down the doctrine that + governments were instituted among men for the purpose of preserving the + rights of the people. The old idea was that people existed solely for the + benefit of the state—that is to say, for kings and nobles. + </p> + <p> + The old idea was that the people were the wards of king and priest—that + their bodies belonged to one and their souls to the other. + </p> + <p> + And what more? That the people are the source of political power. That was + not only a revelation, but it was a revolution. It changed the ideas of + people with regard to the source of political power. For the first time it + made human beings men. What was the old idea? The old idea was that no + political power came from, or in any manner belonged to, the people. The + old idea was that the political power came from the clouds; that the + political power came in some miraculous way from heaven; that it came down + to kings, and queens, and robbers. That was the old idea. The nobles lived + upon the labor of the people; the people had no rights; the nobles stole + what they had and divided with the kings, and the kings pretended to + divide what they stole with God Almighty. The source, then, of political + power was from above. The people were responsible to the nobles, the + nobles to the king, and the people had no political rights whatever, no + more than the wild beasts of the forest. The kings were responsible to + God; not to the people. The kings were responsible to the clouds; not to + the toiling millions they robbed and plundered. + </p> + <p> + And our forefathers, in this Declaration of Independence, reversed this + thing, and said: No; the people, they are the source of political power, + and their rulers, these presidents, these kings are but the agents and + servants of the great sublime people. For the first time, really, in the + history of the world, the king was made to get off the throne and the + people were royally seated thereon. The people became the sovereigns, and + the old sovereigns became the servants and the agents of the people. It is + hard for you and me now to even imagine the immense results of that + change. It is hard for you and for me, at this day, to understand how + thoroughly it had been ingrained in the brain of almost every man, that + the king had some wonderful right over him; that in some strange way the + king owned him; that in some miraculous manner he belonged, body and soul, + to somebody who rode on a horse—to somebody with epaulettes on his + shoulders and a tinsel crown upon his brainless head. + </p> + <p> + Our forefathers had been educated in that idea, and when they first landed + on American shores they believed it. They thought they belonged to + somebody, and that they must be loyal to some thief who could trace his + pedigree back to antiquity's most successful robber. + </p> + <p> + It took a long time for them to get that idea out of their heads and + hearts. They were three thousand miles away from the despotisms of the old + world, and every wave of the sea was an assistant to them. The distance + helped to disenchant their minds of that infamous belief, and every mile + between them and the pomp and glory of monarchy helped to put republican + ideas and thoughts into their minds. Besides that, when they came to this + country, when the savage was in the forest and three thousand miles of + waves on the other side, menaced by barbarians on the one hand and famine + on the other, they learned that a man who had courage, a man who had + thought, was as good as any other man in the world, and they built up, as + it were, in spite of themselves, little republics. And the man that had + the most nerve and heart was the best man, whether he had any noble blood + in his veins or not. + </p> + <p> + It has been a favorite idea with me that our forefathers were educated by + Nature, that they grew grand as the continent upon which they landed; that + the great rivers—the wide plains—the splendid lakes—the + lonely forests—the sublime mountains—that all these things + stole into and became a part of their being, and they grew great as the + country in which they lived. They began to hate the narrow, contracted + views of Europe. They were educated by their surroundings, and every + little colony had to be to a certain extent a republic. The kings of the + old world endeavored to parcel out this land to their favorites. But there + were too many Indians. There was too much courage required for them to + take and keep it, and so men had to come here who were dissatisfied with + the old country—who were dissatisfied with England, dissatisfied + with France, with Germany, with Ireland and Holland. The kings' favorites + stayed at home. Men came here for liberty, and on account of certain + principles they entertained and held dearer than life. And they were + willing to work, willing to fell the forests, to fight the savages, + willing to go through all the hardships, perils and dangers of a new + country, of a new land; and the consequence was that our country was + settled by brave and adventurous spirits, by men who had opinions of their + own and were willing to live in the wild forests for the sake of + expressing those opinions, even if they expressed them only to trees, + rocks, and savage men. The best blood of the old world came to the new. + </p> + <p> + When they first came over they did not have a great deal of political + philosophy, nor the best ideas of liberty. We might as well tell the + truth. When the Puritans first came, they were narrow. They did not + understand what liberty meant—what religious liberty, what political + liberty, was; but they found out in a few years. There was one feeling + among them that rises to their eternal honor like a white shaft to the + clouds—they were in favor of universal education. Wherever they went + they built schoolhouses, introduced books and ideas of literature. They + believed that every man should know how to read and how to write, and + should find out all that his capacity allowed him to comprehend. That is + the glory of the Puritan fathers. + </p> + <p> + They forgot in a little while what they had suffered, and they forgot to + apply the principle of universal liberty—of toleration. Some of the + colonies did not forget it, and I want to give credit where credit should + be given. The Catholics of Maryland were the first people on the new + continent to declare universal religious toleration. Let this be + remembered to their eternal honor. Let it be remembered to the disgrace of + the Protestant government of England, that it caused this grand law to be + repealed. And to the honor and credit of the Catholics of Maryland let it + be remembered that the moment they got back into power they re-enacted the + old law. The Baptists of Rhode Island also, led by Roger Williams, were in + favor of universal religious liberty. + </p> + <p> + No American should fail to honor Roger Williams. He was the first grand + advocate of the liberty of the soul. He was in favor of the eternal + divorce of church and state. So far as I know, he was the only man at that + time in this country who was in favor of real religious liberty. While the + Catholics of Maryland declared in favor of religious <i>toleration</i>, + they had no idea of religious liberty. They would not allow anyone to call + in question the doctrine of the Trinity, or the inspiration of the + Scriptures. They stood ready with branding-iron and gallows to burn and + choke out of man the idea that he had a right to think and to express his + thoughts. + </p> + <p> + So many religions met in our country—so many theories and dogmas + came in contact—so many follies, mistakes, and stupidities became + acquainted with each other, that religion began to fall somewhat into + disrepute. Besides this, the question of a new nation began to take + precedence of all others. + </p> + <p> + The people were too much interested in this world to quarrel about the + next. The preacher was lost in the patriot. The Bible was read to find + passages against kings. + </p> + <p> + Everybody was discussing the rights of man. Farmers and mechanics suddenly + became statesmen, and in every shop and cabin nearly every question was + asked and answered. + </p> + <p> + During these years of political excitement the interest in religion abated + to that degree that a common purpose animated men of all sects and creeds. + </p> + <p> + At last our fathers became tired of being colonists—tired of writing + and reading and signing petitions, and presenting them on their bended + knees to an idiot king. They began to have an aspiration to form a new + nation, to be citizens of a new republic instead of subjects of an old + monarchy. They had the idea—the Puritans, the Catholics, the + Episcopalians, the Baptists, the Quakers, and a few Freethinkers, all had + the idea—that they would like to form a new nation. + </p> + <p> + Now, do not understand that all of our fathers were in favor of + independence. Do not understand that they were all like Jefferson; that + they were all like Adams or Lee; that they were all like Thomas Paine or + John Hancock. There were thousands and thousands of them who were opposed + to American independence. There were thousands and thousands who said: + "When you say men are created equal, it is a lie; when you say the + political power resides in the great body of the people, it is false." + Thousands and thousands of them said: "We prefer Great Britain." But the + men who were in favor of independence, the men who knew that a new nation + must be born, went on full of hope and courage, and nothing could daunt or + stop or stay the heroic, fearless few. + </p> + <p> + They met in Philadelphia; and the resolution was moved by Lee of Virginia, + that the colonies ought to be independent states, and ought to dissolve + their political connection with Great Britain. + </p> + <p> + They made up their minds that a new nation must be formed. All nations had + been, so to speak, the wards of some church. The religious idea as to the + source of power had been at the foundation of all governments, and had + been the bane and curse of man. + </p> + <p> + Happily for us, there was no church strong enough to dictate to the rest. + Fortunately for us, the colonists not only, but the colonies differed + widely in their religious views. There were the Puritans who hated the + Episcopalians, and Episcopalians who hated the Catholics, and the + Catholics who hated both, while the Quakers held them all in contempt. + There they were, of every sort, and color and kind, and how was it that + they came together? They had a common aspiration. They wanted to form a + new nation. More than that, most of them cordially hated Great Britain; + and they pledged each other to forget these religious prejudices, for a + time at least, and agreed that there should be only one religion until + they got through, and that was the religion of patriotism. They solemnly + agreed that the new nation should not belong to any particular church, but + that it should secure the rights of all. + </p> + <p> + Our fathers founded the first secular government that was ever founded in + this world. Recollect that. The first secular government; the first + government that said every church has exactly the same rights and no more; + every religion has the same rights, and no more. In other words, our + fathers were the first men who had the sense, had the genius, to know that + no church should be allowed to have a sword; that it should be allowed + only to exert its moral influence. + </p> + <p> + You might as well have a government united by force with Art, or with + Poetry, or with Oratory, as with Religion. Religion should have the + influence upon mankind that its goodness, that its morality, its justice, + its charity, its reason, and its argument give it, and no more. Religion + should have the effect upon mankind that it necessarily has, and no more. + The religion that has to be supported by law is without value, not only, + but a fraud and curse. The religious argument that has to be supported by + a musket, is hardly worth making. A prayer that must have a cannon behind + it, better never be uttered. Forgiveness ought not to go in partnership + with shot and shell. Love need not carry knives and revolvers. + </p> + <p> + So our fathers said: "We will form a secular government, and under the + flag with which we are going to enrich the air, we will allow every man to + worship God as he thinks best." They said: "Religion is an individual + thing between each man and his creator, and he can worship as he pleases + and as he desires." And why did they do this? The history of the world + warned them that the liberty of man was not safe in the clutch and grasp + of any church. They had read of and seen the thumbscrews, the racks, and + the dungeons of the Inquisition. They knew all about the hypocrisy of the + olden time. They knew that the church had stood side by side with the + throne; that the high priests were hypocrites, and that the kings were + robbers. They also knew that if they gave power to any church, it would + corrupt the best church in the world. And so they said that power must not + reside in a church, or in a sect, but power must be wherever humanity is—in + the great body of the people. And the officers and servants of the people + must be responsible to them. And so I say again, as I said in the + commencement, this is the wisest, the pro-foundest, the bravest political + document that ever was written and signed by man. + </p> + <p> + They turned, as I tell you, everything squarely about. They derived all + their authority from the people. They did away forever with the + theological idea of government. + </p> + <p> + And what more did they say? They said that whenever the rulers abused this + authority, this power, incapable of destruction, returned to the people. + How did they come to say this? I will tell you. They were pushed into it. + How? They felt that they were oppressed; and whenever a man feels that he + is the subject of injustice, his perception of right and wrong is + wonderfully quickened. + </p> + <p> + Nobody was ever in prison wrongfully who did not believe in the writ of <i>habeas + corpus</i>. Nobody ever suffered wrongfully without instantly having ideas + of justice. + </p> + <p> + And they began to inquire what rights the king of Great Britain had. They + began to search for the charter of his authority. They began to + investigate and dig down to the bed-rock upon which society must be + founded, and when they got down there, forced there, too, by their + oppressors, forced against their own prejudices and education, they found + at' the bottom of things, not lords, not nobles, not pulpits, not thrones, + but humanity and the rights of men. + </p> + <p> + And so they said, We are men; we are men. They found out they were men. + And the next thing they said, was, "We will be free men; we are weary of + being colonists; we are tired of being subjects; we are men; and these + colonies ought to be states; and these states ought to be a nation; and + that nation ought to drive the last British soldier into the sea." And so + they signed that brave Declaration of Independence. + </p> + <p> + I thank every one of them from the bottom of my heart for signing that + sublime declaration. I thank them for their courage—for their + patriotism—for their wisdom—for the splendid confidence in + themselves and in the human race. I thank them for what they were, and for + what we are—for what they did, and for what we have received—for + what they suffered, and for what we enjoy. + </p> + <p> + What would we have been if we had remained colonists and subjects? What + would we have been to-day? Nobodies—ready to get down on our knees + and crawl in the very dust at the sight of somebody that was supposed to + have in him some drop of blood that flowed in the veins of that mailed + marauder—that royal robber, William the Conqueror. + </p> + <p> + They signed that Declaration of Independence, although they knew that it + would produce a long, terrible, and bloody war. They looked forward and + saw poverty, deprivation, gloom, and death. But they also saw, on the + wrecked clouds of war, the beautiful bow of freedom. + </p> + <p> + These grand men were enthusiasts; and the world has been raised only by + enthusiasts. In every country there have been a few who have given a + national aspiration to the people. The enthusiasts of 1776 were the + builders and framers of this great and splendid Government; and they were + the men who saw, although others did not, the golden fringe of the mantle + of glory that will finally cover this world. They knew, they felt, they + believed that they would give a new constellation to the political heavens—that + they would make the Americans a grand people—grand as the continent + upon which they lived. + </p> + <p> + The war commenced. There was little money, and less credit. The new nation + had but few friends. To a great extent each soldier of freedom had to + clothe and feed himself. He was poor and pure, brave and good, and so he + went to the fields of death to fight for the rights of man. + </p> + <p> + What did the soldier leave when he went? + </p> + <p> + He left his wife and children. + </p> + <p> + Did he leave them in a beautiful home, surrounded by civilization, in the + repose of law, in the security of a great and powerful republic? + </p> + <p> + No. He left his wife and children on the edge, on the fringe of the + boundless forest, in which crouched and crept the red savage, who was at + that time the ally of the still more savage Briton. He left his wife to + defend herself, and he left the prattling babes to be defended by their + mother and by nature. The mother made the living; she planted the corn and + the potatoes, and hoed them in the sun, raised the children, and, in the + darkness of night, told them about their brave father and the "sacred + cause." She told them that in a little while the war would be over and + father would come back covered with honor and glory. + </p> + <p> + Think of the women, of the sweet children who listened for the footsteps + of the dead—who waited through the sad and desolate years for the + dear ones who never came. + </p> + <p> + The soldiers of 1776 did not march away with music and banners. They went + in silence, looked at and gazed after by eyes filled with tears. They went + to meet, not an equal, but a superior—to fight five times their + number—to make a desperate stand to stop the advance of the enemy, + and then, when their ammunition gave out, seek the protection of rocks, of + rivers, and of hills. + </p> + <p> + Let me say here: The greatest test of courage on the earth is to bear + defeat without losing heart. That army is the bravest that can be whipped + the greatest number of times and fight again. + </p> + <p> + Over the entire territory, so to speak, then settled by our forefathers, + they were driven again and again. Now and then they would meet the English + with something like equal numbers, and then the eagle of victory would + proudly perch upon the stripes and stars. And so they went on as best they + could, hoping and fighting until they came to the dark and somber gloom of + Valley Forge. + </p> + <p> + There were very few hearts then beneath that flag that did not begin to + think that the struggle was useless; that all the blood and treasure had + been shed and spent in vain. But there were some men gifted with that + wonderful prophecy that fulfills itself, and with that wonderful magnetic + power that makes heroes of everybody they come in contact with. + </p> + <p> + And so our fathers went through the gloom of that terrible time, and still + fought on. Brave men wrote grand words, cheering the despondent; brave men + did brave deeds, the rich man gave his wealth, the poor man gave his life, + until at last, by the victory of Yorktown, the old banner won its place in + the air, and became glorious forever. + </p> + <p> + Seven long years of war—fighting for what? For the principle that + all men are created equal—a truth that nobody ever disputed except a + scoundrel; nobody, nobody in the entire history of this world. No man ever + denied that truth who was not a rascal, and at heart a thief; never, + never, and never will. What else were they fighting for? Simply that in + America every man should have a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of + happiness. Nobody ever denied that except a villain; never, never. It has + been denied by kings—they were thieves. It has been denied by + statesmen—they were liars. It has been denied by priests, by + clergymen, by cardinals, by bishops, and by popes—they were + hypocrites. + </p> + <p> + What else were they fighting for? For the idea that all political power is + vested in the great body of the people. The great body of the people make + all the money; do all the work. They plow the land, cut down the forests; + they produce everything that is produced. Then who shall say what shall be + done with what is produced except the producer? + </p> + <p> + Is it the non-producing thief, sitting on a throne, surrounded by vermin? + </p> + <p> + Those were the things they were fighting for; and that is all they were + fighting for. They fought to build up a new, a great nation; to establish + an asylum for the oppressed of the world everywhere. They knew the history + of this world. They knew the history of human slavery. + </p> + <p> + The history of civilization is the history of the slow and painful + enfranchisement of the human race. In the olden times the family was a + monarchy, the father being the monarch. The mother and children were the + veriest slaves. The will of the father was the supreme law. He had the + power of life and death. It took thousands of years to civilize this + father, thousands of years to make the condition of wife and mother and + child even tolerable. A few families constituted a tribe; the tribe had a + chief; the chief was a tyrant; a few tribes formed a nation; the nation + was governed by a king, who was also a tyrant. A strong nation robbed, + plundered, and took captive the weaker ones. This was the commencement of + human slavery. + </p> + <p> + It is not possible for the human imagination to conceive of the horrors of + slavery. It has left no possible crime uncommitted, no possible cruelty + unperpetrated. It has been practiced and defended by all nations in some + form. It has been upheld by all religions. It has been defended by nearly + every pulpit. From the profits derived from the slave trade churches have + been built, cathedrals reared and priests paid. Slavery has been blessed + by bishop, by cardinal, and by pope. It has received the sanction of + statesmen, of kings, and of queens. It has been defended by the throne, + the pulpit and the bench. Monarchs have shared in the profits. Clergymen + have taken their part of the spoils, reciting passages of Scripture in its + defence at the same time, and judges have taken their portion in the name + of equity and law. + </p> + <p> + Only a few years ago our ancestors were slaves. Only a few years ago they + passed with and belonged to the soil, like the coal under it and rocks on + it. + </p> + <p> + Only a few years ago they were treated like beasts of burden, worse far + than we treat our animals at the present day. Only a few years ago it was + a crime in England for a man to have a Bible in his house, a crime for + which men were hanged, and their bodies afterward burned. Only a few years + ago fathers could and did sell their children. Only a few years ago our + ancestors were not allowed to speak or write their thoughts—that + being a crime. Only a few years ago to be honest, at least in the + expression of your ideas, was a felony. To do right was a capital offence; + and in those days chains and whips were the incentives to labor, and the + preventives of thought. Honesty was a vagrant, justice a fugitive, and + liberty in chains. Only a few years ago men were denounced because they + doubted the inspiration of the Bible—because they denied miracles, + and laughed at the wonders recounted by the ancient Jews. + </p> + <p> + Only a few years ago a man had to believe in the total depravity of the + human heart in order to be respectable. Only a few years ago, people who + thought God too good to punish in eternal flames an unbaptized child were + considered infamous. + </p> + <p> + As soon as our ancestors began to get free they began to enslave others. + With an inconsistency that defies explanation, they practiced upon others + the same outrages that had been perpetrated upon them. As soon as white + slavery began to be abolished, black slavery commenced. In this infamous + traffic nearly every nation of Europe embarked. Fortunes were quickly + realized; the avarice and cupidity of Europe were excited; all ideas of + justice were discarded; pity fled from the human breast; a few good, brave + men recited the horrors of the trade; avarice was deaf; religion refused + to hear; the trade went on; the governments of Europe upheld it in the + name of commerce—in the name of civilization and religion. + </p> + <p> + Our fathers knew the history of caste. They knew that in the despotisms of + the Old World it was a disgrace to be useful. They knew that a mechanic + was esteemed as hardly the equal of a hound, and far below a blooded + horse. They knew that a nobleman held a son of labor in contempt—that + he had no rights the royal loafers were bound to respect. + </p> + <p> + The world has changed. + </p> + <p> + The other day there came shoemakers, potters, workers in wood and iron, + from Europe, and they were received in the city of New York as though they + had been princes. They had been sent by the great republic of France to + examine into the arts and manufactures of the great republic of America. + They looked a thousand times better to me than the Edward Alberts and + Albert Edwards—the royal vermin, that live on the body politic. And + I would think much more of our Government if it would fete and feast them, + instead of wining and dining the imbeciles of a royal line. + </p> + <p> + Our fathers devoted their lives and fortunes to the grand work of founding + a government for the protection of the rights of man. The theological idea + as to the source of political power had poisoned the web and woof of every + government in the world, and our fathers banished it from this continent + forever. + </p> + <p> + What we want to-day is what our fathers wrote down. They did not attain to + their ideal; we approach it nearer, but have not reached it yet. We want, + not only the independence of a State, not only the independence of a + nation, but something far more glorious—the absolute independence of + the individual. That is what we want. I want it so that I, one of the + children of Nature, can stand on an equality with the rest; that I can say + this is my air, my sunshine, my earth, and I have a right to live, and + hope, and aspire, and labor, and enjoy the fruit of that labor, as much as + any individual or any nation on the face of the globe. + </p> + <p> + We want every American to make to-day, on this hundredth anniversary, a + declaration of individual independence. Let each man enjoy his liberty to + the utmost—enjoy all he can; but be sure it is not at the expense of + another. The French Convention gave the best definition of liberty I have + ever read: "The liberty of one citizen ceases only where the liberty of + another citizen commences." I know of no better definition. I ask you + to-day to make a declaration of individual independence. And if you are + independent be just. Allow everybody else to make his declaration of + individual independence. Allow your wife, allow your husband, allow your + children to make theirs. Let everybody be absolutely free and independent, + knowing only the sacred obligations of honesty and affection. Let us be + independent of party, independent of everybody and everything except our + own consciences and our own brains. Do not belong to any clique. Have the + clear title-deeds in fee simple to yourselves, without any mortgage on the + premises to anybody in the world. + </p> + <p> + It is a grand thing to be the owner of yourself. It is a grand thing to + protect the rights of others. It is a sublime thing to be free and just. + </p> + <p> + Only a few days ago I stood in Independence Hall—in that little room + where was signed the immortal paper. A little room, like any other; and it + did not seem possible that from that room went forth ideas, like cherubim + and seraphim, spreading their wings over a continent, and touching, as + with holy fire, the hearts of men. + </p> + <p> + In a few moments I was in the park, where are gathered the accomplishments + of a century. Our fathers never dreamed of the things I saw. There were + hundreds of locomotives, with their nerves of steel and breath of flame—every + kind of machine, with whirling wheels and curious cogs and cranks, and the + myriad thoughts of men that have been wrought in iron, brass and steel. + And going out from one little building were wires in the air, stretching + to every civilized nation, and they could send a shining messenger in a + moment to any part of the world, and it would go sweeping under the waves + of the sea with thoughts and words within its glowing heart. I saw all + that had been achieved by this nation, and I wished that the signers of + the Declaration—the soldiers of the Revolution—could see what + a century of freedom has produced. I wished they could see the fields we + cultivate—the rivers we navigate—the railroads running over + the Alleghanies, far into what was then the unknown forest—on over + the broad prairies—on over the vast plains—away over the + mountains of the West, to the Golden Gate of the Pacific. All this is the + result of a hundred years of freedom. + </p> + <p> + Are you not more than glad that in 1776 was announced the sublime + principle that political power resides with the people? That our fathers + then made up their minds nevermore to be colonists and subjects, but that + they would be free and independent citizens of America? + </p> + <p> + I will not name any of the grand men who fought for liberty. All should be + named, or none. I feel that the unknown soldier who was shot down without + even his name being remembered—who was included only in a report of + "a hundred killed," or "a hundred missing," nobody knowing even the number + that attached to his august corpse—is entitled to as deep and + heartfelt thanks as the titled leader who fell at the head of the host. + </p> + <p> + Standing here amid the sacred memories of the first, on the golden + threshold of the second, I ask, Will the second century be as grand as the + first? I believe it will, because we are growing more and more humane. I + believe there is more human kindness, more real, sweet human sympathy, a + greater desire to help one another, in the United States, than in all the + world besides. + </p> + <p> + We must progress. We are just at the commencement of invention. The steam + engine—the telegraph—these are but the toys with which science + has been amused. Wait; there will be grander things, there will be wider + and higher culture—a grander standard of character, of literature + and art. + </p> + <p> + We have now half as many millions of people as we have years, and many of + us will live until a hundred millions stand beneath the flag. We are + getting more real solid sense. The schoolhouse is the finest building in + the village. We are writing and reading more books; we are painting and + buying more pictures; we are struggling more and more to get at the + philosophy of life, of things—trying more and more to answer the + questions of the eternal Sphinx. We are looking in every direction—investigating; + in short, we are thinking and working. Besides all this, I believe the + people are nearer honest than ever before. A few years ago we were willing + to live upon the labor of four million slaves. Was that honest? At last, + we have a national conscience. At last, we have carried out the + Declaration of Independence. Our fathers wrote it—we have + accomplished it. The black man was a slave—we made him a citizen. We + found four million human beings in manacles, and now the hands of a race + are held up in the free air without a chain. + </p> + <p> + I have had the supreme pleasure of seeing a man—once a slave—sitting + in the seat of his former master in the Congress of the United States. I + have had that pleasure, and when I saw it my eyes were filled with tears. + I felt that we had carried, out the Declaration of Independence—that + we had given reality to it, and breathed the breath of life into its every + word. I felt that our flag would float over and protect the colored man + and his little children, standing straight in the sun, just the same as + though he were white and worth a million. I would protect him more, + because the rich white man could protect himself. + </p> + <p> + All who stand beneath our banner are free. Ours is the only flag that has + in reality written upon it: Liberty, Fraternity, Equality—the three + grandest words in all the languages of men. + </p> + <p> + Liberty: Give to every man the fruit of his own labor—the labor of + his hands and of his brain. + </p> + <p> + Fraternity: Every man in the right is my brother. + </p> + <p> + Equality: The rights of all are equal: Justice, poised and balanced in + eternal calm, will shake from the golden scales in which are weighed the + acts of men, the very dust of prejudice and caste: No race, no color, no + previous condition, can change the rights of men. + </p> + <p> + The Declaration of Independence has at last been carried out in letter and + in spirit. + </p> + <p> + The second century will be grander than the first. + </p> + <p> + Fifty millions of people are celebrating this day. To-day, the black man + looks upon his child and says: The avenues to distinction are open to you—upon + your brow may fall the civic wreath—this day belongs to you. + </p> + <p> + We are celebrating the courage and wisdom of our fathers, and the glad + shout of a free people the anthem of a grand nation, commencing at the + Atlantic, is following the sun to the Pacific, across a continent of happy + homes. + </p> + <p> + We are a great people. Three millions have increased to fifty—thirteen + States to thirty-eight. We have better homes, better clothes, better food + and more of it, and more of the conveniences of life, than any other + people upon the globe. + </p> + <p> + The farmers of our country live better than did the kings and princes two + hundred years ago—and they have twice as much sense and heart. + Liberty and labor have given us all. I want every person here to believe + in the dignity of labor—to know that the respectable man is the + useful man—the man who produces or helps others to produce something + of value, whether thought of the brain or work of the hand. + </p> + <p> + I want you to go away with an eternal hatred in your breast of injustice, + of aristocracy, of caste, of the idea that one man has more rights than + another because he has better clothes, more land, more money, because he + owns a railroad, or is famous and in high position. Remember that all men + have equal rights. Remember that the man who acts best his part—who + loves his friends the best—is most willing to help others—truest + to the discharge of obligation—who has the best heart—the most + feeling—the deepest sympathies—and who freely gives to others + the rights that he claims for himself is the best man. I am willing to + swear to this. + </p> + <p> + What has made this country? I say again, liberty and labor. What would we + be without labor? I want every farmer when plowing the rustling corn of + June—while mowing in the perfumed fields—to feel that he is + adding to the wealth and glory of the United States. I want every mechanic—every + man of toil, to know and feel that he is keeping the cars running, the + telegraph wires in the air; that he is making the statues and painting the + pictures; that he is writing and printing the books; that he is helping to + fill the world with honor, with happiness, with love and law. + </p> + <p> + Our country is founded upon the dignity of labor—upon the equality + of man. Ours is the first real Republic in the history of the world. + Beneath our flag the people are free. We have retired the gods from + politics. We have found that man is the only source of political power, + and that the governed should govern. We have disfranchised the aristocrats + of the air and have given one country to mankind. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link0004" id="link0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + BANGOR SPEECH. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Yesterday was a glorious day for the Republicans of + Bangor. The weather was delightful and all the imposing + exercises of the day were conducted with a gratifying and + even inspiring success. + + The noon train from Waterville brought Gov. Connor, Col. + Ingersoll and Senator Blaine. + + At 3 p. m. the speakers arrived at the grounds and were + received with applause as they ascended the platform, where + a number of the most prominent citizens of Bangor and + vicinity were assembled. At this time the platform was + surrounded by a dense mass of people, numbering thousands. + The meeting was called to order by C. A. Boutelle, in behalf + of the Republican State Committee. As Col. Ingersoll was + introduced by Gov. Connor he was welcomed by tumultuous + cheers, which he gracefully acknowledged. + + As we said before, no report could do justice to such a + masterly effort as that of the great Western Orator, and we + have not attempted to convey any adequate impression of an + address which is conceded on all hands to be the most + remarkable for originality, power and eloquence ever heard + in this section. + + Such a speech by such a man—if there is another—must be + heard; the magnetism of the speaker must be felt; the + indescribable influence must be experienced, in order to + appreciate his wonderful power. The vast audience was + alternately swayed from enthusiasm for the grand principles + advocated, to indignation at the crimes of Democracy, as the + record of that party was scorched with his invective; from + laughter at the ludicrous presentment of Democratic + inconsistencies, to tears brought forth by the pathos and + eloquence of his appeals for justice and humanity. During + portions of his address there was moisture in the eyes of + every person in the audience, and from opening to close he + held the assemblage by a spell more potent than that of any + man we have ever heard speak. It was one of the grandest, + most cogent and thrilling appeals in behalf of the great + principles of liberty, loyalty and justice to all men, ever + delivered, and we wish it might have been heard by every + citizen of our beloved Republic. The Colonel was repeatedly + urged by the audience to go on, and he spoke for about two + hours with undiminished fervor. His hearers would gladly + have given him audience for two hours longer, but with a + splendid tribute to Mr. Blaine as the strongest tie between + New England and the West, he took his seat amid the ringing + cheers and plaudits of the assemblage.—The Whig and + Courier, Bangor, Maine, August 25,1876. +</pre> + <p> + HAYES CAMPAIGN 1876. + </p> + <p> + I HAVE the honor to belong to the Republican party; the grandest, the + sublimest party in the history of the world. This grand party is not only + in favor of the liberty of the body, but also the liberty of the soul. + This sublime party gives to all the labor of their hands and of their + brains. This party allows every person to think for himself and to express + his thoughts. The Republican party forges no chains for the mind, no + fetters for the souls of men. It declares that the intellectual domain + shall be forever free. In the free air there is room for every wing. The + Republican party endeavors to remove all obstructions on the highway of + progress. In this sublime undertaking it asks the assistance of all. Its + platform is Continental. Upon it there is room for the Methodist, the + Baptist, the Catholic, the Universalist, the Presbyterian, and the + Freethinker. There is room for all who are in favor of the preservation of + the sacred rights of men. + </p> + <p> + I am going to give you a few reasons for voting the Republican ticket. The + Republican party depends upon reason, upon argument, upon education, upon + intelligence and upon patriotism. The Republican party makes no appeal to + ignorance and prejudice. It wishes to destroy both. + </p> + <p> + It is the party of humanity, the party that hates caste, that honors + labor, that rewards toil, that believes in justice. It appeals to all that + is elevated and noble in man, to the higher instincts, to the nobler + aspirations. It has accomplished grand things. + </p> + <p> + The horizon of the past is filled with the glory of Republican + achievement. The monuments of its wisdom, its power and patriotism crowd + all the fields of conflict. Upon the Constitution this party wrote equal + rights for all; upon every statute book, humanity; upon the flag, liberty. + The Republican party of the United States is the conscience of the + nineteenth century. It is the justice of this age, the embodiment of + social progress and honor. It has no knee for the past. Its face is toward + the future. It is the party of advancement, of the dawn, of the sunrise. + </p> + <p> + The Republican party commenced its grand career by saying that the + institution of human slavery had cursed enough American soil; that the + territories should not be damned with that most infamous thing; that this + country was sacred to freedom; that slavery had gone far enough. Upon that + issue the great campaign of 1860 was fought and won. The Republican party + was born of wisdom and conscience. + </p> + <p> + The people of the South claimed that slavery should be protected; that the + doors of the territories should be thrown open to them and to their + institutions. They not only claimed this, but they also insisted that the + Constitution of the United States protected slave property, the same as + other property everywhere. The South was defeated, and then appealed to + arms. In a moment all their energies were directed toward the destruction + of this Government. They commenced the war—they fired upon the flag + that had protected them for nearly a century. + </p> + <p> + The North was compelled to decide instantly between the destruction of the + nation and civil war. + </p> + <p> + The division between the friends and enemies of the Union at once took + place. The Government began to defend itself. To carry on the war money + was necessary. The Government borrowed, and finally issued its notes and + bonds. The Democratic party in the North sympathized with the Rebellion. + Everything was done to hinder, embarrass, obstruct and delay. They + endeavored to make a rebel breastwork of the Constitution; to create a + fire in the rear. They denounced the Government; resisted the draft; shot + United States officers; declared the war a failure and an outrage; + rejoiced over our defeats, and wept and cursed at our victories. + </p> + <p> + To crush the Rebellion in the South and keep in subjection the Democratic + party at the North, thousands of millions of money were expended—the + nation burdened with a fearful debt, and the best blood of the country + poured out upon the fields of battle. + </p> + <p> + In order to destroy the Rebellion it became necessary to destroy slavery. + As a matter of fact, slavery was the Rebellion. As soon as this truth + forced itself upon the Government—thrust as it were into the brain + of the North upon the point of a rebel bayonet—the Republican party + resolved to destroy forever the last vestige of that savage and cruel + institution; an institution that made white men devils and black men + beasts. + </p> + <p> + The Republican party put down the Rebellion; saved the nation; destroyed + slavery; made the slave a citizen; put the ballot in the hands of the + black man; forgave the assassins of the Government; restored nearly every + rebel to citizenship, and proclaimed peace to, and for each and all. + </p> + <p> + For sixteen years the country has been in the hands of that great party. + For sixteen years that grand party, in spite of rebels in arms—in + spite of the Democratic party of the North, has preserved the territorial + integrity, and the financial honor of the country. It has endeavored to + enforce the laws; it has tried to protect loyal men at the South; it has + labored to bring murderers and assassins to justice, and it is working now + to preserve the priceless fruits of its great victory. + </p> + <p> + The present question is, whom shall we trust? To whom shall we give the + reins of power? What party will best preserve the rights of the people? + </p> + <p> + What party is most deserving of our confidence? There is but one way to + determine the character of a party, and that is, by ascertaining its + history. + </p> + <p> + Could we have safely trusted the Democratic party in 1860? No. And why + not? Because it was a believer in the right of secession—a believer + in the sacredness of human slavery. The Democratic party then solemnly + declared—speaking through its most honored and trusted leaders—that + each State had the right to secede. This made the Constitution a <i>nudum + pactum</i>, a contract without a consideration, a Democratic promise, a + wall of mist, and left every State free to destroy at will the fabric of + American Government—the fabric reared by our fathers through years + of toil and blood. + </p> + <p> + Could we have safely trusted that party in 1864, when, in convention + assembled, it declared the war a failure, and wished to give up the + contest at a moment when universal victory was within the grasp of the + Republic? Had the people put that party in power then, there would have + been a Southern Confederacy to-day, and upon the limbs of four million + people the chains of slavery would still have clanked. Is there one man + present who, to-day, regrets that the Vallandigham Democracy of 1864 was + spurned and beaten by the American people? Is there one man present who, + to-day, regrets the utter defeat of that mixture of slavery, malice and + meanness, called the Democratic party, in 1864? + </p> + <p> + Could we have safely trusted that party in 1868? + </p> + <p> + At that time the Democracy of the South was trying to humble and frighten + the colored people or exterminate them. These inoffensive colored people + were shot down without provocation, without mercy. The white Democrats + were as relentless as fiends. They killed simply to kill. They murdered + these helpless people, thinking that they were in some blind way getting + their revenge upon the people of the North. No tongue can exaggerate the + cruelties practiced upon the helpless freedmen of the South. These white + Democrats had been reared amid and by slavery. Slavery knows no such thing + as justice, no such thing as mercy. Slavery does not dream of governing by + reason, by argument or persuasion. Slavery depends upon force, upon the + bowie-knife, the revolver, the whip, the chain and the bloodhound. The + white Democrats of the South had been reared amid slavery; they cared + nothing for reason; they knew of but one thing to be used when there was a + difference of opinion or a conflict of interest, and that was brute force. + It never occurred to them to educate, to inform, and to reason. It was + easier to shoot than to reason; it was quicker to stab than to argue; + cheaper to kill than to educate. A grave costs less than a schoolhouse; + bullets were cheaper than books; and one knife could stab more than forty + schools could convert. + </p> + <p> + They could not bear to see the negro free—to see the former slave + trampling on his old chains, holding a ballot in his hand. They could not + endure the sight of a negro in office. It was gall and wormwood to think + of a slave occupying a seat in Congress; to think of a negro giving his + ideas about the political questions of the day. And so these white + Democrats made up their minds that by a reign of terrorism they would + drive the negro from the polls, drive him from all official positions, and + put him back in reality in the old condition. To accomplish this they + commenced a system of murder, of assassination, of robbery, theft, and + plunder, never before equaled in extent and atrocity. All this was in its + height when in 1868 the Democracy asked the control of this Government. + </p> + <p> + Is there a man here who in his heart regrets that the Democrats failed in + 1868? Do you wish that the masked murderers who rode in the darkness of + night to the hut of the freedman and shot him down like a wild beast, + regardless of the prayers and tears of wife and children, were now holding + positions of honor and trust in this Government? Are you sorry that these + assassins were defeated in 1868? + </p> + <p> + In 1872 the Democratic party, bent upon victory, greedy for office, with + itching palms and empty pockets, threw away all principle—if + Democratic doctrines can be called principles—and nominated a + life-long enemy of their party for President. No one doubted or doubts the + loyalty and integrity of Horace Greeley. But all knew that if elected he + would belong to the party electing him; that he would have to use + Democrats as his agents, and all knew, or at least feared, that the agents + would own and use the principal. All believed that in the malicious clutch + of the Democratic party Horace Greeley would be not a President, but a + prisoner—not a ruler, but a victim. Against that grand man I have + nothing to say. I simply congratulate him upon his escape from being used + as a false key by the Democratic party. + </p> + <p> + During all these years the Democratic party prophesied the destruction of + the Government, the destruction of the Constitution, and the banishment of + liberty from American soil. + </p> + <p> + In 1864 that party declared that after four years of failure to restore + the Union by the experiment of war, there should be a cessation of + hostilities. They then declared "that the Constitution had been violated + in every part, and that public liberty and private rights had been trodden + down." + </p> + <p> + And yet the Constitution remained and still remains; public liberty still + exists, and private rights are still respected. + </p> + <p> + In 1868, growing more desperate, and being still filled with the spirit of + prophecy, this same party in its platform said: "Under the repeated + assaults of the Republican party, the pillars of the Government are + rocking on their base, and should it succeed in November next, and + inaugurate its President, we will meet as a subjected and conquered + people, amid the ruins of liberty and the scattered fragments of the + Constitution." + </p> + <p> + The Republican party did succeed in November, 1868, and did inaugurate its + President, and we did not meet as a subjected and conquered people amid + the ruins of liberty and the scattered fragments of the Constitution. We + met as a victorious people, amid the proudest achievements of liberty, + protected by a Constitution spotless and stainless—pure as the + Alpine snow thrice sifted by the northern blast. + </p> + <p> + You must not forget the condition of the Government when it came into the + hands of the Republican party. Its treasury was empty, its means + squandered, its navy dispersed, its army unreliable, the offices filled + with rebels and rebel spies; the Democratic party of the North rubbing its + hands in a kind of hellish glee and shouting, "I told you so." + </p> + <p> + When the Republican party came into power in 1861, it found the Southern + States in arms; it came into power when human beings were chained hand to + hand and driven like cattle to market; when white men were engaged in the + ennobling business of raising dogs to pursue and catch men and women; when + the bay of the bloodhound was considered as the music of the Union. It + came into power when, from thousands of pulpits, slavery was declared to + be a divine institution. It took the reins of Government when education + was an offence, when mercy, humanity and justice were political crimes. + </p> + <p> + The Republican party came into power when the Constitution of the United + States upheld the crime of crimes, a Constitution that gave the lie direct + to the Declaration of Independence, and, as I said before, when the + Southern States were in arms. + </p> + <p> + To the fulfillment of its great destiny it gave all its energies. To the + almost superhuman task, it gave its every thought and power. For four long + and terrible years, with vast armies in the field against it; beset by + false friends; in constant peril; betrayed again and again; stabbed by the + Democratic party, in the name of the Constitution; reviled and slandered + beyond conception; attacked in every conceivable manner—the + Republican party never faltered for an instant. Its courage increased with + the difficulties to be overcome. Hopeful in defeat, confident in disaster, + merciful in victory; sustained by high aims and noble aspirations, it + marched forward, through storms of shot and shell—on to the last + fortification of treason and rebellion—forward to the shining goal + of victory, lasting and universal. + </p> + <p> + During these savage and glorious years, the Democratic party of the North, + as a party, assisted the South. Democrats formed secret societies to burn + cities—to release rebel prisoners. They shot down officers who were + enforcing the draft; they declared the war unconstitutional; they left + nothing undone to injure the credit of the Government; they persuaded + soldiers to desert; they went into partnership with rebels for the purpose + of spreading contagious diseases through the North. They were the friends + and allies of persons who regarded yellow fever and smallpox as weapons of + civilized warfare. In spite of all this, the Republicans succeeded. + </p> + <p> + The Democrats declared slavery to be a divine institution; The Republican + party abolished it. The Constitution of the United States was changed from + a sword that stabbed the rights of four million people to a shield for + every human being beneath our flag. + </p> + <p> + The Democrats of New York burned orphan asylums and inaugurated a reign of + terror in order to co-operate with the raid of John Morgan. Remember, my + friends, that all this was done when the fate of our country trembled in + the balance of war; that all this was done when the great heart of the + North was filled with agony and courage; when the question was, "Shall + Liberty or Slavery triumph?" + </p> + <p> + No words have ever passed the human lips strong enough to curse the + Northern allies of the South. + </p> + <p> + The United States wanted money. It wanted money to buy muskets and cannon + and shot and shell, it wanted money to pay soldiers, to buy horses, + wagons, ambulances, clothing and food. Like an individual, it had to + borrow this money; and, like an honest individual, it must pay this money. + Clothed with sovereignty, it had, or at least exercised, the power to make + its notes a legal tender. This quality of being a legal tender was the + only respect in which these notes differ from those signed by an + individual. As a matter of fact, every note issued was a forced loan from + the people, a forced loan from the soldiers in the field—in short, a + forced loan from every person that took a single dollar. Upon every one of + these notes is printed a promise. The belief that this promise will be + made good gives every particle of value to each note that it has. Although + each note, by law, is a legal tender, yet if the Government declared that + it never would redeem these notes, the people would not take them if + revolution could hurl such a Government from power. So that the belief + that these notes will finally be paid, added to the fact that in the + meantime they are a legal tender, gives them all the value they have. And, + although all are substantially satisfied that they will be paid, none know + at what time. This uncertainty as to the time, as to when, affects the + value of these notes. + </p> + <p> + They must be paid, unless a promise can be delayed so long as to amount to + a fulfillment. They must be paid. The question is, "How?" The answer is, + "By the industry and prosperity of the people." They cannot be paid by + law. Law made them; labor must pay them; and they must be paid out of the + profits of the people. We must pay the debt with eggs, not with goose. In + a terrible war we spent thousands of millions; all the bullets thrown; all + the powder burned; all the property destroyed, of every sort, kind, and + character; all the time of the people engaged—all these things were + a dead loss. The debt represents the loss. Paying the debt is simply + repairing the loss. When we, as a people, shall have made a net amount, + equal to the amount thrown, as it were, away in war, or somewhere near + that amount, we will resume specie payment; we will redeem our promises. + We promised on paper, we shall pay in gold and silver. We asked the people + to hold this paper until we got the money, and they are holding the paper + and we are getting the money. + </p> + <p> + As soon as the slaves were free, the Republican party said, "They must be + citizens, not vagrants." The Democratic party opposed this just, this + generous measure. The freedmen were made citizens. The Republican party + then said, "These citizens must vote; they must have the ballot, to keep + what the bullet has won." The Democratic party said "No." The negroes + received the ballot. The Republican party then said, "These voters must be + educated, so that the ballot shall be the weapon of intelligence, not of + ignorance." The Democratic party objected. But schools were founded, and + books were put in the hands of the colored people, instead of whips upon + their backs. We said to the Southern people, "The colored men are + citizens; their rights must be respected; they are voters, they must be + allowed to vote; they were and are our friends, and we are their + protectors." + </p> + <p> + All this was accomplished by the Republican party. + </p> + <p> + It changed the organic law of the land, so that it is now a proper + foundation for a free government; it struck the cruel shackles from four + million human beings; it put down the most gigantic rebellion in the + history of the world; it expunged from the statute books of every State, + and of the Nation, all the cruel and savage laws that Slavery had enacted; + it took whips from the backs, and chains from the limbs, of men; it + dispensed with bloodhounds as the instruments of civilization; it banished + to the memory of barbarism the slave-pen, the auction block, and the + whipping-post; it purified a Nation; it elevated the human race. + </p> + <p> + All this was opposed by the Democratic party; opposed with a bitterness, + compared to which ordinary malice is sweet. I say the Democratic party, + because I consider those who fought against the Government, in the fields + of the South, and those who opposed in the North, as Democrats—one + and all. The Democratic party has been, during all these years, the enemy + of civilization, the hater of liberty, the despiser of justice. + </p> + <p> + When I say the Democratic party sympathized with the Rebellion, I mean a + majority of that party. I know there are in the Democratic party, soldiers + who fought for the Union. I do not know why they are there, but I have + nothing to say against them. I will never utter a word against any man who + bared his breast to a storm of shot and shell, for the preservation of the + Republic. When I use the term Democratic party, I do not mean those + soldiers. + </p> + <p> + There are others in the Democratic party who are there just because their + fathers were Democrats. They do not mean any particular harm. Others are + there because they could not amount to anything in the Republican party. A + man only fit for a corporal in the Republican ranks, will make a leader in + the Democratic party. By the Democratic party, I mean that party that + sided with the South—that believed in secession—that loved + slavery—that hated liberty—that denounced Lincoln as a tyrant—that + burned orphan asylums—that gloried in our disasters—that + denounced every effort to save the nation—they are the gentlemen I + mean, and they constitute a large majority of the Democratic party. + </p> + <p> + The Democrats hate the negro to-day, with a hatred begotten of a + well-grounded fear that the colored people are rapidly becoming their + superiors in industry, intellect and character. + </p> + <p> + The colored people have suffered enough. They were and are our friends. + They are the friends of this country, and cost what it may they must be + protected. The white loyal man must be protected. They have been + ostracized, slandered, mobbed, and murdered. Their very blood cries from + the ground. + </p> + <p> + These two things—payment of the debt and protection of loyal + citizens, are the things to be done. Which party can be trusted? + </p> + <p> + Which will be the more apt to pay the debt? + </p> + <p> + Which will be the more apt to protect the colored and white loyalist at + the South? + </p> + <p> + Who is Samuel J. Tilden? + </p> + <p> + Samuel J. Tilden is an attorney. He never gave birth to an elevated, noble + sentiment in his life. He is a kind of legal spider, watching in a web of + technicalities for victims. He is a compound of cunning and heartlessness—of + beak and claw and fang. He is one of the few men who can grab a railroad + and hide the deep cuts, tunnels and culverts in a single night. He is a + corporation wrecker. He is a demurrer filed by the Confederate congress. + He waits on the shores of bankruptcy to clutch the drowning by the throat. + He was never married. The Democratic party has satisfied the longings of + his heart. He has looked upon love as weakness. He has courted men because + women cannot vote. He has contented himself by adopting a rag-baby, that + really belongs to Mr. Hendricks, and his principal business at present is + explaining how he came to adopt this child. + </p> + <p> + Samuel J. Tilden has been for years without number a New York Democrat. + </p> + <p> + New York has been, and still is, the worst governed city in the world. + Political influence is bought and sold like stocks and bonds. Nearly every + contract is larceny in disguise—nearly every appointment is a reward + for crime, and every election is a fraud. Among such men Samuel J. Tilden + has lived; with such men he has acted; by such men he has been educated; + such men have been his scholars, and such men are his friends. These men + resisted the draft, but Samuel J. Tilden remained their friend. They + burned orphan asylums, but Tilden's friendship never cooled. They + inaugurated riot and murder, but Tilden wavered not. They stole a hundred + millions, and when no more was left to steal—when the people could + not even pay the interest on the amount stolen—then these Democrats, + clapping their hands over their bursting pockets, began shouting for + reform. Mr. Tilden has been a reformer for years, especially of railroads. + The vital issue with him has been the issue of bogus stock. Although a + life-long Democrat, he has been an amalgamationist—of corporations. + While amassing millions, he has occasionally turned his attention to + national affairs. He left his private affairs (and his reputation depends + upon these affairs being kept private) long enough to assist the Democracy + to declare the war for the restoration of the Union a failure; long enough + to denounce Lincoln as a tyrant and usurper. He was generally too busy to + denounce the political murders and assassinations in the South—too + busy to say a word in favor of justice and liberty; but he found time to + declare the war for the preservation of the country an outrage. He managed + to spare time enough to revile the Proclamation of Emancipation—time + enough to shed a few tears over the corpse of slavery; time enough to + oppose the enfranchisement of the colored man; time enough to raise his + voice against the injustice of putting a loyal negro on a political level + with a pardoned rebel; time enough to oppose every forward movement of the + nation. + </p> + <p> + No man should ever be elected President of this country who raised his + hand to dismember and destroy it. No man should be elected President who + sympathized with those who were endeavoring to destroy it. No man should + be elected President of this great nation who, when it was in deadly + peril, did not endeavor to save it by act and word. No man should be + elected President who does not believe that every negro should be free—that + the colored people should be allowed to vote. No man should be placed at + the head of the nation—in command of the army and navy—who + does not believe that the Constitution, with all its amendments, should be + sacredly enforced. No man should be elected President of this nation who + believes in the Democratic doctrine of "States Rights;" who believes that + this Government is only a federation of States. No man should be elected + President of our great country who aided and abetted her enemies in war—who + advised or countenanced resistance to a draft in time of war, who by + slander impaired her credit, sneered at her heroes, and laughed at her + martyrs. Samuel J. Tilden is the possessor of nearly every + disqualification mentioned. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Tilden is the author of an essay on finance, commonly called a letter + of acceptance, in which his ideas upon the great subject are given in the + plainest and most direct manner imaginable. All through this letter or + essay there runs a vein of honest bluntness really refreshing. As a + specimen of bluntness and clearness, take the following extracts: + </p> + <p> + How shall the Government make these notes at all times as good as specie? + It has to provide in reference to the mass which would be kept in use by + the wants of business a central reservoir of coin, adequate to the + adjustment of the temporary fluctuations of the international balance, and + as a guaranty against transient drains, artificially created by panic or + by speculation. It has also to provide for the payment in coin of such + fractional currency as may be presented for redemption, and such + inconsiderable portion of legal tenders as individuals may from time to + time desire to convert for special use, or in order to lay by in coin + their little store of money. To make the coin now in the treasury + available for the objects of this reserve, to gradually strengthen and + enlarge that reserve, and to provide for such other exceptional demands + for coin as may arise, does not seem to me a work of difficulty. If wisely + planned and discreetly pursued, it ought not to cost any sacrifice to the + business of the country. It should tend, on the contrary, to the revival + of hope and confidence. + </p> + <p> + In other words, the way to pay the debt is to get the money, and the way + to get the money is to provide a central reservoir of coin to adjust + fluctuations. As to the resumption he gives us this: + </p> + <p> + The proper time for the resumption is the time when wise preparation shall + have ripened into perfect ability to accomplish the object with a + certainty and ease that will inspire confidence and encourage the reviving + of business. + </p> + <p> + The earliest time in which such a result can be brought about is best. + Even when preparations shall have been matured, the exact date would have + to be chosen with reference to the then existing state of trade and credit + operations in our own country, and the course of foreign commerce and + condition of exchanges with other nations. The specific measure and actual + date are matters of details, having reference to ever-changing conditions. + They belong to the domain of practical, administrative statesmanship. The + captain of a steamer, about starting from New York to Liverpool, does not + assemble a council over his ocean craft, and fix an angle by which to lash + the rudder for the whole voyage. A human intelligence must be at the helm + to discern the shifting forces of water and winds. A human mind must be at + the helm to feel the elements day by day, and guide to a mastery over + them. Such preparations are everything. Without them a legislative command + fixing a day—an official promise fixing a day, are shams. They are + worse. They are a snare and a delusion to all who trust them. They destroy + all confidence among thoughtful men whose judgment will at last sway + public opinion. An attempt to act on such a command, or such a promise + without preparation, would end in a new suspension. It would be a fresh + calamity, prolific of confusion, distrust, and distress. + </p> + <p> + That is to say, Congress has not sufficient intelligence to fix the date + of resumption. They cannot fix the proper time. But a Democratic + convention has human intelligence enough to know that the first day of + January, 1879, is not the proper date. That convention knew what the state + of trade and credit in our country and the course of foreign commerce and + the condition of exchanges with other nations would be on the first day of + January, 1879. Of course they did, or else they never would have had the + impudence to declare that resumption would be impossible at that date. + </p> + <p> + The next extract is more luminous still: + </p> + <p> + The Government of the United States, in my opinion, can advance to a + resumption of specie payments on its legal tender notes by gradual and + safe processes tending to relieve the present business distress. If + charged by the people with the administration of the executive office, I + should deem it a duty so to exercise the powers with which it has or may + be invested by Congress, as the best and soonest to conduct the country to + that beneficent result. + </p> + <p> + Why did not this great statesman tell us of some "gradual and safe + process"? He promises, if elected, to so administer the Government that it + will soon reach a beneficent result. How is this to be done? What is his + plan? Will he rely on "a human intelligence at the helm," or on "the + central reservoir," or on some "gradual and safe process"? + </p> + <p> + I defy any man to read this letter and tell me what Mr. Tilden really + proposes to do. There is nothing definite said. He uses such general + terms, such vague and misty expressions, such unmeaning platitudes, that + the real idea, if he had one, is lost in fog and mist. + </p> + <p> + Suppose I should, in the most solemn and impressive manner, tell you that + the fluctuations caused in the vital stability of shifting financial + operations, not to say speculations of the wildest character, cannot be + rendered instantly accountable to a true financial theory based upon the + great law that the superfluous is not a necessity, except in vague + thoughts of persons unacquainted with the exigencies of the hour, and + cannot, in the absence of a central reservoir of coin with a human + intelligence at the head, hasten by any system of convertible bonds the + expectation of public distrust, no matter how wisely planned and + discreetly pursued, failure is assured whatever the real result may be. + </p> + <p> + Must we wage this war for the right forever? Is there no time when the + soldiers of progress can rest? Will the bugles of the great army of + civilization never sound even a halt? It does seem as though there can be + no stop, no rest. It is in the world of mind as in the physical world. + Every plant of value has to be cultivated. The land must be plowed, the + seeds must be planted and watered. It must be guarded every moment. Its + enemies crawl in the earth and fly in the air. The sun scorches it, the + rain drowns it, the dew rusts it. He who wins it must fight. But the weeds + they grow in spite of all. Nobody plows for them except accident. The + winds sow the seeds, chance covers them, and they flourish and multiply. + The sun cannot burn them—they laugh at rain and frost—they + care not for birds and beasts. In spite of all they grow. It is the same + in politics. A true Republican must continue to grow, must work, must + think, must advance. The Republican party is the party of progress, of + ideas, of work. To make a Republican you must have schools, books, papers. + To make a Democrat, take all these away. Republicans are the useful; + Democrats the noxious—corn and wheat against the dog fennel and + Canada thistles. + </p> + <p> + Republicans of Maine, do not forget that each of you has two votes in this + election—one in Maine and one in Indiana. + </p> + <p> + Remember that we are relying on you. There is no stronger tie between the + prairies of Illinois and the pines of Maine—between the Western + States and New England, than James G. Blaine. + </p> + <p> + We are relying on Maine for from twelve to fifteen thousand on the 12th of + September, and Indiana will answer with from fifteen to twenty thousand, + and hearing these two votes the Nation in November will declare for Hayes + and Wheeler.* + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * This being a newspaper report, and never revised by the + author, is of necessity incomplete, but the publisher feels + that it should not be lost +</pre> + <p> + <a name="link0005" id="link0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + COOPER UNION SPEECH, NEW YORK. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + *Col. Robert G. Ingersoll of Illinois last night, at Cooper + Union, spoke on the political issues of the day, at unusual + length, to the largest and most enthusiastic audience which, + during the last ten years, any single speaker has attracted. + His address was in his happiest epigrammatic style, and was + interrupted every few moments either by the most uproarious + laughter or enthusiastic cheering. It is no exaggeration to + say that the meeting was the largest Cooper Institute has + seen since the war. Not merely the main hall was filled, but + the wide corridor in Third Avenue, the entrance hall in + Eighth Street, and every Committee-room to which his voice + could reach, though the speaker was unseen, were crowded—in + fact, literally packed. Half an hour before the hour named + for the organization of the meeting, admission to the body + of the hall was almost impossible; and selected officers, + and the speaker of the evening himself had to beg their way + to the platform. The latter was as painfully crowded with + invited guests as the body of the hall; and ingress was + impossible after the speaker began, and egress was almost as + difficult owing to the pressure in the committee-room + through which the platform is approached. + + Not only in numbers alone, but in the prominence of the + persons present, was the meeting impressive. Besides the + usual large quota of active politicians always seen at such + meetings, there were seen numbers of leading merchants, + financiers, and lawyers of New York, prominent officials not + only of the City but the State and National Government. + + The speech was nearly two hours In length, but as the + interruptions were frequent, indeed almost continuous, it + seemed very short, and when Mr. Ingersoll concluded his fire + of epigrams, there were loud calls and appeals to him to go + on. There were suggestions by some of the managers, of other + speakers who might follow him, but the presiding officer + wisely decided to submit no other speaker to the too severe + test of speaking on the same occasion with Mr. Ingersoll. + + Chauncey M. Depew, on leaving the hall, remarked that it was + the greatest speech he ever heard, and numbers of old + campaigners were equally enthusiastic. At its conclusion, + the reception which Mr. Ingersoll held on the platform + lasted over half-an-hour, and when finally Commissioner + Wheeler piloted him through the crowd to his coach, three or + four hundred of the audience followed and gave him lusty + cheers as he drove off.—New York Tribune, September + 11,1876. +</pre> + <p> + HAYES CAMPAIGN. 1876. + </p> + <p> + I AM just on my way home from the grand old State of Maine, and there has + followed me a telegraphic dispatch which I will read to you. If it were + not good, you may swear I would not read it: "Every Congressional + district, every county in Maine, Republican by a large majority. The + victory is overwhelming, and the majority will exceed 15,000." That + dispatch is signed by that knight-errant of political chivalry, James G. + Blaine. + </p> + <p> + I suppose we are all stockholders in the great corporation known as the + United States of America, and as such stockholders we have a right to vote + the way we think will best subserve our own interests. Each one has + certain stock in this Government, whether he is rich, or whether he is + poor, and the poor man has the same interest in the United States of + America that the richest man in it has. It is our duty, conscientiously + and honestly, to hear the argument upon both sides of the political + question, and then go and vote conscientiously for the side that we + believe will best preserve our interest in the United States of America. + Two great parties are before you now asking your support—the + Democratic party and the Republican party. One wishes to be kept in power, + the other wishes to have a chance once more at the Treasury of the United + States. The Democratic party is probably the hungriest organization that + ever wandered over the desert of political disaster in the history of the + world. There never was, in all probability, a political stomach so + thoroughly empty, or an appetite so outrageously keen as the one possessed + by the Democratic party. The Democratic party has been howling like a pack + of wolves looking in with hungry and staring eyes at the windows of the + National Capitol, and scratching at the doors of the White House. They + have been engaged in these elegant pursuits for sixteen long, weary years. + Occasionally they have retired to some convenient eminence and + lugubriously howled about the Constitution. The Democratic party comes and + asks for your vote, not on account of anything it has done, not on account + of anything it has accomplished, but on account of what it promises to do; + the Democratic party can make just as good a promise as any other party in + the world, and it will come farther from fulfilling it than any other + party on this globe. The Republican party having held this Government for + sixteen years, proposes to hold it for four years more. The Republican + party comes to you with its record open, and asks every man, woman and + child in this broad country to read its every word. And I say to you, that + there is not a line, a paragraph, or a page of that record that is not + only an honor to the Republican party, but to the human race. On every + page of that record is written some great and glorious action, done either + for the liberty of man, or the preservation of our common country. We ask + every body to read its every word. The Democratic party comes before you + with its record closed, recording every blot and blur, and stain and + treason, and slander and malignity, and asks you not to read a single + word, but to be kind enough to take its infamous promises for the future. + </p> + <p> + Now, my friends, I propose to tell you, to-night, something that has been + done by the Democratic party, and then allow you to judge for yourselves. + Now, if a man came to you, you owning a steamboat on the Hudson River, and + he wished to hire out to you as an engineer, and you inquired about him, + and found he had blown up and destroyed and wrecked every steamboat he had + ever been engineer on, and you should tell him: "I can't hire you; you + blew up such an engine, you wrecked such a ship," he would say to you, "My + Lord! Mister, you must let bygones be bygones." If a man came to your + bank, or came to a solitary individual here to borrow a hundred dollars, + and you went and inquired about him and found he never paid a note in his + life, found he was a dead-beat, and you say to him, "I cannot loan you + money." "Why?" "Because, I have ascertained you never pay your debts." + "Ah, yes," he says, "you are no gentleman going prying into a man's + record," I tell you, my good friends, a good character rests upon a + record, and not upon a prospectus, a good record rests upon a deed + accomplished, and not upon a promise, a good character rests upon + something really done, and not upon a good resolution, and you cannot make + a good character in a day. If you could, Tilden would have one to-morrow + night. + </p> + <p> + I propose now to tell you, my friends, a little of the history of the + Republican party, also a little of the history of the Democratic party. + </p> + <p> + And first, the Republican party. The United States of America is a free + country, it is the only free country upon this earth; it is the only + republic that was ever established among men. We have read, we have heard, + of the republics of Greece, of Egypt, of Venice; we have heard of the free + cities of Europe. There never was a republic of Venice; there never was a + republic of Rome; there never was a republic of Athens; there never was a + free city in Europe; there never was a government not cursed with caste; + there never was a government not cursed with slavery; there never was a + country not cursed with almost every infamy, until the Republican party of + the United States made this a free country. It is the first party in the + world that contended that the respectable man was the useful man; it is + the first party in the world that said, without regard to previous + conditions, without regard to race, every human being is entitled to life, + to liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and it is the only party in the + world that has endeavored to carry those sublime principles into actual + effect. Every other party has been allied to some piece of rascality; + every other party has been patched up with some thieving, larcenous, + leprous compromise. The Republican party keeps its forehead in the grand + dawn of perpetual advancement; the Republican party is the party of + reason; it is the party of argument; it is the party of education; it + believes in free schools, it believes in scientific schools; it believes + that the schools are for the public and all the public; it believes that + science never should be interfered with by any sectarian influence + whatever. + </p> + <p> + The Republican party is in favor of science; the Republican party, as I + said before, is the party of reason; it argues; it does not mob; it + reasons; it does not murder; it persuades you, not with the shot gun, not + with tar and feathers, but with good sound reason, and argument. + </p> + <p> + In order for you to ascertain what the Republican party has done for us, + let us refresh ourselves a little; we all know it, but it is well enough + to hear it now and then. Let us then refresh our recollection a little, in + order to understand what the grand and great Republican party has + accomplished in the land. + </p> + <p> + We will consider, in the first place, the condition of the country when + the Republican party was born. When this Republican party was born there + was upon the statute books of the United States of America a law known as + the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850, by which every man in the State of New + York was made by law a bloodhound, and could be set and hissed upon a + negro, who was simply attempting to obtain his birthright of freedom, just + as you would set a dog upon a wolf. That was the Fugitive Slave Law of + 1850. Around the neck of every man it put a collar as on a dog, but it had + not the decency to put the man's name on the collar. I said in the State + of Maine, and several other States, and expect to say it again although I + hurt the religious sentiment of the Democratic party, and shocked the + piety of that organization by saying it, but I did say then, and now say, + that the Fugitive Slave Law in 1850 would have disgraced hell in its + palmiest days. + </p> + <p> + I tell you, my friends, you do not know how easy it is to shock the + religious sentiments of the Democratic party; there is a deep and pure + vein of piety running through that organization; it has been for years + spiritually inclined; there is probably no organization in the world that + really will stand by any thing of a spiritual character, at least until it + is gone, as that Democratic party will. Everywhere I have been I have + crushed their religious hopes. You have no idea how sorry I am that I hurt + their feelings so upon the subject of religion. Why, I did not suppose + that they cared anything about Christianity, but I have been deceived. I + now find that they do, and I have done what no other man in the United + States ever did—I have made the Democratic party come to the defence + of Christianity. I have made the Democratic party use what time they could + spare between drinks in quoting Scripture. But notwithstanding the fact + that I have shocked the religious sentiment of that party, I do not want + them to defend Christianity any more; they will bring it into universal + contempt if they do. Yes, yes, they will make the words honesty and reform + a stench in the nostrils of honest men. They made the words of the + Constitution stand almost for treason, during the entire war, and every + decent word that passes the ignorant, leprous, malignant lips of the + Democratic party, becomes dishonored from that day forth. + </p> + <p> + At the same time, in 1850, when the Fugitive Slave Law was passed, in + nearly all of the Western States, there was a law by which the virtues of + pity and hospitality became indictable offences. There was a law by which + the virtue of charity became a crime, and the man who performed a kindness + could be indicted, imprisoned, and fined. It was the law of Illinois—of + my own State—that if one gave a drop of cold water, or a crust of + bread, to a fugitive from slavery, he could be indicted, fined and + imprisoned, under the infamous slave law of 1850, under the infamous black + laws of the Western States. + </p> + <p> + At the time the Republican party was born, (and I have told this many + times) if a woman ninety-nine one-hundredths white had escaped from + slavery, carrying her child on her bosom, having gone through morass and + brush and thorns and thickets, had crossed creeks and rivers, and had + finally got within one step of freedom, with the light of the North star + shining in her tear-filled eyes—with her child upon her withered + breast—it would have been an indictable offence to have given her a + drop of water or a crust of bread; not only that, but under the slave law + of 1850, it was the duty of every Northern citizen claiming to be a free + man, to clutch that woman and hand her back to the dominion of her master + and to the Democratic lash. The Democrats are sorry that those laws have + been repealed. The Republican party with the mailed hand of war tore from + the statute books of the United States, and from the statute books of each + State, every one of those infamous, hellish laws, and trampled them + beneath her glorious feet. + </p> + <p> + Such laws are infamous beyond expression; one would suppose they had been + passed by a Legislature, the lower house of which were hyenas, the upper + house snakes, and the executive a cannibal king. The institution of + slavery had polluted, had corrupted the church, not only in the South, but + a large proportion of the church in the North; so that ministers stood up + in their pulpits here in New York and defended the very infamy that I have + mentioned. Not only that, but the Presbyterians, South, in 1863, met in + General Synod, and passed two resolutions. + </p> + <p> + The first resolution read, "Resolved, that slavery is a divine + institution" (and as the boy said, "so is hell"). + </p> + <p> + <i>Second</i>, "Resolved, that God raised up the Presbyterian Church, + South, to protect and perpetuate that institution." + </p> + <p> + Well, all I have to say is that, if God did this, he never chose a more + infamous instrument to carry out a more diabolical object. What more had + slavery done? At that time it had corrupted the very courts, so that in + nearly every State in this Union if a Democrat had gone to the hut of a + poor negro, and had shot down his wife and children before his very eyes, + had strangled the little dimpled babe in the cradle, there was no court + before which this negro could come to give testimony. He was not allowed + to go before a magistrate and indict the murderer; he was not allowed to + go before a grand jury and swear an indictment against the wretch. Justice + was not only blind, but deaf; and that was the idea of justice in the + South, when the Republican party was born. When the Republican party was + born the bay of the bloodhound was the music of the Union; when this party + was born the dome of our Capitol at Washington cast its shadow upon + slave-pens in which crouched and shuddered women from whose breasts their + babes had been torn by wretches who are now crying for honesty and reform. + When the Republican party was born, a bloodhound was considered as one of + the instrumentalities of republicanism. When the Republican party was + born, the church had made the cross of Christ a whipping-post. When the + Republican party was born, courts of the United States had not the + slightest idea of justice, provided a black man was on the other side. + When this party came into existence, if a negro had a plot of ground and + planted corn in it, and the rain had fallen upon it, and the dew had lain + lovingly upon it, and the arrows of light shot from the exhaustless quiver + of the sun, had quickened the blade, and the leaves waved in the perfumed + air of June, and it finally ripened into the full ear in the golden air of + autumn, the courts of the United States did not know to whom the corn + belonged, and if a Democrat had driven the negro off and shucked the corn, + and that case had been left to the Supreme Court of many of the States in + this Union, they would have read all the authorities, they would have + heard all the arguments, they would have heard all the speeches, then + pushed their spectacles back on their bald and brainless heads and + decided, all things considered, the Democrat was entitled to that corn. We + pretended at that time to be a free country; it was a lie. We pretended at + that time to do justice in our courts; it was a lie, and above all our + pretence and hypocrisy rose the curse of slavery, like Chimborazo above + the clouds. + </p> + <p> + Now, my friends, what is there about this great Republican party? It is + the party of intellectual freedom. It is one thing to bind the hands of + men; it is one thing to steal the results of physical labor of men, but it + is a greater crime to forge fetters for the souls of men. I am a free man; + I will do my own thinking or die; I give a mortgage on my soul to nobody; + I give a deed of trust on my soul to nobody; no matter whether I think + well or I think ill; whatever thought I have shall be my thought, and + shall be a free thought, and I am going to give cheerfully, gladly, the + same right to thus think to every other human being. + </p> + <p> + I despise any man who does not own himself. I despise any man who does not + possess his own spirit. I would rather die a beggar, covered with rags, + with my soul erect, fearless and free, than to live a king in a palace of + gold, clothed with the purple of power, with my soul slimy with hypocrisy, + crawling in the dust of fear. I will do my own thinking, and when I get it + thought, I will say it. These are the splendid things, my friends, about + the Republican party; intellectual and physical liberty for all. + </p> + <p> + Now, my friends, I have told you a little about the Republican party. Now, + I will tell you a little more about the Republican party. When that party + came into power it elected Abraham Lincoln President of the United States. + I live in the State that holds within its tender embrace the sacred ashes + of Abraham Lincoln, the best, the purest man that was ever President of + the United States. I except none. When he was elected President of the + United States, the Democratic party said: "We will not stand it;" the + Democratic party South said: "We will not bear it;" and the Democratic + party North said: "You ought not to bear it." + </p> + <p> + James Buchanan was then President. James Buchanan read the Constitution of + the United States, or a part of it, and read several platforms made by the + Democratic party, and gave it as his deliberate opinion that a State had a + right to go out of the Union. He gave it as his deliberate opinion that + this was a Confederacy and not a Nation, and when he said that, there was + another little, dried up, old bachelor sitting over in the amen corner of + the political meeting and he squeaked out: "That is my opinion too," and + the name of that man was Samuel J. Tilden. + </p> + <p> + The Democratic party then and now says that the Union is simply a + Confederacy; but I want this country to be a Nation. I want to live in a + great and splendid country. A great nation makes a great people. Your + surroundings have something to do with it. Great plains, magnificent + rivers, great ranges of mountains, a country washed by two oceans—all + these things make us great and grand as the continent on which we live. + The war commenced, and the moment the war commenced the whole country was + divided into two parties. No matter what they had been before, whether + Democrats, Freesoilers, Republicans, old Whigs, or Abolitionists—the + whole country divided into two parties—the friends and enemies of + the country—patriots and traitors, and they so continued until the + Rebellion was put down. I cheerfully admit that thousands of Democrats + went into the army, and that thousands of Democrats were patriotic men. I + cheerfully admit that thousands of them thought more of their country than + they did of the Democratic party, and they came with us to fight for the + country, and I honor every one of them from the bottom of my heart, and + nineteen out of twenty of them have voted the Republican ticket from that + day to this. Some of them came back and went to the Democratic party again + and are still in that party; I have not a word to say against them, only + this: They are swapping off respectability for disgrace. They give to the + Democratic party all the respectability it has, and the Democratic party + gives to them all the disgrace they have. + </p> + <p> + Democratic soldier, come out of the Democratic party. There was a man in + my State got mad at the railroad and would not ship his hogs on it, so he + drove them to Chicago, and it took him so long to get them there that the + price had fallen; when he came back, they laughed at him, and said to him, + "You didn't make much, did you, driving your hogs to Chicago?" "No," he + said, "I didn't make anything except the company of the hogs on the way." + Soldier of the Republic, I say, with the Democratic party all you can make + is the company of the hogs on the way down. Come out, come out and leave + them alone in their putridity—in their rottenness. Leave them alone. + Do not try to put a new patch on an old garment. Leave them alone. I tell + you the Democratic party must be left alone; it must be left to enjoy the + primal curse, "On thy belly shalt thou crawl and dust shalt thou eat all + the days of thy life," O Democratic party. + </p> + <p> + Now, my friends, I need not tell you how we put down the Rebellion. You + all know. I need not describe to you the battles you fought. I need not + tell you of the men who sacrificed their lives. I need not tell you of the + old men who are still waiting for footsteps that never will return. I need + not tell you of the women who are waiting for the return of their loved + ones. I need not tell you of all these things. You know we put down the + Rebellion; we fought until the old flag triumphed over every inch of + American soil redeemed from the clutch of treason. + </p> + <p> + Now, my friends, what was the Democratic party doing when the Republican + party was doing these splendid things? When, the Republican party said + this was a nation; when the Republican party said we shall be free; when + the Republican party said slavery shall be extirpated from American soil; + when the Republican party said the negro shall be a citizen, and the + citizen shall have the ballot, and the citizen shall have the right to + cast that ballot for the government of his choice peaceably—what was + the Democratic party doing? + </p> + <p> + I will tell you a few things that the Democratic party has done within the + last sixteen years. In the first place, they were not willing that this + country should be saved unless slavery could be saved with it. There never + was a Democrat, North or South—and by Democrat I mean the fellows + who stuck to the party all during the war, the ones that stuck to the + party after it was a disgrace; the ones that stuck to the party from + simple, pure cussedness—there never was one who did not think more + of the institution of slavery than he did of the Government of the United + States; not one that I ever saw or read of. And so they said to us for all + those years: "If you can save the Union with slavery, and without any help + from us, we are willing you should do it; but we do not propose that this + shall be an abolition war." So the Democratic party from the first said, + "An effort to preserve this Union is unconstitutional," and they made a + breastwork of the Constitution for rebels to get behind and shoot down + loyal men, so that the first charge I lay at the feet of the Democratic + party, the first charge I make in the indictment, is that they thought + more of slavery than of liberty and of this Union, and in my judgment they + are in the same condition this moment. The next thing they did was to + discourage enlistments in the North. They did all in their power to + prevent any man's going into the army to assist in putting down the + Rebellion. And that grand reformer and statesman, Samuel J. Tilden, gave + it as his opinion that the South could sue, and that every soldier who put + his foot on sacred Southern soil would be a trespasser, and could be sued + before a Justice of the Peace. The Democratic party met in their + conventions in every State North, and denounced the war as an abolition + war, and Abraham Lincoln as a tyrant. What more did they do? They went + into partnership with the rebels. They said to the rebels just as plainly + as though they had spoken it: "Hold on, hold out, hold hard, fight hard, + until we get the political possession of the North, and then you can go in + peace." + </p> + <p> + What more? A man by the name of Jacob Thompson—a nice man and a good + Democrat, who thinks that of all the men to reform the Government Samuel + J. Tilden is the best man—Jacob Thompson had the misfortune to be a + very vigorous Democrat, and I will show you what I mean by that. A + Democrat during the war who had a musket—you understand, a musket—he + was a rebel, and during the war a rebel that did not have a musket was a + Democrat. I call Mr. Thompson a vigorous Democrat, because he had a + musket. Jacob Thompson was the rebel agent in Canada, and when he went + there he took between six and seven hundred thousand dollars for the + purpose of co-operating with the Northern Democracy. He got himself + acquainted with and in connection with the Democratic party in Ohio, in + Indiana, and in Illinois. The vigorous Democrats, the real Democrats, in + these States had organized themselves under the heads of "Sons of + Liberty," "Knights of the Golden Circle," "Order of the Star," and various + other beautiful names, and their object was to release rebel prisoners + from Camp Chase, Camp Douglass in Chicago, and from one camp in + Indianapolis and another camp at Rock Island. Their object was to raise a + fire in the rear, as they called it—in other words, to burn down the + homes of Union soldiers while they were in the front fighting for the + honor of their country. That was their object, and they put themselves in + connection with Jacob Thompson. They were to have an uprising on the 16th + of August, 1864. It was thought best to hold a few public meetings for the + purpose of arousing the public mind. They held the first meeting in the + city of Peoria, where I live. That was August 3rd, 1864. Here they came + from every part of the State, and were addressed by the principal + Democratic politicians in Illinois. + </p> + <p> + To that meeting Fernando Wood addressed a letter, in which he said that + although absent in body he should be present in spirit. George Pendleton + of Ohio, George Pugh of the same State, Seymour of Connecticut, and + various other Democratic gentlemen, sent acknowledgments and expressions + of regret to this Democratic meeting that met at this time for the purpose + of organizing an uprising among the Democratic party. I saw that meeting, + and heard some of their speeches. They denounced the war as an abolition + nigger war. They denounced Abraham Lincoln as a tyrant. They carried + transparencies that said, "Is there money enough in the land to pay this + nigger debt? Arouse, brothers, and hurl the tyrant Lincoln from the + throne." And the men that promulgated that very thing are running for the + most important political offices in the country, on the ground of honesty + and reform. And Jacob Thompson says that he furnished the money to pay the + expenses of that Democratic meeting. They were all paid by rebel gold, by + Jacob Thompson. He has on file the voucher from these Democratic gentlemen + in favor of Tilden and Hendricks. The next meetings were held in + Springfield, Illinois, and Indianapolis, Indiana, the expenses of which + were paid in the same way. They shipped to one town these weapons of our + destruction in boxes labeled Sunday school books! + </p> + <p> + That same rebel agent, Jacob Thompson, hired a Democrat by the name of + Churchill to burn the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Thompson coolly + remarked: "I don't think he has had much luck, as I have only heard of a + <i>few</i> fires." + </p> + <p> + In Indianapolis a man named Dodds was arrested—a sound Democrat—so + sound that the Government had to take him by the nape of the neck and put + him in Fort Lafayette. The convention of Democrats then met in the city of + Chicago, and declared the war a failure. There never was a more infamous + lie on this earth than when the Democratic convention declared in 1864 + that the war was a failure. It was but a few days afterward that the roar + of Grants cannon announced that a lie. Rise from your graves, Union + soldiers, one and all, that fell in support of your country—rise + from your graves, and lift your skeleton hands on high, and swear that + when the Democratic party resolved that the war for the preservation of + your country was a failure, that the Democratic party was a vast + aggregated liar. Well, we grew magnanimous, and let Dodds out of Fort + Lafayette; and where do you suppose Dodds is now? He is in Wisconsin. What + do you suppose Dodds is doing? Making speeches. Whom for? Tilden and + Hendricks—"Honesty and reform!" This same Jacob Thompson, Democrat, + hired men to burn New York, and they did set fire in some twenty places, + and they used Greek fire, as he said in his letter, and ingenuously adds: + "I shall never hereafter advise the use of Greek fire." They knew that in + the smoke and ruins would be found the charred remains of mothers and + children, and that the flames leaping like serpents would take the child + from the mothers arms, and they were ready to do it to preserve the + infamous institution of slavery; and the Democratic party has never + objected to it from that day to this. They burned steamboats, and many men + with them, and the hounds that did it are skulking in the woods of + Missouri. While these things were going on, Democrats in the highest + positions said: "Not one cent to prosecute the war." + </p> + <p> + The next question we have to consider is about paying the debt. This is + the first question. The second question is the protection of the citizen, + whether he is white or black. We owe a large debt. Two-thirds of that debt + was incurred in consequence of the action and the meanness of the + Democrats. There are some people who think that you can defer the payment + of a promise so long that the postponement of the debt will serve in lieu + of its liquidation—that you pay your debts by putting off your + creditors. + </p> + <p> + The people have to support the Government; the Government cannot support + the people. The Government has no money but what it received from the + people. It had therefore to borrow money to carry on the war. Every + greenback that it issued was a forced loan. My notes are not a legal + tender, though if I had the power I might possibly make them so. We + borrowed money and we have to pay the debt. That debt represents the + expenses of war. The horses and the gunpowder and the rifles and the + artillery are represented in that debt—it represents all the + munitions of war. Until we pay that debt we can never be a solvent nation. + Until our net profits amount to as much as we lost during the war we can + never be a solvent people. If a man cannot understand that, there is no + use in talking to him on the subject. The alchemists in olden times who + fancied that they could make gold out of nothing were not more absurd than + the American advocates of soft money. They resemble the early explorers of + our continent who lost years in searching for the fountain of eternal + youth, but the ear of age never caught the gurgle of that spring. We all + have heard of men who spent years of labor in endeavoring to produce + perpetual motion. They produced machines of the most ingenious character + with cogs and wheels, and pulleys without number, but these ingenious + machines had one fault, they would not go. You will never find a way to + make money out of nothing. It is as great nonsense as the fountain of + perpetual youth. You cannot do it. + </p> + <p> + Gold is the best material which labor has yet found as a measure of value. + That measure of value must be as valuable as the object it measures. + </p> + <p> + The value of gold arises from the amount of labor expended in producing + it. A gold dollar will buy as much labor as produced that dollar. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + [Here the speaker opened a telegram from Maine, which he + read to the audience amid a perfect tempest of applause. It + contained the following words:] "We have triumphed by an + immense majority, something we have not achieved since + 1868." [The speaker resumed.] And this despatch is signed by + the man who clutched the throats of the Democrats and held + them until they grew black in the face, James G. Blaine. *** +</pre> + <p> + Now, gentlemen, to pass from the financial part of this, and I will say + one word before I do it. The Republican party intends to pay its debts in + coin on the 1st of January, 1879. Paper money means probably the payment + of the Confederate debt; a metallic currency, the discharge of honest + obligations. We have touched hard-pan prices in this country, and we want + to do a hard-pan business with hard money. + </p> + <p> + We now come to the protection of our citizens. A government that cannot + protect its citizens, at home and abroad, ought to be swept from the map + of the world. The Democrats tell you that they will protect any citizen if + he is only away from home, but if he is in Louisiana or any other State in + the Union, the Government is powerless to protect him. I say a government + has a right to protect every citizen at home as well as abroad, and the + Government has the right to take its soldiers across the State line, to + take its soldiers into any State, for the purpose of protecting even one + man. That is my doctrine with regard to the power of the Government. But + here comes a Democrat to-day and tells me, (and it is the old doctrine of + secession in disguise), that the State of Louisiana must protect its own + citizens, and that if it does not, the General Government has nothing to + do unless the Governor of that State asks assistance, no matter whether + anarchy prevails or not. That is infamous. The United States has the right + to draft you and me into the army and compel us to serve there, if its + powers are being usurped. It is the duty of this Government to see to it + that every citizen has all his rights in every State in this Union, and to + protect him in the enjoyment of those rights, peaceably if it can, + forcibly if it must. + </p> + <p> + Democrats tell us that they treat the colored man very well. I have + frequently read stories relating how two white men were passing along the + road when suddenly they were set upon by ten or twelve negroes, who sought + their lives; but in the fight which ensued, the ten or twelve negroes were + killed, and not a white man hurt. I tell you it is infamous, and the + Democratic press of the North laughs at it, and Mr. Samuel J. Tilden does + not care. He knows that many of the Southern States are to be carried by + assassination and murder, and he knows that if he is elected it will be by + assassination and murder. It is infamous beyond the expression of + language. Now, I ask you which party will be the most likely to preserve + the liberty of the negro—the party who fought for slavery, or the + men who gave them freedom? These are the two great questions—the + payment of the debt, and the protection of our citizens. My friends, we + have to pay the debt, as I told you, but it is of greater importance to + make sacred American citizenship. + </p> + <p> + Now, these two parties have a couple of candidates. The Democratic party + has put forward Mr. Samuel J. Tilden. Mr. Tilden is a Democrat who belongs + to the Democratic party of the city of New York; the worst party ever + organized in any civilized country. I wish you could see it. The + pugilists, the prizefighters, the plug-uglies, the fellows that run with + the "masheen;" nearly every nose is mashed, about half the ears have been + chawed off; and of whatever complexion they are, their eyes are nearly + always black. They have fists like tea-kettles and heads like bullets. I + wish you could see them. I have been in New York every few weeks for + fifteen years; and whenever I am here I see the old banner of Tammany + Hall, "Tammany Hall and Reform;" "John Morrissey and Reform;" "John Kelley + and Reform;" "William M. Tweed and Reform;" and the other day I saw the + same old flag; "Samuel J. Tilden and Reform." The Democratic party of the + city of New York never had but two objects—grand and petit larceny. + Tammany Hall bears the same relation to the penitentiary that the Sunday + school does to the church. + </p> + <p> + I have heard that the Democratic party got control of the city when it did + not owe a dollar, and have stolen and stolen until it owes a hundred and + sixty millions, and I understand that every election they have had was a + fraud, every one. I understand that they stole everything they could lay + their hands on; and what hands! Grasped and grasped and clutched, until + they stole all it was possible for the people to pay, and now they are all + yelling for "Honesty and Reform." + </p> + <p> + I understand that Samuel J. Tilden was a pupil in that school, and that + now he is the head teacher. I understand that when the war commenced he + said he would never aid in the prosecution of that old outrage. I + understand that he said in 1860 and in 1861 that the Southern States could + snap the tie of confederation as a nation would break a treaty, and that + they could repel coercion as a nation would repel invasion. I understand + that during the entire war he was opposed to its prosecution, and that he + was opposed to the Proclamation of Emancipation, and demanded that the + document be taken back. I understand that he regretted to see the chains + fall from the limbs of the colored man. I understand that he regretted + when the Constitution of the United States was elevated and purified, pure + as the driven snow. I understand that he regretted when the stain was + wiped from our flag and we stood before the world the only pure Republic + that ever existed. This is enough for me to say about him, and since the + news from Maine you need not waste your time in talking about him. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + [A voice: "How about free schools?"] +</pre> + <p> + I want every schoolhouse to be a temple of science in which shall be + taught the laws of nature, in which the children shall be taught actual + facts, and I do not want that schoolhouse touched, or that institution of + science touched, by any superstition whatever. Leave religion with the + church, with the family, and more than all, leave religion with each + individual heart and man. + </p> + <p> + Let every man be his own bishop, let every man be his own pope, let every + man do his own thinking, let every man have a brain of his own. Let every + man have a heart and conscience of his own. + </p> + <p> + We are growing better, and truer, and grander. And let me say, Mr. + Democrat, we are keeping the country for your children. We are keeping + education for your children. We are keeping the old flag floating for your + children; and let me say, as a prediction, there is only air enough on + this continent to float that one flag. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Note.—This address was not revised by the author for + publication. +</pre> + <p> + <a name="link0006" id="link0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + INDIANAPOLIS SPEECH. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Col. Ingersoll was introduced by Gen'l Noyes, who said: "I + have now the exquisite pleasure of introducing to you that + dashing cavalry officer, that thunderbolt of war, that + silver tongued orator, Col. Robert G. Ingersoll of Illinois." + The Journal, Indianapolis, Indiana. September 2lst, 1876. +</pre> + <p> + HAYES CAMPAIGN. 1876 + </p> + <p> + Delivered to the Veteran Soldiers of the Rebellion. + </p> + <p> + LADIES and Gentlemen, Fellow Citizens and Citizen Soldiers:—I am + opposed to the Democratic party, and I will tell you why. Every State that + seceded from the United States was a Democratic State. Every ordinance of + secession that was drawn was drawn by a Democrat. Every man that + endeavored to tear the old flag from the heaven that it enriches was a + Democrat. Every man that tried to destroy this nation was a Democrat. + Every enemy this great Republic has had for twenty years has been a + Democrat. Every man that shot Union soldiers was a Democrat. Every man + that denied to the Union prisoners even the worm-eaten crust of famine, + and when some poor, emaciated Union patriot, driven to insanity by famine, + saw in an insane dream the face of his mother, and she beckoned him and he + followed, hoping to press her lips once again against his fevered face, + and when he stepped one step beyond the dead line the wretch that put the + bullet through his loving, throbbing heart was and is a Democrat. + </p> + <p> + Every man that loved slavery better than liberty was a Democrat. The man + that assassinated Abraham Lincoln was a Democrat. Every man that + sympathized with the assassin—every man glad that the noblest + President ever elected was assassinated, was a Democrat. Every man that + wanted the privilege of whipping another man to make him work for him for + nothing and pay him with lashes on his naked back, was a Democrat. Every + man that raised bloodhounds to pursue human beings was a Democrat. Every + man that clutched from shrieking, shuddering, crouching mothers, babes + from their breasts, and sold them into slavery, was a Democrat. Every man + that impaired the credit of the United States, every man that swore we + would never pay the bonds, every man that swore we would never redeem the + greenbacks, every maligner of his country's credit, every calumniator of + his country's honor, was a Democrat. Every man that resisted the draft, + every man that hid in the bushes and shot at Union men simply because they + were endeavoring to enforce the laws of their country, was a Democrat. + Every man that wept over the corpse of slavery was a Democrat. Every man + that cursed Abraham Lincoln because he issued the Proclamation of + Emancipation—the grandest paper since the Declaration of + Independence—every one of them was a Democrat. Every man that + denounced the soldiers that bared their breasts to the storms of shot and + shell for the honor of America and for the sacred rights of man; was a + Democrat. Every man that wanted an uprising in the North, that wanted to + release the rebel prisoners that they might burn down the homes of Union + soldiers above the heads of their wives and children, while the brave + husbands, the heroic fathers, were in the front fighting for the honor of + the old flag, every one of them was a Democrat. I am not through yet. + Every man that believed this glorious nation of ours is a confederacy, + every man that believed the old banner carried by our fathers over the + fields of the Revolution; the old flag carried by our fathers over the + fields of 1812; the glorious old banner carried by our brothers over the + plains of Mexico; the sacred banner carried by our brothers over the cruel + fields of the South, simply stood for a contract, simply stood for an + agreement, was a Democrat. Every man who believed that any State could go + out of the Union at its pleasure, every man that believed the grand fabric + of the American Government could be made to crumble instantly into dust at + the touch of treason, was a Democrat. Every man that helped to burn orphan + asylums in New York, was a Democrat; every man that tried to fire the city + of New York, although he knew that thousands would perish, and knew that + the great serpent of flame leaping from buildings would clutch children + from their mothers' arms—every wretch that did it was a Democrat. + Recollect it! Every man that tried to spread smallpox and yellow fever in + the North, as the instrumentalities of civilized war, was a Democrat. + Soldiers, every scar you have on your heroic bodies was given you by a + Democrat. Every scar, every arm that is lacking, every limb that is gone, + is a souvenir of a Democrat. I want you to recollect it. Every man that + was the enemy of human liberty in this country was a Democrat. Every man + that wanted the fruit of all the heroism of all the ages to turn to ashes + upon the lips—every one was a Democrat. + </p> + <p> + I am a Republican. I will tell you why: This is the only free Government + in the world. The Republican party made it so. The Republican party took + the chains from four millions of people. The Republican party, with the + wand of progress, touched the auction-block and it became a schoolhouse. + The Republican party put down the Rebellion, saved the nation, kept the + old banner afloat in the air, and declared that slavery of every kind + should be extirpated from the face of this continent. What more? I am a + Republican because it is the only free party that ever existed. It is a + party that has a platform as broad as humanity, a platform as broad as the + human race, a party that says you shall have all the fruit of the labor of + your hands, a party that says you may think for yourself, a party that + says, no chains for the hands, no fetters for the soul.* + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * At this point the rain began to descend, and it looked as + if a heavy shower was impending. Several umbrellas were put + up. Gov. Noyes—"God bless you! What is rain to soldiers" + Voice—"Go ahead; we don't mind the rain." It was proposed + to adjourn the meeting to Masonic Hall, but the motion was + voted down by an overwhelming majority, and Mr. Ingersoll + proceeded. +</pre> + <p> + I am a Republican because the Republican party says this country is a + Nation, and not a confederacy. I am here in Indiana to speak, and I have + as good a right to speak here as though I had been born on this stand—not + because the State flag of Indiana waves over me—I would not know it + if I should see it. You have the same right to speak in Illinois, not + because the State flag of Illinois waves over you, but because that + banner, rendered sacred by the blood of all the heroes, waves over you and + me. I am in favor of this being a Nation. Think of a man gratifying his + entire ambition in the State of Rhode Island. We want this to be a Nation, + and you cannot have a great, grand, splendid people without a great, + grand, splendid country. The great plains, the sublime mountains, the + great rushing, roaring rivers, shores lashed by two oceans, and the grand + anthem of Niagara, mingle and enter, into the character of every American + citizen, and make him or tend to make him a great and grand character. I + am for the Republican party because it says the Government has as much + right, as much power, to protect its citizens at home as abroad. The + Republican party does not say that you have to go away from home to get + the protection of the Government. The Democratic party says the Government + cannot march its troops into the South to protect the rights of the + citizens. It is a lie. The Government claims the right, and it is conceded + that the Government has the right, to go to your house, while you are + sitting by your fireside with your wife and children about you, and the + old lady knitting, and the cat playing with the yarn, and everybody happy + and serene—the Government claims the right to go to your fireside + and take you by force and put you into the army; take you down to the + valley of the shadow of hell, put you by the ruddy, roaring guns, and make + you fight for your flag. Now, that being so, when the war is over and your + country is victorious, and you go back to your home, and a lot of + Democrats want to trample upon your rights, I want to know if the + Government that took you from your fireside and made you fight for it, I + want to know if it is not bound to fight for you. The flag that will not + protect its protectors is a dirty rag that contaminates the air in which + it waves. The government that will not defend its defenders is a disgrace + to the nations of the world. I am a Republican because the Republican + party says, "We will protect the rights of American citizens at home, and + if necessary we will march an army into any State to protect the rights of + the humblest American citizen in that State." I am a Republican because + that party allows me to be free—allows me to do my own thinking in + my own way. I am a Republican because it is a party grand enough and + splendid enough and sublime enough to invite every human being in favor of + liberty and progress to fight shoulder to shoulder for the advancement of + mankind. It invites the Methodist, it invites the Catholic, it invites the + Presbyterian and every kind of sectarian; it invites the Freethinker; it + invites the infidel, provided he is in favor of giving to every other + human being every chance and every right that he claims for himself. I am + a Republican, I tell you. There is room in the Republican air for every + wing; there is room on the Republican sea for every sail. Republicanism + says to every man: "Let your soul be like an eagle; fly out in the great + dome of thought, and question the stars for yourself." But the Democratic + party says; "Be blind owls, sit on the dry limb of a dead tree, and hoot + only when that party says hoot." + </p> + <p> + In the Republican party there are no followers. We are all leaders. There + is not a party chain. There is not a party lash. Any man that does not + love this country, any man that does not love liberty, any man that is not + in favor of human progress, that is not in favor of giving to others all + he claims for himself; we do not ask him to vote the Republican ticket. + You can vote it if you please, and if there is any Democrat within hearing + who expects to die before another election, we are willing that he should + vote one Republican ticket, simply as a consolation upon his death-bed. + What more? I am a Republican because that party believes in free labor. It + believes that free labor will give us wealth. It believes in free thought, + because it believes that free thought will give us truth. You do not know + what a grand party you belong to. I never want any holier or grander title + of nobility than that I belong to the Republican party, and have fought + for the liberty of man. The Republican party, I say, believes in free + labor. The Republican party also believes in slavery. What kind of + slavery? In enslaving the forces of nature. + </p> + <p> + We believe that free labor, that free thought, have enslaved the forces of + nature, and made them work for man. We make old attraction of gravitation + work for us; we make the lightning do our errands; we make steam hammer + and fashion what we need. The forces of nature are the slaves of the + Republican party. They have no backs to be whipped, they have no hearts to + be torn—no hearts to be broken; they cannot be separated from their + wives; they cannot be dragged from the bosoms of their husbands; they work + night and day and they never tire. You cannot whip them, you cannot starve + them, and a Democrat even can be trusted with one of them. I tell you I am + a Republican. I believe, as I told you, that free labor will give us these + slaves. Free labor will produce all these things, and everything you have + to-day has been produced by free labor, nothing by slave labor. + </p> + <p> + Slavery never invented but one machine, and that was a threshing machine + in the shape of a whip. Free labor has invented all the machines. We want + to come down to the philosophy of these things. The problem of free labor, + when a man works for the wife he loves, when he works for the little + children he adores—the problem is to do the most work in the + shortest space of time. The problem of slavery is to do the least work in + the longest space of time. That is the difference. Free labor, love, + affection—they have invented everything of use in this world. I am a + Republican. + </p> + <p> + I tell you, my friends, this world is getting better every day, and the + Democratic party is getting smaller every day. See the advancement we have + made in a few years, see what we have done. We have covered this nation + with wealth, with glory and with liberty. This is the first free + Government in the world. The Republican party is the first party that was + not founded on some compromise with the devil. It is the first party of + pure, square, honest principle; the first one. And we have the first free + country that ever existed. + </p> + <p> + And right here I want to thank every soldier that fought to make it free, + every one living and dead. I thank you again and again and again. You made + the first free Government in the world, and we must not forget the dead + heroes. If they were here they would vote the Republican ticket, every one + of them. I tell you we must not forget them. + </p> + <p> + * The past rises before me like a dream. Again we are in the great + struggle for national life. We hear the sounds of preparation—the + music of boisterous drums—the silver voices of heroic bugles. We see + thousands of assemblages, and hear the appeals of orators. We see the pale + cheeks of women, and the flushed faces of men; and in those assemblages we + see all the dead whose dust we have covered with flowers. We lose sight of + them no more. We are with them when they enlist in the great army of + freedom. We see them part with those they love. Some are walking for the + last time in quiet, woody places, with the maidens they adore. We hear the + whisperings and the sweet vows of eternal love as they lingeringly part + forever. Others are bending over cradles, kissing babes that are asleep. + Some are receiving the blessings of old men. Some are parting with mothers + who hold them and press them to their hearts again and again, and say + nothing. Kisses and tears, tears and kisses—divine mingling of agony + and love! And some are talking with wives, and endeavoring with brave + words, spoken in the old tones, to drive from their hearts the awful fear. + We see them part. We see the wife standing in the door with the babe in + her arms—standing in the sunlight sobbing. At the turn of the road a + hand waves—she answers by holding high in her loving arms the child. + He is gone, and forever. + </p> + <p> + We see them all as they march proudly away under the flaunting flags, + keeping time to the grand, wild music of war—marching down the + streets of the great cities—through the towns and across the + prairies—down to the fields of glory, to do and to die for the + eternal right. + </p> + <p> + We go with them, one and all. We are by their side on all the gory fields—in + all the hospitals of pain—on all the weary marches. We stand guard + with them in the wild storm and under the quiet stars. We are with them in + ravines running with blood—in the furrows of old fields. We are with + them between contending hosts, unable to move, wild with thirst, the life + ebbing slowly away among the withered leaves. We see them pierced by balls + and torn with shells, in the trenches, by forts, and in the whirlwind of + the charge, where men become iron, with nerves of steel. + </p> + <p> + We are with them in the prisons of hatred and famine; but human speech can + never tell what they endured. + </p> + <p> + We are at home when the news comes that they are dead. We see the maiden + in the shadow of her first sorrow. We see the silvered head of the old man + bowed with the last grief. + </p> + <p> + The past rises before us, and we see four millions of human beings + governed by the lash—we see them bound hand and foot—we hear + the strokes of cruel whips—we see the hounds tracking women through + tangled swamps. We see babes sold from the breasts of mothers. Cruelty + unspeakable! Outrage infinite! + </p> + <p> + Four million bodies in chains—four million souls in fetters. All the + sacred relations of wife, mother, father and child trampled beneath the + brutal feet of might. And all this was done under our own beautiful banner + of the free. + </p> + <p> + The past rises before us. We hear the roar and shriek of the bursting + shell. The broken fetters fall. These heroes died. We look. Instead of + slaves we see men and women and children. The wand of progress touches the + auction-block, the slave-pen, the whipping-post, and we see homes and + firesides and schoolhouses and books, and where all was want and crime and + cruelty and fear, we see the faces of the free. + </p> + <p> + These heroes are dead. They died for liberty—they died for us. They + are at rest. They sleep in the land they made free, under the flag they + rendered stainless, under the solemn pines, the sad hemlocks, the tearful + willows, and the embracing vines. They, sleep beneath the shadows of the + clouds, careless alike of sunshine or of storm, each in the windowless + Palace of Rest. Earth may run red with other wars—they are at peace. + In the midst of battle, in the roar of conflict, they found the serenity + of death. I have one sentiment for soldiers living and dead: cheers for + the living; tears for the dead. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * This poetic flight of oratory has since become universally + known as "A. Vision of War." +</pre> + <p> + Now, my friends, I have given you a few reasons why I am a Republican. I + have given you a few reasons why I am not a Democrat. Let me say another + thing. The Democratic party opposed every forward movement of the army of + the Republic, every one. Do not be fooled. Imagine the meanest resolution + that you can think of—that is the resolution the Democratic party + passed. Imagine the meanest thing you can think of—that is what they + did; and I want you to recollect that the Democratic party did these + devilish things when the fate of this nation was trembling in the balance + of war. I want you to recollect another thing; when they tell you about + hard times, that the Democratic party made the hard times; that every + dollar we owe to-day was made by the Southern and Northern Democracy. + </p> + <p> + When we commenced to put down the Rebellion we had to borrow money, and + the Democratic party went into the markets of the world and impaired the + credit of the United States. They slandered, they lied, they maligned the + credit of the United States, and to such an extent did they do this, that + at one time during the war paper was only worth about thirty-four cents on + the dollar. Gold went up to $2.90. What did that mean? It meant that + greenbacks were worth thirty-four cents on the dollar. What became of the + other sixty-six cents? They were lied out of the greenback, they were + slandered out of the greenback, they were maligned out of the greenback, + they were calumniated out of the greenback, by the Democratic party of the + North. Two-thirds of the debt, two-thirds of the burden now upon the + shoulders of American industry, were placed there by the slanders of the + Democratic party of the North, and the other third by the Democratic party + of the South. And when you pay your taxes keep an account and charge + two-thirds to the Northern Democracy and one-third to the Southern + Democracy, and whenever you have to earn the money to pay the taxes, when + you have to blister your hands to earn that money, pull off the blisters, + and under each one, as the foundation, you will find a Democratic lie. + </p> + <p> + Recollect that the Democratic party did all the things of which I have + told you, when the fate of our nation was submitted to the arbitrament of + the sword. Recollect that the Democratic party did these things when your + brothers, your fathers, and your chivalric sons were fighting, bleeding, + suffering, and dying upon the battle-fields of the South; when shot and + shell were crashing through their sacred flesh. Recollect that this + Democratic party was false to the Union when your husbands, your fathers, + and your brothers, and your chivalric sons were lying in the hospitals of + pain, dreaming broken dreams of home, and seeing fever pictures of the + ones they loved; recollect that the Democratic party was false to the + nation when your husbands, your fathers, and your brothers were lying + alone upon the field of battle at night, the life-blood slowly oozing from + the mangled and pallid lips of death; recollect that the Democratic party + was false to your country when your husbands, your brothers, your fathers, + and your sons were lying in the prison pens of the South, with no covering + but the clouds, with no bed but the frozen earth, with no food except such + as worms had re-p fused to eat, and with no friends except Insanity and + Death. Recollect it, and spurn that party forever. + </p> + <p> + I have sometimes wished that there were words of pure hatred out of which + I might construct sentences like snakes; out of which I might construct + sentences that had fanged mouths, and that had forked tongues; out of + which I might construct sentences that would writhe and hiss; and then I + could give my opinion of the Northern allies of the Southern rebels during + the great struggle for the preservation of the country. + </p> + <p> + There are three questions now submitted to the American people. The first + is, Shall the people that saved this country rule it? Shall the men who + saved the old flag hold it? Shall the men who saved the ship of State sail + it, or shall the rebels walk her quarter-deck, give the orders and sink + it? That is the question. Shall a solid South, a united South, united by + assassination and murder, a South solidified by the shot-gun; shall a + united South, with the aid of a divided North, shall they control this + great and splendid country? We are right back where we were in 1861. This + is simply a prolongation of the war. This is the war of the idea, the + other was the war of the musket. The other was the war of cannon, this is + the war of thought; and we have to beat them in this war of thought, + recollect that. The question is, Shall the men who endeavored to destroy + this country rule it? Shall the men that said, This is not a Nation, have + charge of the Nation? + </p> + <p> + The next question is, Shall we pay our debts? We had to borrow some money + to pay for shot and shell to shoot Democrats with. We found that we could + get along with a few less Democrats, but not with any less country, and so + we borrowed the money, and the question now is, will we pay it? And which + party is the more apt to pay it, the Republican party that made the debt—the + party that swore it was constitutional, or the party that said it was + unconstitutional? + </p> + <p> + Every time a Democrat sees a greenback, it says to him, "I vanquished + you." Every time a Republican sees a greenback, it says, "You and I put + down the Rebellion and saved the country." + </p> + <p> + Now, my friends, you have heard a great deal about finance. Nearly + everybody that talks about it gets as dry—as dry as if they had been + in the final home of the Democratic party for forty years. + </p> + <p> + I will now give you my ideas about finance. In the first place the + Government does not support the people, the people support the Government. + </p> + <p> + The Government is a perpetual pauper. It passes round the hat, and + solicits contributions; but then you must remember that the Government has + a musket behind the hat. The Government produces nothing. It does not plow + the land, it does not sow corn, it does not grow trees. The Government is + a perpetual consumer. We support the Government. Now, the idea that the + Government can make money for you and me to live on—why, it is the + same as though my hired man should issue certificates of my indebtedness + to him for me to live on. + </p> + <p> + Some people tell me that the Government can impress its sovereignty on a + piece of paper, and that is money. Well, if it is, what's the use of + wasting it making one dollar bills? It takes no more ink and no more paper—why + not make one thousand dollar bills? Why not make a hundred million dollar + bills and all be billionaires? + </p> + <p> + If the Government can make money, what on earth does it collect taxes from + you and me for? Why does it not make what money it wants, take the taxes + out, and give the balance to us? Mr. Greenbacker, suppose the Government + issued a billion dollars to-morrow, how would you get any of it? [A voice, + "Steal it."] I was not speaking to the Democrats. You would not get any of + it unless you had something to exchange for it. The Government would not + go around and give you your aver-: age. You have to have some corn, or + wheat, or pork to give for it. + </p> + <p> + How do you get your money? By work. Where from? You have to dig it out of + the ground. That is where it comes from. Men have always had a kind of + hope that something could be made out of nothing. The old alchemists + sought, with dim eyes, for something that could change the baser metals to + gold. With tottering steps, they searched for the spring of Eternal Youth. + Holding in trembling hands retort and crucible, they dreamed of the Elixir + of Life. The baser metals are not gold. No human ear has ever heard the + silver gurgle of the spring of Immortal Youth. The wrinkles upon the brow + of Age are still waiting for the Elixir of Life. + </p> + <p> + Inspired by the same idea, mechanics have endeavored, by curious + combinations of levers and inclined planes, of wheels and cranks and + shifting weights, to produce perpetual motion; but the wheels and levers + wait for force. And, in the financial world, there are thousands now + trying to find some way for promises to take the place of performance; for + some way to make the word dollar as good as the dollar itself; for some + way to make the promise to pay a dollar take the dollar's place. This + financial alchemy, this pecuniary perpetual motion, this fountain of + eternal wealth, are the same old failures with new names. Something cannot + be made out of nothing. Nothing is a poor capital to, carry on business + with, and makes a very unsatisfactory balance at your bankers. + </p> + <p> + Let me tell you another thing. The Democrats seem to think that you can + fail to keep a promise so long that it is as good as though you had kept + it. They say you can stamp the sovereignty of the Government upon paper. + </p> + <p> + I saw not long ago a piece of gold bearing the stamp of the Roman Empire. + That Empire is dust, and over it has been thrown the mantle of oblivion, + but that piece of gold is as good as though Julius Cæsar were still + riding at the head of the Roman Legions. + </p> + <p> + Was it his sovereignty that made it valuable? Suppose he had put it upon a + piece of paper—it would have been of no more value than a Democratic + promise. + </p> + <p> + Another thing, my friends: this debt will be paid; you need not worry + about that. The Democrats ought to pay it. They lost the suit, and they + ought to pay the costs. But we in our patriotism are willing to pay our + share. + </p> + <p> + Every man that has a bond, every man that has a greenback dollar has a + mortgage upon the best continent of land on earth. Every one has a + mortgage on the honor of the Republican party, and it is on record. Every + spear of grass; every bearded head of golden wheat that grows upon this + continent is a guarantee that the debt will be paid; every field of + bannered corn in the great, glorious West is a guarantee that the debt + will be paid; every particle of coal laid away by that old miser the sun, + millions-of years ago, is a guarantee that every dollar will be paid; all + the iron ore, all the gold and silver under the snow-capped Sierra + Nevadas, waiting for the miners pick to give back the flash of the sun, + every ounce is a guarantee that this debt will be paid; and all the cattle + on the prairies, pastures and plains which adorn our broad land are + guarantees that this debt will be paid; every pine standing in the sombre + forests of the North, waiting for the woodman's axe, is a guarantee that + this debt will be paid; every locomotive with its muscles of iron and + breath of flame, and all the boys and girls bending over their books at + school, every dimpled babe in the cradle, every honest man, every noble + woman, and every man that votes the Republican ticket is a guarantee that + the debt will be paid—these, all these, each and all, are the + guarantees that every promise of the United States will be sacredly + fulfilled. + </p> + <p> + What is the next question? The next question is, will we protect the Union + men in the South? I tell you the white Union men have suffered enough. It + is a crime in the Southern States to be a Republican. It is a crime in + every Southern State to love this country, to believe in the sacred rights + of men. + </p> + <p> + The colored people have suffered enough. For more than two hundred years + they have suffered the fabled torments of the damned; for more than two + hundred years they worked and toiled without reward, bending, in the + burning sun, their bleeding backs; for more than two hundred years, babes + were torn from the breasts of mothers, wives from husbands, and every + human tie broken by the cruel hand of greed; for more than two hundred + years they were pursued by hounds, beaten with clubs, burned with fire, + bound with chains; two hundred years of toil, of agony, of tears; two + hundred years of hope deferred; two hundred years of gloom and shadow and + darkness and blackness; two hundred years of supplication, of entreaty; + two hundred years of infinite outrage, without a moment of revenge. + </p> + <p> + The colored people have suffered enough. They were and are our friends. + They are the friends of this country, and, cost what it may, they must be + protected. + </p> + <p> + There was not during the whole Rebellion a single negro that was not our + friend. We are willing to be reconciled to our Southern brethren when they + will treat our friends as men. When they will be just to the friends of + this country; when they are in favor of allowing every American citizen to + have his rights—then we are their friends. We are willing to trust + them with the Nation when they are the friends of the Nation. We are + willing to trust them with liberty when they believe in liberty. We are + willing to trust them with the black man when they cease riding in the + darkness of night, (those masked wretches,) to the hut of the freedman, + and notwithstanding the prayers and supplications of his family, shoot him + down; when they cease to consider the massacre of Hamburg as a Democratic + triumph, then, I say, we will be their friends, and not before. + </p> + <p> + Now, my friends, thousands of the Southern people and thousands of the + Northern Democrats are afraid that the negroes are going to pass them in + the race of life. And, Mr. Democrat, he will do it unless you attend to + your business. The simple fact that you are white cannot save you always. + You have to be industrious, honest, to cultivate a sense of justice. If + you do not the colored race will pass you, as sure as you live. I am for + giving every man a chance. Anybody that can pass me is welcome. + </p> + <p> + I believe, my friends, that the intellectual domain of the future, as the + land used to be in the State of Illinois, is open to pre-emption. The + fellow that gets a fact first, that is his; that gets an idea first, that + is his. Every round in the ladder of fame, from the one that touches the + ground to the last one that leans against the shining summit of human + ambition, belongs to the foot that gets upon it first. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Democrat, (I point down because they are nearly all on the first round + of the ladder) if you can not climb, stand one side and let the deserving + negro pass. + </p> + <p> + I must tell you one thing. I have told it so much, and you have all heard + it fifty times, but I am going to tell it again because I like it. Suppose + there was a great horse race here to-day, free to every horse in the + world, and to all the mules, and all the scrubs* and all the donkeys. + </p> + <p> + At the tap of the drum they come to the line, and the judges say "it is a + go." Let me ask you, what does the blooded horse, rushing ahead, with + nostrils distended, drinking in the breath of his own swiftness, with his + mane flying like a banner of victory, with his veins standing out all over + him, as if a network of life had been cast upon him—with his thin + neck, his high withers, his tremulous flanks—what does he care how + many mules and donkeys run on that track? But the Democratic scrub, with + his chuckle-head and lop-ears, with his tail full of cockle-burrs, jumping + high and short, and digging in the ground when he feels the breath of the + coming mule on his cockle-burr tail, he is the chap that jumps the track + and says, "I am down on mule equality." + </p> + <p> + I stood, a little while ago, in the city of Paris, where stood the + Bastile, where now stands the Column of July, surmounted by a figure of + liberty. In its right hand is a broken chain, in its left hand a banner; + upon its glorious forehead the glittering and shining star of progress—and + as I looked upon it I said: "Such is the Republican party of my country." + </p> + <p> + The other day going along the road I came to a place where the road had + been changed, but the guide-board did not know it. It had stood there for + twenty years pointing deliberately and solemnly in the direction of a + desolate field; nobody ever went that way, but the guide-board thought the + next man would. Thousands passed, but nobody heeded the hand on the + guide-post, and through sunshine and storm it pointed diligently into the + old field and swore to it the road went that way; and I said to myself: + "Such is the Democratic party of the United States." + </p> + <p> + The other day I came to a river where there had been a mill; a part of it + was there still. An old sign said: "Cash for wheat." The old water-wheel + was broken; it had been warped by the sun, cracked and split by many winds + and storms. There had not been a grain of wheat ground there for twenty + years. + </p> + <p> + The door was gone, nobody had built a new dam, the mill was not worth a + dam; and I said to myself: "Such is the Democratic party." + </p> + <p> + I saw a little while ago a place on the road where there had once been an + hotel. But the hotel and barn had burned down and there was nothing + standing but two desolate chimneys, up the flues of which the fires of + hospitality had not roared for thirty years. The fence was gone, and the + post-holes even were obliterated, but in the road there was an old sign + upon which were these words: "Entertainment for man and beast." The old + sign swung and creaked in the winter wind, the snow fell upon it, the + sleet clung to it, and in the summer the birds sang and twittered and made + love upon it. Nobody ever stopped there, but the sign swore to it, the + sign certified to it! "Entertainment for man and beast," and I said to + myself: "Such is the Democratic party of the United States," and I further + said, "one chimney ought to be called Tilden and the other Hendricks." + </p> + <p> + Now, my friends, I want you to vote the Republican ticket. I want you to + swear you will not vote for a man who opposed putting down the Rebellion. + I want you to swear that you will not vote for a man opposed to the + Proclamation of Emancipation. I want you to swear that you will not vote + for a man opposed to the utter abolition of slavery. + </p> + <p> + I want you to swear that you will not vote for a man who called the + soldiers in the field, Lincoln hirelings. I want you to swear that you + will not vote for a man who denounced Lincoln as a tyrant. I want you to + swear that you will not vote for any enemy of human progress. Go and talk + to every Democrat that you can see; get him by the coatcollar, talk to + him, and hold him like Coleridge's Ancient Mariner, with your glittering + eye; hold him, tell him all the mean things his party ever did; tell him + kindly; tell him in a Christian spirit, as I do, but tell him. Recollect, + there never was a more important election than the one you are going to + hold in Indiana. I tell you we must stand by the country. It is a glorious + country. It permits you and me to be free. It is the only country in the + world where labor is respected. Let us support it. It is the only country + in the world where the useful man is the only aristocrat. The man that + works for a dollar a day, goes home at night to his little ones, takes his + little boy on his knee, and he thinks that boy can achieve anything that + the sons of the wealthy man can achieve. The free schools are open to him; + he may be the richest, the greatest, and the grandest, and that thought + sweetens every drop of sweat that rolls down the honest face of toil. Vote + to save that country. + </p> + <p> + My friends, this country is getting better every day. Samuel J. Tilden + says we are a nation of thieves and rascals. If that is so he ought to be + the President. But I denounce him as a calumniator of my country; a + maligner of this nation. It is not so. This country is covered with + asylums for the aged, the helpless, the insane, the orphans and wounded + soldiers. Thieves and rascals do not build such things. In the cities of + the Atlantic coast this summer, they built floating hospitals, great + ships, and took the little children from the sub-cellars and narrow, dirty + streets of New York City, where the Democratic party is the strongest—took + these poor waifs and put them in these great hospitals out at sea, and let + the breezes of ocean kiss the roses of health back to their pallid cheeks. + Rascals and thieves do not so. When Chicago burned, railroads were blocked + with the charity of the American people. Thieves and rascals do not so. + </p> + <p> + I am a Republican. The world is getting better. Husbands are treating + their wives better than they used to; wives are treating their husbands + better. Children are better treated than they used to be; the old whips + and clubs are out of the schools, and they are governing children by love + and by sense. The world is getting better; it is getting better in Maine, + in Vermont. It is getting better in every State of the North, and I tell + you we are going to elect Hayes and Wheeler and the world will then be + better still. I have a dream that this world is growing better and better + every day and every year; that there is more charity, more justice, more + love every day. I have a dream that prisons will not always curse the + land; that the shadow of the gallows will not always fall upon the earth; + that the withered hand of want will not always be stretched out for + charity; that finally wisdom will sit in the legislatures, justice in the + courts, charity will occupy all the pulpits, and that finally the world + will be governed by justice and charity, and by the splendid light of + liberty. That is my dream, and if it does not come true, it shall not be + my fault. I am going to do my level best to give others the same chance I + ask for myself. Free thought will give us truth; Free labor will give us + wealth. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link0007" id="link0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHICAGO SPEECH. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Col. Robert G. Ingersoll spoke last night at the + Exposition Building to the largest audience ever drawn by + one man In Chicago. From 6.30 o'clock the sidewalks fronting + along the building were jammed. At every entrance there were + hundreds, and half-an-hour later thousands were clamoring + for admittance. So great was the pressure the doors were + finally closed, and the entrances at either end cautiously + opened to admit the select who knew enough to apply In those + directions. Occasionally a rush was made for the main door, + and as the crowd came up against the huge barricade they + were swept back only for another effort. Wabash Avenue, + Monroe, Adams, Jackson, and Van Buren Streets were jammed + with ladies and gentlemen who swept into Michigan Avenue and + swelled the sea that surged around the building. + + At 7.30 the doors were flung open and the people rushed in. + Seating accommodations supposed to be adequate to all + demands, had been provided, but in an Instant they were + filled, the aisles were jammed and around the sides of the + building poured a steady stream of humanity, Intent only + upon some coign of vantage, some place, where they could see + and where they could hear. Prom the fountain, beyond which + the building lay in shadow to the northern end, was a + swaying, surging mass of people. + + Such another attendance of ladies has never been known at a + political meeting in Chicago. They came by the hundreds, and + the speaker looked down from his perch upon thousands of + fair upturned faces, stamped with the most intense interest + in his remarks. + + The galleries were packed. The frame of the huge elevator + creaked, groaned, and swayed with the crowd roosting upon + it. The trusses bore their living weight. The gallery + railings bent and cracked. The roof was crowded, and the sky + lights teemed with heads. Here and there an adventurous + youth crept out on the girders and braces. Towards the + northern end of the building, on the west side, is a smaller + gallery, dark, and not particularly strong-looking. It was + fairly packed—packed like a sardine-box—with men and boys. + Up in the organ-loft around the sides of the organ, + everywhere that a human being could sit, stand or hang, was + pre-empted and filled. + + It was a magnificent, outpouring, at east 50,000 In number, + a compliment alike to the principle it represented, and the + orator.—Chicago Tribune., October 21st, 1876. +</pre> + <p> + HAYES CAMPAIGN. 1876. + </p> + <p> + LADIES and Gentlemen:—Democrats and Republicans have a common + interest in the United States. We have a common interest in the + preservation of good order. We have a common interest in the preservation + of a common country. And I appeal to all, Democrats and Republicans, to + endeavor to make a conscientious choice; to endeavor to select as + President and Vice-President of the United States the men and the parties, + which, in your judgment, will best preserve this nation, and preserve all + that is dear to us either as Republicans or Democrats. + </p> + <p> + The Democratic party comes before you and asks that you will give this + Government into its hands; and you have a right to investigate as to the + reputation and character of the Democratic organization. The Democratic + party says, "Let bygones be bygones." I never knew a man who did a decent + action that wanted it forgotten. I never knew a man who did some great and + shining act of self-sacrifice and heroic devotion who did not wish that + act remembered. Not only so, but he expected his loving children would + chisel the remembrance of it upon the marble that marked his last resting + place. But whenever a man does an infamous thing; whenever a man commits + some crime; whenever a man does that which mantles the cheeks of his + children with shame; he is the man that says, "Let bygones be bygones." + The Democratic party admits that it has a record, but it says that any man + that will look into it, any man that will tell it, is not a gentleman. I + do not know whether, according to the Democratic standard, I am a + gentleman or not; but I do say that in a certain sense I am one of the + historians of the Democratic party. + </p> + <p> + I do not know that it is true that a man cannot give this record and be a + gentleman, but I admit that a gentleman hates to read this record; a + gentleman hates to give this record to the world; but I do it, not because + I like to do it, but because I believe the best interests of this country + demand that there shall be a history given of the Democratic party. + </p> + <p> + In the first place, I claim that the Democratic party embraces within its + filthy arms the worst elements in American society. I claim that every + enemy that this Government has had for twenty years has been and is a + Democrat; every man in the Dominion of Canada that hates the great + Republic, would like to see Tilden and Hendricks successful. Every titled + thief in Great Britain would like to see Tilden and Hendricks the next + President and Vice-President of the United States. + </p> + <p> + I say more; every State that seceded from this Union was a Democratic + State. Every man who hated to see bloodhounds cease to be the + instrumentalities of a free government—every one was a Democrat. In + short, every enemy that this Government has had for twenty years, every + enemy that liberty and progress has had in the United States for twenty + years, every hater of our flag, every despiser of our Nation, every man + who has been a disgrace to the great Republic for twenty years, has been a + Democrat. I do not say that they are all that way; but nearly all who are + that way are Democrats. + </p> + <p> + The Democratic party is a political tramp with a yellow passport. This + political tramp begs food and he carries in his pocket old dirty scraps of + paper as a kind of certificate of character. On one of these papers he + will show you the ordinance of 1789; on another one of those papers he + will have a part of the Fugitive Slave Law; on another one some of the + black laws that used to disgrace Illinois; on another Governor Tilden's + Letter to Kent; on another a certificate signed by Lyman Trumbull that the + Republican party is not fit to associate with—that certificate will + be endorsed by Governor John M. Palmer and my friend Judge Doolittle. He + will also have in his pocket an old wood-cut, somewhat torn, representing + Abraham Lincoln falling upon the neck of S. Corning Judd, and thanking him + for saving the Union as Commander-in-Chief of the Sons of Liberty. This + political tramp will also have a letter dated Boston, Mass., saying: "I + hereby certify that for fifty years I have regarded the bearer as a thief + and robber, but I now look upon him as a reformer. Signed, Charles Francis + Adams." Following this tramp will be a bloodhound; and when he asks for + food, the bloodhound will crouch for employment on his haunches, and the + drool of anticipation will run from his loose and hanging lips. Study the + expression of that dog. + </p> + <p> + Translate it into English and it means "Oh! I want to bite a nigger!" And + when the dog has that expression he bears a striking likeness to his + master. The question is, Shall that tramp and that dog gain possession of + the White House? + </p> + <p> + The Democratic party learns nothing; the Democratic party forgets nothing. + The Democratic party does not know that the world has advanced a solitary + inch since 1860. Time is a Democratic dumb watch. It has not given a tick + for sixteen years. The Democratic party does not know that we, upon the + great glittering highway of progress, have passed a single mile-stone for + twenty years. The Democratic party is incapable of learning. The + Democratic party is incapable of anything but prejudice and hatred. Every + man that is a Democrat is a Democrat because he hates something; every man + that is a Republican is a Republican because he loves something. + </p> + <p> + The Democratic party is incapable of advancement; the only stock that it + has in trade to-day is the old infamous doctrine of Democratic State + Rights. There never was a more infamous doctrine advanced on this earth, + than the Democratic idea of State Rights. What is it? It has its + foundation in the idea that this is not a Nation; it has its foundation in + the idea that this is simply a confederacy, that this great Government is + simply a bargain, that this great splendid people have simply made a + trade, that the people of any one of the States are sovereign to the + extent that they have the right to trample upon the rights of their + fellow-citizens, and that the General Government cannot interfere. The + great Democratic heart is fired to-day, the Democratic bosom is bloated + with indignation because of an order made by General Grant sending troops + into the Southern States to defend the rights of American citizens! Who + objects to a soldier going? Nobody except a man who wants to carry an + election by fraud, by violence, by intimidation, by assassination, and by + murder. + </p> + <p> + The Democratic party is willing to-day that Tilden and Hendricks should be + elected by violence; they are willing to-day to go into partnership with + assassination and murder; they are willing to-day that every man in the + Southern States, who is a friend of this Union, and who fought for our + flag—that the rights of every one of these men should be trampled in + the dust, provided that Tilden and Hendricks be elected President and + Vice-President of this country. They tell us that a State line is sacred; + that you never can cross it unless you want to do a mean thing; that if + you want to catch a fugitive slave you have the right to cross it; but if + you wish to defend the rights of men, then it is a sacred line, and you + cannot cross it. Such is the infamous doctrine of the Democratic party. + Who, I say, will be injured by sending soldiers into the Southern States? + No one in the world except the man who wants to prevent an honest citizen + from casting a legal vote for the Government of his choice. For my part, I + think more of the colored Union men of the South than I do of the white + disunion men of the South. For my part, I think more of a black friend + than I do of a white enemy. For my part, I think more of a friend black + outside, and white in, than I do of a man who is white outside and black + inside. For my part, I think more of black justice, of black charity, and + of black patriotism, than I do of white cruelty, than I do of white + treachery and treason. As a matter of fact, all that is done in the South + to-day, of use, is done by the colored man. The colored man raises + everything that is raised in the South, except hell. And I say here + to-night that I think one hundred times more of the good, honest, + industrious black man of the South than I do of all the white men together + that do not love this Government, and I think more of the black man of the + South than I do of the white man of the North who sympathizes with the + white wretch that wishes to trample upon the rights of that black man. + </p> + <p> + I believe that this is a Government, first, not only of power, but that it + is the right of this Government to march all the soldiers in the United + States into any sovereign State of this Union to defend the rights of + every American citizen in that State. If it is the duty of the Government + to defend you in time of war, when you were compelled to go into the army, + how much more is it the duty of the Government to defend in time of peace + the man who, in time of war, voluntarily and gladly rushed to the rescue + and defence of his country; and yet the Democratic doctrine is that you + are to answer the call of the Nation, but the Nation will be deaf to your + cry, unless the Governor of your State makes request of your Government. + Suppose the Governors and every man trample upon your rights, is the + Nation then to let you be trampled upon? Will the Nation hear only the cry + of the oppressor, or will it heed the cry of the oppressed? I believe we + should have a Government that can hear the faintest wail, the faintest cry + for justice from the lips of the humblest citizen beneath the flag. But + the Democratic doctrine is that this Government can protect its citizens + only when they are away from home. This may account for so many Democrats + going to Canada during the war. I believe that the Government must protect + you, not only abroad but must protect you at home; and that is the + greatest question before the American people to-day. + </p> + <p> + I had thought that human impudence had reached its limit ages and ages + ago. I had believed that some time in the history of the world impudence + had reached its height, and so believed until I read the congratulatory + address of Abram S. Hewitt, Chairman of the National Executive Democratic + Committee, wherein he congratulates the negroes of the South on what he + calls a Democratic victory in the State of Indiana. If human impudence can + go beyond this, all I have to say is, it never has. What does he say to + the Southern people, to the colored people? He says to them in substance: + "The reason the white people trample upon you is because the white people + are weak. Give the white people more strength, put the white people in + authority, and, although they murder you now when they are weak, when they + are strong they will let you alone. Yes; the only trouble with our + Southern white brethren is that they are in the minority, and they kill + you now, and the only way to save your lives is to put your enemy in the + majority." That is the doctrine of Abram S. Hewitt, and he congratulates + the colored people of the South upon the Democratic victory in Indiana. + There is going to be a great crop of hawks next season—let us + congratulate the doves. That is it. The burglars have whipped the police—let + us congratulate the bank. That is it. The wolves have killed off almost + all the shepherds—let us congratulate the sheep. + </p> + <p> + In my judgment, the black people have suffered enough. They have been + slaves for two hundred years, and more than all, they have been compelled + to keep the company of the men that owned them. Think of that! Think of + being compelled to keep the society of the man who is stealing from you! + Think of being compelled to live with the man that sold your wife! Think + of being compelled to live with the man that stole your child from the + cradle before your very eyes! Think of being compelled to live with the + thief of your life, and spend your days with the white robber, and be + under his control! The black people have suffered enough. For two hundred + years they were owned and bought and sold and branded like cattle. For two + hundred years every human tie was rent and torn asunder by the bloody, + brutal hands of avarice and might. They have suffered enough. During the + war the black people were our friends not only, but whenever they were + entrusted with the family, with the wives and children of their masters, + they were true to them. They stayed at home and protected the wife and + child of the master while he went into the field and fought for the right + to sell the wife and the right to whip and steal the child of the very + black man that was protecting him. The black people, I say, have suffered + enough, and for that reason I am in favor of the Government protecting + them in every Southern State, if it takes another war to do it. We can + never compromise with the South at the expense of our friends. We never + can be friends with the men that starved and shot our brothers. We can + never be friends with the men that waged the most cruel war in the world; + not for liberty, but for the right to deprive other men of their liberty. + We never can be their friends until they are the friends of our friends, + until they treat the black man justly; until they treat the white Union + man respectfully; until Republicanism ceases to be a crime; until to vote + the Republican ticket ceases to make you a political and social outcast. + We want no friendship with the enemies of our country. The next question + is, who shall have possession of this country—the men that saved it,—or + the men that sought to destroy it? The Southern people lit the fires of + civil war. They who set the conflagration must be satisfied with the ashes + left. The men that saved this country must rule it. The men that saved the + flag must carry it. This Government is not far from destruction when it + crowns with its highest honor in time of peace, the man that was false to + it in time of war. This Nation is not far from the precipice of + annihilation and destruction when it gives its highest honor to a man + false, false to the country when everything we held dear trembled in the + balance of war, when everything was left to the arbitrament of the sword. + </p> + <p> + The next question prominently before the people—though I think the + great question is, whether citizens shall be protected at home—the + next question I say, is the financial question. With that there is no + trouble. We had to borrow money, and we have to pay it. That is all there + is of that, and we are going to pay it just as soon as we make the money + to pay it with, and we are going to make the money out of prosperity. + </p> + <p> + We have to dig it out of the earth. You cannot make a dollar by law. You + cannot redeem a cent by statute. You cannot pay one solitary farthing by + all the resolutions, by all the speeches ever made beneath the sun. + </p> + <p> + If the greenback doctrine is right, that evidence of national indebtedness + is wealth, if that is their idea, why not go another step and make every + individual note a legal tender? Why not pass a law that every man shall + take every other man's note? Then I swear we would have money in plenty. + No, my friends, a promise to pay a dollar is not a dollar, no matter if + that promise is made by the greatest and most powerful nation on the + globe. A promise is not a performance. An agreement is not an + accomplishment and there never will come a time when a promise to pay a + dollar is as good as the dollar, unless everybody knows that you have the + dollar and will pay it whenever they ask for it. We want no more + inflation. We want simply to pay our debts as fast as the prosperity of + the country allows it and no faster. Every speculator that was caught with + property on his hands upon which he owed more than the property was worth, + wanted the game to go on a little longer. Whoever heard of a man playing + poker that wanted to quit when he was a loser? He wants to have a fresh + deal. He wants another hand, and he don't want any man that is ahead to + jump the game. It is so with the speculators in this country. They bought + land, they bought houses, they bought goods, and when the crisis and crash + came, they were caught with the property on their hands, and they want + another inflation, they want another tide to rise that will again sweep + this driftwood into the middle of the great financial stream. That is all. + Every lot in this city that was worth five thousand and that is now worth + two thousand—do you know what is the matter with that lot? It has + been redeeming. It has been resuming. That is what is the matter with that + lot. Every man that owned property that has now fallen fifty per cent., + that property has been resuming; and if you could have another inflation + to-morrow, the day that the bubble burst would find thousands of + speculators who paid as much for property as property was worth, and they + would ask for another tide of affairs in men. They would ask for another + inflation. What for? To let them out and put somebody else in. + </p> + <p> + We want no more inflation. We want the simple honest payment of the debt, + and to pay out of the prosperity of this country. But, says the greenback + man, "We never had as good times as when we had plenty of greenbacks." + </p> + <p> + Suppose a farmer would buy a farm for ten thousand dollars and give his + note. He would buy carriages, horses, wagons and agricultural implements, + and give his note. He would send Mary, Jane and Lucy to school. He would + buy them pianos, and send them to college, and would give his note, and + the next year he would again give his note for the interest, and the next + year again his note, and finally they would come to him and say, "We must + settle up; we have taken your notes as long as we can; we want money." + "Why," he would say to the gentleman, "I never had as good a time in my + life as while I have been giving those notes. I never had a farm until the + man gave it to me for my note. My children have been clothed as well as + anybody's. We have had carriages; we have had fine horses; and our house + has been filled with music, and laughter, and dancing; and why not keep on + taking those notes?" So it is with the greenback man; he says, "When we + were running in debt we had a jolly time—let us keep it up." But, my + friends, there must come a time when inflation would reach that point when + all the Goverment notes in the world would not buy a pin; when all the + Government notes in the world would not be worth as much as the last + year's Democratic platform. I have no fear that these debts will not be + paid. I have no fear that every solitary greenback dollar will not be + redeemed; but, my friends, we shall have some trouble doing it. Why? + Because the debt is a great deal larger than it should have been. In the + first place, there should have been po debt. If it had not been for the + Southern Democracy there would have been no war. If it had not been for + the Northern Democracy the war would not have lasted one year. + </p> + <p> + There was a man tried in court for having murdered his father and mother. + He was found guilty, and the judge asked him, "What have you to say that + sentence of death shall not be pronounced on you?" "Nothing in the world + Judge," said he, "only I hope your Honor will take pity on me and remember + that I am a poor orphan." + </p> + <p> + I have no doubt that this debt will be paid. We have the honor to pay it, + and we do not pay it on account of the avarice or greed of the bondholder. + An honest man does not pay money to a creditor simply because the creditor + wants it. The honest man pays at the command of his honor and not at the + demand of the creditor. + </p> + <p> + The United States will pay its debts, not because the creditor demands, + but because we owe it. + </p> + <p> + The United States will liquidate every debt at the command of its honor, + and every cent will be paid. War is destruction, war is loss, and all the + property destroyed, and the time that is lost, put together, amount to + what we call a national debt. When in peace we shall have made as much net + profit as there was wealth lost in the war, then we shall be a solvent + people. The greenback will be redeemed, we expect to redeem it on the + first day of January, 1879. We may fail; we will fail if the prosperity of + the country fails; but we intend to try to do it, and if we fail, we will + fail as a soldier fails to take a fort, high upon the rampart, with the + flag of resumption in our hands. We will not say that we cannot pay the + debt because there is a date fixed when the debt is to be paid. I have had + to borrow money myself; I have had to give my note, and I recollect + distinctly that every man I ever did give my note to insisted that + somewhere in that note there should be some vague hint as to the cycle, as + to the geological period, as to the time, as to the century and date when + I expected to pay those little notes. I never understood that having a + time fixed would prevent my being industrious; that it would interfere + with my honesty; or with my activity, or with my desire to discharge that + debt. And if any man in this great country owed you one thousand dollars, + due you the first day of next January, and he should come to you and say: + "I want to pay you that debt, but you must take that date out of that + note." "Why?" you would say. "Why," he would reply in the language of + Tilden, "I have to make wise preparation." "Well," you would say, "why + don't you do it?" "Oh," he says, "I cannot do it while you have that date + in that note." "Another thing," he says, "I have to get me a central + reservoir of coin." And do you know I have always thought I would like to + see the Democratic party around a central reservoir of coin. + </p> + <p> + Suppose this debtor would also tell you, "I want the date out of that + note, because I have to come at it by a very slow and gradual process." + "Well," you would say, "I do not care how slow or how gradual you are, + provided that you get around by the time the note is due." + </p> + <p> + What would you think of a man that wanted the date out of the note? You + would think he was a mixture of rascal and Democrat. That is what you + would think. + </p> + <p> + Now, my friends, the Democratic party (if you may call it a party) brings + forward as its candidate Samuel J. Tilden, of New York. I am opposed to + him, first, because he is an old bachelor. In a country like ours, + depending for its prosperity and glory upon an increase of the population, + to elect an old bachelor is a suicidal policy. Any man that will live in + this country for sixty years, surrounded by beautiful women with rosy lips + and dimpled cheeks, in every dimple lurking a Cupid, with pearly teeth and + sparkling eyes—any man that will push them all aside and be + satisfied with the embraces of the Democratic party, does not even know + the value of time. I am opposed to Samuel J. Tilden, because he is a + Democrat; because he belongs to the Democratic party of the city of New + York; the worst party ever organized in any civilized country. + </p> + <p> + No man should be President of this Nation who denies that it is a Nation. + Samuel J. Tilden denounced the war as an outrage. No man should be + President of this country that denounced a war waged in its defence as an + outrage. To elect such a man would be an outrage. + </p> + <p> + Samuel J. Tilden said that the flag stands for a contract; that it stands + for a confederation; that it stands for a bargain. But the great, splendid + Republican party says, "No! That flag stands for a great, hoping, + aspiring, sublime Nation, not for a confederacy." + </p> + <p> + I am opposed, I say, to the election of Samuel J. Tilden for another + reason. If he is elected he will be controlled by his party, and his party + will be controlled by the Southern stockholders in that party. They own + nineteen-twentieths of the stock, and they will dictate the policy of the + Democratic Corporation. + </p> + <p> + No Northern Democrat has the manliness to stand up before a Southern + Democrat. Every Democrat, nearly, has a face of dough, and the Southern + Democrat will swap his ears, change his nose, cut his mouth the other way + of the leather, so that his own mother would not know him, in fifteen + minutes. If Samuel J. Tilden is elected President of the United States, he + will be controlled by the Democratic party, and the Democratic party will + be controlled by the Southern Democracy—that is to say, the late + rebels; that is to say, the men that tried to destroy the Government; that + is to say, the men who are sorry they did not destroy the Government; that + is to say, the enemies of every friend of this Union; that is to say, the + murderers and the assassins of Union men living in the Southern country. + </p> + <p> + Let me say another thing. If Mr. Tilden does not act in accordance with + the Southern Democratic command, the Southern Democracy will not allow a + single life to stand between them and the absolute control of this + country. Hendricks will then be their man. I say that it would be an + outrage to give this country into the control of men who endeavored to + destroy it, to give this country into the control of the Southern rebels + and haters of Union men. + </p> + <p> + And on the other hand, the Republican party has put forward Rutherford B. + Hayes. He is an honest man. The Democrats will say, "That is nothing." + Well, let them try it. Rutherford B. Hayes has a good character. + </p> + <p> + Rutherford B. Hayes, when this war commenced, did not say with Tilden, "It + is an outrage." He did not say with Tilden, "I never will contribute to + the prosecution of this war." But he did say this, "I would go into this + war if I knew I would be killed in the course of it, rather than to live + through it and take no part in it." During the war Rutherford B. Hayes + received many wounds in his flesh, but not one scratch upon his honor. + Samuel J. Tilden received many wounds upon his honor, but not one scratch + on his flesh. Rutherford B. Hayes is a firm man; not an obstinate man, but + a firm man; and I draw this distinction: A firm man will do what he + believes to be right, because he wants to do right. He will stand firm + because he believes it to be right; but an obstinate man wants his own + way, whether it is right or whether it is wrong. Rutherford B. Hayes is + firm in the right, and obstinate only when he knows he is in the right. If + you want to vote for a man who fought for you, vote for Rutherford B. + Hayes. If you want to vote for a man that carried our flag through the + storm of shot and shell, vote for Rutherford B. Hayes. If you believe + patriotism to be a virtue, vote for Rutherford B. Hayes. If you believe + this country wants heroes, vote for Rutherford B. Hayes. If you want a man + who turned against his country in time of war, vote for Samuel J. Tilden. + If you believe the war waged for the salvation of our Nation was an + outrage, vote for Samuel J. Tilden. If you believe it is better to stay at + home and curse the brave men in the field, fighting for the sacred rights + of man, vote for Samuel J. Tilden. If you want to pay a premium upon + treason, if you want to pay a premium upon hypocrisy, if you want to pay a + premium upon chicanery, if you want to pay a premium upon sympathizing + with the enemies of your country, vote for Samuel J. Tilden. + </p> + <p> + If you believe that patriotism is right, if you believe the brave defender + of liberty is better than the assassin of freedom, vote for Rutherford B. + Hayes. + </p> + <p> + I am proud that I belong to the Republican party. It is the only party + that has not begged pardon for doing right. It is the only party that has + said: "There shall be no distinction on account of race, on account of + color, on account of previous condition." It is the only party that ever + had a platform broad enough for all humanity to stand upon. + </p> + <p> + It is the first decent party that ever lived. The Republican party made + the first free government that was ever made. The Republican party made + the first decent constitution that any nation ever had. The Republican + party gave to the sky the first pure flag that was ever kissed by the + waves of air. The Republican party is the first party that ever said: + "Every man is entitled to liberty," not because he is white, not because + he is black, not because he is rich, not because he is poor, but because + he is a man. + </p> + <p> + The Republican party is the first party that knew enough to know that + humanity is more than skin deep. It is the first party that said, + "Government should be for all, as the light, as the air, is for all." + </p> + <p> + And it is the first party that had the sense to say, "What air is to the + lungs, what light is to the eyes, what love is to the heart, liberty is to + the soul of man." The Republican party is the first party that ever was in + favor of absolute free labor, the first party in favor of giving to every + man, without distinction of race or color, the fruits of the labor of his + hands. The Republican party said, "Free labor will give us wealth, free + thought will give us truth." The Republican party is the first party that + said to every man, "Think for yourself, and express that thought." I am a + free man. I belong to the Republican party. This is a free country. I will + think my thought. I will speak my thought or die. I say the Republican + party is for free labor. + </p> + <p> + Free labor has invented all the machines that ever added to the power, + added to the wealth, added to the leisure, added to the civilization of + mankind. Every convenience, everything of use, everything of beauty in the + world, we owe to free labor and to free thought. Free labor, free thought! + </p> + <p> + Science took the thunderbolt from the gods, and in the electric spark, + freedom, with thought, with intelligence and with love, sweeps under all + the waves of the sea; science, free thought, took a tear from the cheek of + unpaid labor, converted it into steam, and created the giant that turns, + with tireless arms, the countless wheels of toil. + </p> + <p> + The Republican party, I say, believes in free labor. Every solitary thing, + every solitary improvement made in the United States has been made by the + Republican party. Every reform accomplished was inaugurated, and was + accomplished by the great, grand, glorious Republican party. + </p> + <p> + The Republican party does not say: "Let bygones be bygones." The + Republican party is proud of the past and confident of the future. The + Republican party brings its record before you and implores you to read + every page, every paragraph, every line and every shining word. On the + first page you will find it written: "Slavery has cursed American soil + long enough;" on the same page you will find it written: "Slavery shall go + no farther." On the same page you will find it written: "The bloodhounds + shall not drip their gore upon another inch of American soil." On the + second page you will find it written: "This is a Nation, not a + Confederacy; every State belongs to every citizen, and no State has a + right to take territory belonging to any citizens in the United States and + set up a separate Government." On the third page you will find the + grandest declaration ever made in this country: "Slavery shall be + extirpated from the American soil." On the next page: "The Rebellion shall + be put down." On the next page: "The Rebellion has been put down." On the + next page: "Slavery has been extirpated from the American soil." On the + next page: "The freedmen shall not be vagrants; they shall be citizens." + On the next page: "They are citizens." On the next page: "The ballot shall + be put in their hands;" and now we will write on the next page: "Every + citizen that has a ballot in his hand, by the gods! shall have a right to + cast that ballot." That in short, that in brief, is the history of the + Republican party. The Republican party says, and it means what it says: + "This shall be a free country forever; every man in it twenty-one years of + age shall have the right to vote for the Government of his choice, and if + any man endeavors to interfere with that right, the Government of the + United States will see to it that the right of every American citizen is + protected at the polls." + </p> + <p> + Now, my friends, there is one thing that troubles the average Democrat, + and that is the idea that somehow, in some way, the negro will get to be + the better man. It is the trouble in the South to-day. And I say to my + Southern friends (and I admit that there are a great many good men in the + South, but the bad men are in an overwhelming majority; the great mass of + the population is vicious, violent, virulent and malignant; the great mass + of the population is cruel, revengeful, idle, hateful,) and I tell that + population: "If you do not go to work, the negro, by his patient industry, + will pass you." In the long run, the nation that is honest, the people who + are industrious, will pass the people who are dishonest, and the people + who are idle, no matter how grand an ancestry they may have had, and so I + say, Mr. Northern Democrat, look out! + </p> + <p> + The superior man is the man that loves his fellow-man; the superior man is + the useful man; the superior man is the kind man, the man who lifts up his + down-trodden brothers; and the greater the load of human sorrow and human + want you can get in your arms, the easier you can climb the great hill of + fame. The superior man is the man who loves his fellow-man. And let me say + right here, the good men, the superior men, the grand men are brothers the + world over, no matter what their complexion may be; centuries may separate + them, yet they are hand in hand; and all the good, and all the grand, and + all the superior men, shoulder to shoulder, heart to heart, are fighting + the great battle for the progress of mankind. + </p> + <p> + I pity the man, I execrate and hate the man who has only to boast that he + is white. Whenever I am reduced to that necessity, I believe shame will + make me red instead of white. I believe another thing. If I cannot hoe my + row, I will not steal corn from the fellow that hoes his row. If I belong + to the superior race, I will be so superior that I can make my living + without stealing from the inferior. I am perfectly willing that any + Democrat in the world that can, shall pass me. I have never seen one yet, + except when I looked over my shoulder. But if they can pass I shall be + delighted. + </p> + <p> + Whenever we stand in the presence of genius, we take off our hats. + Whenever we stand in the presence of the great, we do involuntary homage + in spite of ourselves. Any one who can go by is welcome, any one in the + world; but until somebody does go by, of the Democratic persuasion, I + shall not trouble myself about the fact that may be, in some future time, + they may get by. The Democrats are afraid of being passed, because they + are being passed. + </p> + <p> + No man ever was, no man ever will be, the superior of the man whom he + robs. No man ever was, no man ever will be, the superior of the man he + steals from. I had rather be a slave than a slave-master. I had rather be + stolen from than be a thief. I had rather be the wronged than the + wrong-doer. And allow me to say again to impress it forever upon every man + that hears me, you will always be the inferior of the man you wrong. Every + race is inferior to the race it tramples upon and robs. There never was a + man that could trample upon human rights and be superior to the man upon + whom he trampled. And let me say another thing: No government can stand + upon the crushed rights of one single human being; and any compromise that + we make with the South, if we make it at the expense of our friends, will + carry in its own bosom the seeds of its own death and destruction, and + cannot stand. A government founded upon anything except liberty and + justice cannot and ought not to stand. All the wrecks on either side of + the stream of time, all the wrecks of the great cities and nations that + have passed away—all are a warning that no nation founded upon + injustice can stand. From sand-enshrouded Egypt, from the marble + wilderness of Athens, from every fallen, crumbling stone of the once + mighty Rome, comes as it were a wail, comes as it were the cry, "No nation + founded upon injustice can permanently stand." We must found this Nation + anew. We must fight our fight. We must cling to our old party until there + is freedom of speech in every part of the United States. We must cling to + the old party until I can speak in every State of the South as every + Southerner can speak in every State of the North. We must vote the grand + old Republican ticket until there is the same liberty in every Southern + State that there is in every Northern, Eastern and Western State. We must + stand by the party until every Southern man will admit that this country + belongs to every citizen of the United States as much as to the man that + is born in that country. One more thing. I do not want any man that ever + fought for this country to vote the Democratic ticket. You will swap your + respectability for disgrace. There are thousands of you—great, + grand, splendid men—that have fought grandly for this Union, and now + I beseech of you, I beg of you, do not give respectability to the enemies + and haters of your country. Do not do it. Do not vote with the Democratic + party, of the North. Sometimes I think a rebel sympathizer in the North + worse than a rebel, and I will tell you why. The rebel was carried into + the rebellion by public opinion at home,—his father, his mother, his + sweetheart, his brother, and everybody he knew; and there was a kind of + wind, a kind of tornado, a kind of whirlwind that took him into the army. + He went on the rebel side with his State. The Northern Democrat went + against his own State; went against his own Government; and went against + public opinion at home. The Northern Democrat rowed up stream against wind + and tide. The Southern rebel went with the current; the Northern rebel + rowed against the current from pure, simple cussedness. + </p> + <p> + And I beg every man that ever fought for the Union, every man that ever + bared his breast to a storm of shot and shell, that the old flag might + float over every inch of American soil redeemed from the clutch of + treason; I beg him, I implore him, do not go with the Democratic party. + And to every young man within the sound of my voice I say, do not tie your + bright and shining prospects to that old corpse of Democracy. You will get + tired of dragging it around. Do not cast your first vote with the enemies + of your country. Do not cast your first vote with the Democratic party + that was glad when the Union army was defeated. Do not cast your vote with + that party whose cheeks flushed with the roses of joy when the old flag + was trailed in disaster upon the field of battle. Remember, my friends, + that that party did every mean thing it could, every dishonest and + treasonable thing it could. Recollect that that party did all it could to + divide this Nation, and destroy this country. + </p> + <p> + For myself I have no fear; Hayes and Wheeler will be the next President + and Vice-President of the United States of America. Let me beg of you—let + me implore you—let me beseech you, every man, to come out on + election day. Every man, do your duty; every man do his duty with regard + to the State ticket of the great and glorious State of Illinois. + </p> + <p> + This year we need Republicans; this year we need men that will vote for + the party; and I tell you that a Republican this year, no matter what you + have against him, no matter whether you like him or do not like him, is + better for the country, no matter how much you hate him, he is better for + the country than any Democrat Nature can make, or ever has made. + </p> + <p> + We must, in this supreme election, we must at this supreme moment, vote + only for the men who are in favor of keeping this Government in the power, + in the custody, in the control of the great, the sublime Republican party. + </p> + <p> + Ladies and gentlemen, if I were insensible to the honor you have done me + by this magnificent meeting—the most magnificent I ever saw on earth—a + meeting such as only the marvelous City of Pluck could produce; if I were + insensible of the honor, I would be made of stone. I shall remember it + with delight; I shall remember it with thankfulness all the days of my + life. And I ask in return of every Republican here to remember all the + days of his life, every sacrifice made by this nation for liberty; every + sacrifice made by every private soldier, every sacrifice made by every + patriotic man and patriotic woman. + </p> + <p> + I do not ask you to remember in revenge, but I ask you never, never to + forget. As the world swings through the constellations year after year, I + want the memory, I want the patriotic memory of this country to sit by the + grave of every Union soldier, and, while her eyes are filled with tears, + to crown him again and again with the crown of everlasting honor. I thank + you, I thank you, ladies and gentlemen, a thousand times. Good-night. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Note:—There was no full report made of this speech, the + above are simply extracts. +</pre> + <p> + <a name="link0008" id="link0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + EIGHT TO SEVEN ADDRESS. + </h2> + <h3> + (On the Electoral Commission.) + </h3> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * The reputation of Col. Robert G. Ingersoll had taken + possession of the Boston mind to such an extent that his + expected address was spoken of as "The Lecture." People + talked about going to it, as If on that night all other + places were to be closed, and the whole population of the + City turned into Tremont Temple. Long before the appointed + hour a rare audience, for even lecture loving Boston, had + assembled. Col. Ingersoll stepped upon the platform preceded + by Governor Rice, and followed by William Lloyd Garrison, + James T. Fields and others. After the presentation of two + large and exquisite bouquets Governor Rice introduced + Colonel Ingersoll, and the audience, the most acute and + determined looking I ever saw In Boston, poured out their + welcome! It seemed as if all the cheers that had been + suppressed between the first of November and the decision of + the Electoral Commission, found vent at that moment and the + vigorous clapping was renewed and prolonged until it became + an unmistakable salute to the recent brilliant campaigning + of the great Western orator. It is hardly possible to speak + in too high terms of the lecture which, under the title of + "8 to 7," contained a witty, philosophical and intensely + patriotic review of the political contest preceding and + following the recent election, with wise and timely + suggestions for preventing similar perils in the future.— + Boston, October 22nd,1877. +</pre> + <p> + 1877. + </p> + <p> + I HAVE sometimes wondered whether our country was to be forever governed + by parties full of hatred, full of malice, full of slander. I have + sometimes wondered whether or not in the future there would not be + discovered such a science as the science of government. I do not know what + you think, but what little I do know, and what little experience has been + mine, is, I must admit, against it. We have passed through the most + remarkable campaign of our history—a campaign remarkable in every + respect. + </p> + <p> + It was bitter, passionate, relentless and desperate, and I admit, for one, + that I added to its bitterness and relentlessness. I told, and frankly + told, my real, honest opinion of the Democratic party of the North. I + told, and cheerfully told, my opinion of the Democratic party of the + South. And I have nothing to take back. But, to show you that my heart is + not altogether wicked; I am willing to forgive and do forgive with all my + heart, every person and every party that I ever said anything against. I + believe that the campaign of 1876 was the turning-point, the midnight in + the history of the American Republic. + </p> + <p> + I believe, and firmly believe, that if the Democratic party had swept into + power, it would have been the end of progress, and the end of what I + consider human liberty, beneath our flag. I felt so, and I went into the + campaign simply because the rights of American citizens in at least + sixteen States of the Union were trampled under foot. I did what little I + could. I am glad I did it. We had, as I say, a wonderful campaign, and + each party said and did about all that could be said and done. Everybody + attended to politics. Business was suspended. Everything was given over to + processions and torches, and flags and transparencies; and resolutions and + conventions and speeches and songs. Old arguments were revamped. Old + stories were pressed into service. The old story of the Rebellion was told + again and again. The memories of the war were revived. The North was + arrayed against the South as though upon the field of battle. Party cries + were heard on every hand. Each party leaped like a tiger upon the + reputation of the other, and tore with tooth and claw, with might and + main, to the very end of the campaign. + </p> + <p> + I felt that it was necessary to arouse the North. I felt that it was + necessary to tell again the story of the Rebellion, from Bull Run to + Appomattox. I felt that it was necessary to describe what the Southern + people were doing with Union men, and with colored men; and I felt it + necessary so to describe it that the people of the North could hear the + whips, and could hear the drops of blood as they fell upon the withered + leaves. I did all I could to arouse the people of the North. I did all I + could to prevent the Democratic party from getting into power. The first + morning after the election, the Democracy had a banquet of joy, but all + through the feast they saw sitting at the head of the table the dim + outline of the skeleton of defeat. And, when the tide turned, Republicans + rejoiced with a face ready at any moment to express the profoundest grief. + Then came despatches and rumors, and estimated majorities, and vague talk + about Returning Boards, and intimidating voters, and stuffed ballot boxes, + and fraudulent returns, and bribed clerks, and injunctions, and contempts + of courts, and telegrams in cipher, and outrages, and octoroon balls in + which reverend Senators were whirled in love's voluptuous waltz. Everybody + discussed the qualifications of Electors and the value of Governors' + certificates, and how to get behind returns, and how to buy an Elector, + and who had the right to count; and persons expecting offices of trust, + honor and profit began to threaten war and extermination, calls were made + for a hundred thousand men, and there were no end of meetings, and + resolutions and denunciations, and the downfall of the country was + prophesied; and yet, notwithstanding all this, the name of the person who + really was elected remained unknown. The last scene of this strange, + eventful history, so far as the election by the people was concerned, was + Cronin. I see him now as he leaves the land "where rolls the Oregon and + hears no sound save his own dashings." Cronin, the last surviving veteran + of the grand army of "honesty and reform." Cronin, a quorum of one. + Cronin, who elected the two others by a plurality of his own vote. + </p> + <p> + I see him now, armed with Hoadley's opinion and Grover's certificate, + trudging wearily and drearily over the wide and wasted saleratus deserts + of the West, with a little card marked "S. J. T. i5 G. P." + </p> + <p> + Then came the great question of who shall count the electoral vote. The + Vice-President being a Republican, it was generally contended, at least by + me, that he had a right to count that vote. My doctrine was, if the + Vice-President would count the vote right, he had the right to count it. + </p> + <p> + The Vice-President not being a Democrat, the members of that party claimed + that the House could prevent the Vice-President from counting it, and this + was simply because the House was not Republican. Nearly all decided + according to their politics. The Constitution is a little blind on this + point, and where anything is blind I always see it my way. It was about + this time that some of the Democrats began to talk about bringing one + hundred thousand unarmed men to Washington to superintend the count. + Others, however, got up a scheme to create, a court in the United States + where politics should have no earthly influence. Nothing could be easier, + they thought, after we had gone through such a hot and exciting campaign, + than to pick out men who have no prejudices whatever on the subject. + Finally a bill was passed creating a tribunal to count the vote, if any, + and hear testimony, if any, and declare what man had been elected + President, if any. This tribunal consisted of fifteen men, ten being + chosen on account of their politics—five from the Senate and five + from the House,—and they chose four judges from purely geographical + considerations. I was there, and I know exactly how it was. Those four men + were picked with a map of the United States in front of the pickers. The + Democrats chose Justice Field, not because he was a Democrat, but because + he lived on the Pacific slope. They chose Justice Clifford, not because he + was a Democrat, but because he lived on the Eastern slope; that was fair. + Thereupon the Republicans chose Justice Strong, not because he was a + Republican, but because he lived on the Eastern slope. You can see the + point. The Republicans chose Justice Miller, not because he was a + Republican, but because he represented the great West. They then allowed + these four to select a fifth man. + </p> + <p> + Well, it was impossible to select the fifth man from geographical + considerations, you can see that yourselves. There was nothing left to + choose between, you know, as far as geography was concerned. They then + agreed that they would not take a Justice from any State in which the + candidate for President lived. They left out Justice Hunt, from New York, + and Justice Swayne, from Ohio. They knew of course that that would not + influence them, but they did that simply—well, they did not want + them there; that was all, and it would be unhandy to pick one man out of + four. So they left Swayne and Hunt out. And then they would pick one man + as between Justice Bradley and Justice Davis. Just at that time the people + of the State of Illinois happened to be out of a Senator, and Judge Davis + was there and expressed a willingness to go to the Senate. And the people + of the State of Illinois elected him, and therefore there was nobody to + choose from except Justice Bradley, and he was a Republican. + </p> + <p> + Now, you know this runs in families. His record was good—by + marriage. He married a daughter of Chief Justice Hornblower, of New + Jersey. Now, Hornblower was what you might call a partisan. Do you know + they went to him—it was in the old times, and he was a kind of Whig,—they + went to him with a petition, in the State of New Jersey, a petition + addressed to the Legislature for the abolition of capital punishment, and + Hornblower said, "I'll be damned if I sign it while there is a Democrat in + the State of New Jersey." + </p> + <p> + As a matter of fact, however, I believe that Justice Bradley and all the + other Justices, and all other persons on that tribunal decided as they + honestly thought was right. + </p> + <p> + Judge Davis is as broad mentally as he is physically; he has an immensity + of common sense, and as much judgment as any one man ever needs to use, + and, in my judgment, he would have come to the same conclusion as Judge + Bradley, precisely. These men were appointed—it was a Democratic + scheme, and I am glad they got it up—and during that entire + investigation, so much were the members of that party controlled by old + associations and habits, and by partisan feeling that there was not a + solitary one of the seven Democrats that ever once voted on the Republican + side. And, as a necessity, the Republicans had to stand together. And so, + notwithstanding the seven Democrats voted constantly together, the eight + Republicans kept having a majority of one, until the last disputed State + was given against the great party of "honesty and reform." And, finally, + when they found they were defeated, they made up their minds to prevent + the counting of the vote. They made up their minds to wear out the session + and prevent the election of a President. Just at that point, for a wonder, + (nothing ever astonished me more), the members from the South said: "We do + not want any more war; we have had war enough and we say that a President + shall be peacefully elected, and that he shall be peacefully inaugurated!" + As soon as I heard that I felt under a little obligation to the Democracy + of the South, and when they stood in the gap and prevented the Democracy + of the North from plunging this Government into the hell of civil war, I + felt like taking them by the hand and saying, "We have beaten the enemy + once, let us keep on. Let us join hands." I felt like saying to the + Democracy of the South, "You never will have a day's prosperity in the + South until you join the great, free, progressive party of the North—never!" + And they never will. + </p> + <p> + Now, I say, I felt as though I were under a certain obligation to these + people. They prevented this thing, and they made it possible for the + Vice-President to declare Rutherford B. Hayes President of the United + States. Now, right here, I want you to observe that this shows the real + defects in our system of government. In the first place, our Government is + being governed by fraud. If the very fountain of power is poisoned by + fraud, then the whole Government is impure. We must find out some way to + prevent fraudulent voting in the United States or our Government is a + failure. Great cities were the mothers of election frauds. They + inaugurated violence and intimidation. They produced the repeaters and the + false boxes. They invented fan-tail tickets and pasters, and gradually + these delightful and patriotic arts and practices have spread over almost + the entire country. + </p> + <p> + Unless something is done to preserve the purity of the ballot-box our form + of government must cease. The fountain of power is poisoned. The + sovereignty of the people is stolen and destroyed. The Government becomes + organized fraud, and all respect will soon be lost for the laws and + decisions of the courts. The legislators are elected in many instances by + fraud. The judges are in many instances chosen by fraud. Every department + of the Government becomes tainted and corrupt. It is no longer a Republic, + unless something can be devised to ascertain with certainty the really + honest will of the sovereign people. + </p> + <p> + For the accomplishment of this object the good and patriotic men of all + parties should most heartily unite. To cast an illegal vote should be + considered by all as a crime. We must if possible get rid of the mob—the + vagrants, the vagabonds who have no home and who take no interest in the + cities where they vote. We must get rid of the rich mob too; and by the + rich mob I mean the men who buy up these vagabonds. Various States have + passed laws for the registration of voters; but they all leave wide open + all the doors of fraud. Men are allowed to vote if they have been for one + year in the State, and thirty or sixty days in the ward or precinct; and + when they have failed to have their names registered before the day of + election, they can avoid the effect of this neglect by making a few + affidavits, certified to by reputable householders. Of course all + necessary affidavits are made, with hundreds and thousands to spare. My + idea is that the period of registration, in the first place, is too short, + and, in the second place, no way should be given by which they can vote + unless they have been properly registered, affidavit or no affidavit. + Every man, when he goes into a ward or precinct, should be registered. It + should be his duty to see that he is registered. Officers should be kept + for that purpose, and he should never be allowed to cast a vote until he + has been registered at least one year. Sixty days, say, or thirty days—sixty + would be better—sixty days before the election the registry lists + should be corrected, and every citizen should have the right to enter a + complaint or objection as against any name found upon that list. Thirty + days, or twenty days before the election, that list should be published + and should be exposed in several public places in each ward and each + precinct, and upon the day of election no man should be allowed to vote + whose name was not upon the registry list. Our wards and precincts should + be made smaller, so that people can vote without violence, without wasting + an entire day, so that the honest business man that wishes to cast his + ballot for the Government of his choice can walk to the polls like a + gentleman and deposit his vote and go about his affairs. Allow me to say + that unless some such plan is adopted in the United States, there never + will be another fair election in this country. During the last campaign + all the arts and artifices of the city, all the arts and artifices of the + lowest wards were spread over this entire country, and unless something is + done to preserve the purity of the ballot-box, and guard the sovereign + will of the people, we will cease to be a Republican Government. + </p> + <p> + Another thing—and I cannot say it too often—fraud at the + ballot-box undermines all respect in the minds of the people for the + Government. When they are satisfied that the election is a fraud they + despise the officers elected. When they are satisfied it is a fraud, they + despise the law made by the legislators. When they are satisfied it is a + fraud, they hold in utter contempt the decisions of our highest and most + august tribunals. + </p> + <p> + Another trouble in this country is that our terms of office are too short. + Our elections are too frequent. They interfere with the business of our + country. When elections are so frequent, men make a business of politics. + If they fail to get one office they immediately run for another, and they + keep running until the people elect them for the simple purpose of getting + rid of the annoyance. Lengthen the terms, purify the ballot, and the + present scramble for office will become contests for principles. A man who + cannot get a living—unless he has been disabled in the service of + his country or from some other cause—without holding office, is not + fit for an office. + </p> + <p> + A professional office-seeker is one of the meanest, and lowest, and basest + of human beings—a little higher than the lower animals and a little + lower than man. He has no earthly or heavenly independence; not a + particle; not a particle. A successful office-seeker is like the center of + the earth; he weighs nothing himself, and draws all things towards the + office he wants. He has not even a temper. You cannot insult him. Shut the + door in his face, and, so far as he is concerned, it is left wide open, + and you are standing on the threshold with a smile, extending the hand of + welcome. He crawls and cringes and flatters and lies and swaggers and + brags and tells of the influence he has in the ward he lives in. We cannot + too often repeat that splendid saying, "The office should seek the man, + not man the office." If you will lengthen the term of office it will be so + long between meals that he will have to do something else or starve. Adopt + the system of registration, as I have suggested; have small and convenient + election districts, so that, as I said before, the honest, law-abiding, + and peaceable citizen can attend the polls; so that he will not be + compelled to risk his life to deposit his ballot that will be stolen or + thrown out, or forced to keep the company of ballots caused by fraudulent + violence. Lengthen the term of office, drive the professional hunter and + seeker of office from the field, and you will go far toward strengthening + and vivifying and preserving the fabric of the Constitution. That is the + kind of civil service reform I am in favor of, and as I am on that + subject, I will say a word about it. There is but one vital question—but + one question of real importance—in fact I might say in the whole + world, and that is the great question of Civil Service Reform. There may + be some others indirectly affecting the human race, and in which some + people take a languid kind of interest, but the only question worth + discussing and comprehending in all its phases is the one I have + mentioned. This great question is in its infancy still. The doctrine as + yet has been applied only to politics.* + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Colonel Ingersoll then read the following letter, of which + he was the author. +</pre> + <p> + My Dear Sir:—In the olden times, during the purer days of the + Republic, the motto was, "To the victors belong the spoils." The great + object of civil service reform is to reverse this motto. Our people are + thoroughly disgusted with machine politics, and demand politics without + any machine. + </p> + <p> + In every precinct and ward there are persons going about lauding one party + and crying down the other. They make it their business to attend to the + affairs of the Nation. They call conventions, pass resolutions; they put + notices in papers of the times and places of meetings; they select + candidates for office, and then insist upon having them elected; they + distribute papers and political documents; they crowd the mails with + newspapers, platforms, resolutions, facts and figures, and with everything + calculated to help their party and hurt the other. In short, they are the + disturbers of the public peace. + </p> + <p> + They keep the community in a perpetual excitement. In the last campaign, + wherever they were was turmoil. They fired cannon, carried flags, torches + and transparencies; they subsidized brass bands, and shouted and hurrahed + as though the world had gone insane. They were induced to do these things + by the hope of success and office. Take away this hope and there will be + peace once more. This thing is unendurable. The staid, the quiet and + respectable people, the moderate and conservative men who always have an + idea of joining the other side just to show their candor, are heartily + tired of the entire performance. These gentlemen demand a rest. They are + not adventurers; they have incomes; they belong to families; they have + monograms and liveries. They have succeeded, and they want quiet. Growth + makes a noise; development, as they call it, is nothing but disturbance. + We want stability, we want political petrifaction, and we therefore demand + that these meetings shall be dismissed, that these processions shall halt, + that these flags shall be furled. But these things never will be stopped + until we stop paying men with office for making these disturbances. You + know that it has been the habit for men elected to bestow political favors + upon the men who elected them. This is a crying shame. It is a kind of + bribery and corruption. Men should not work with the expectation of reward + and success. The frightful consequences of rewarding one's friends cannot + be contemplated by a true patriot without a shudder. Exactly the opposite + course is demanded by the great principle of civil service reform. There + is no patriotism in working for place, for power and success. The true + lover of his country is stimulated to action by the hope of defeat, and + the prospect of office for his opponent. To such an extent has the + pernicious system of rewarding friends for political services gone in this + country, that until very lately it was difficult for a member of the + defeated party to obtain a respectable office. + </p> + <p> + The result of all this is, that the country is divided, that these + divisions are kept alive by these speakers, writers and convention + callers. The great mission of civil service reform is not to do away with + parties, but with conflicting opinion, by taking from all politicians the + hope of reward. There is no other hope for peace. What do the people know + about the wants of the nation? There are in every community a few quiet + and respectable men, who know all about the wants of the people—gentlemen + who have retired from business, who take no part in discussion and who are + therefore free from prejudice. Let these men attend to our politics. They + will not call conventions, except in the parlors of hotels. They will not + put out our eyes with flaring torches. They will not deafen us with + speeches. They will carry on a campaign without producing opposition. They + will have elections but no contests. All the offices will be given to the + defeated party. This of itself will insure tranquillity at the polls. No + one will be deprived of the privilege of casting a ballot. When campaigns + are conducted in this manner a gentleman can engage in politics with a + feeling that he is protected by the great principle of civil service + reform. But just so long as men persist in rewarding their friends, as + they call them, just so long will our country be cursed with political + parties. Nothing can be better calculated to preserve the peace than the + great principle of rewarding those who have confidence enough in our + institutions to keep silent while peace will sit with folded wings upon + the moss-covered political stump of a ruder age. I am satisfied that to + civil service reform the Republican party is indebted for the last great + victory. Upon this question the enthusiasm of the people was simply + unbounded. In the harvest field, the shop, the counting-room, in the + church, in the saloon, in, the palace and in the hut, nothing was heard + and nothing discussed except the great principle of civil service reform. + </p> + <p> + Among the most touching incidents of the campaign was to see a few old + soldiers, sacred with scars, sit down, and while battles and hair-breadth + escapes, and prisons of want, were utterly forgotten, discuss with + tremulous lips and tearful eyes the great question of civil service + reform. + </p> + <p> + During the great political contest I addressed several quite large and + intelligent audiences, and no one who did not has or can have the + slightest idea of the hold that civil service reform had upon the very + souls of our people. Upon all other subjects the indifference was marked. + I dwelt upon the glittering achievements of my party, but they were + indifferent. I pictured outrages perpetrated upon our citizens, but they + did not care. All this went idly by, but when I touched upon civil service + reform, old men, gray-haired and strong, broke down utterly—tears + fell like rain. The faces of women grew ashen with the intensity of + anguish, and even little children sobbed as though their hearts would + break. To one who has witnessed these affecting scenes, civil service + reform is almost a sacred thing. Even the speeches delivered upon this + subject in German affected to tears thousands of persons wholly + unacquainted with that language. In some instances those who did not + understand a word were affected even more than those who did. Surely there + must be something in the subject itself, apart from the words used to + explain it, that can under such circumstances lead captive the hearts of + men. During the entire campaign the cry of civil service reform was heard + from one end of our land to the other. The sailor nailed those words to + the mast. The miner repeated them between the strokes of the pick. Mothers + explained them to their children. Emigrants painted them upon their + wagons. They were mingled with the reaper's song and the shout of the + pioneer. Adopt this great principle and we can have quiet and lady-like + campaigns, a few articles in monthly magazines, a leader or two in the + "Nation," in the pictorial papers wood-cuts of the residences of the + respective candidates and now and then a letter from an old Whig would + constitute all the aggressive agencies of the contest. I am satisfied that + this great principle secured us our victories in Florida and Louisiana, + and its effect on the High Joint Commission was greater than is generally + supposed. It was this that finally decided the action of the returning + boards. + </p> + <p> + Cronin is the only man upon whom this great principle was an utter + failure. Let it be understood that friends are not to be rewarded. Let it + be settled that political services are a barrier to political preferment, + and my word for it, machine politics will never be heard of again. + </p> + <p> + Yours truly,—— + </p> + <p> + I do not believe in carrying civil service reform to the extent that you + will not allow an officer to resign. I do not believe that that principle + should be insisted upon to that degree that there would only be two ways + left to get out of office—death or suicide. I believe, other things + being equal, any party having any office within its gift will give that + office to the man that really believes in the principles of that party, + and who has worked to give those principles ultimate victory. That is + human nature. The man that plows, the man that sows, and the man that + cultivates, ought to be the man that reaps. But we have in this country a + multitude of little places, a multitude of clerkships in Washington; and + the question is whether on the incoming of a new administration, these men + shall all be turned out. In the first place, they are on starvation + salaries, just barely enough to keep soul and body together, and + respectability on the outside; and if there is a young man in this + audience, I beg of him: + </p> + <p> + Never accept a clerkship from this Government. Do not live on a little + salary; do not let your mind be narrowed; do not sell all the splendid + possibilities of the future; do not learn to cringe and fawn and crawl. + </p> + <p> + I would rather have forty acres of land, with a log cabin on it and the + woman I love in the cabin—with a little grassy winding path leading + down to the spring where the water gurgles from the lips of earth + whispering day and night to the white pebbles a perpetual poem—with + holly-hocks growing at the corner of the house, and morning-glories + blooming over the low latched door—with lattice work over the window + so that the sunlight would fall checkered on the dimpled babe in the + cradle, and birds—like songs with wings hovering in the summer air—than + be the clerk of any government on earth. + </p> + <p> + Now, I say, let us lengthen the term of office—I do not care much + how long—send a man to Congress at least for five years. And it + would be a great blessing if there were not half as many of them sent. + </p> + <p> + We have too many legislators and too much legislation; too little about + important matters, and too much about unimportant matters. Lengthen the + term of office so that the man can turn his attention to something else + when he gets in besides looking after his re-election. There is another + defect we must remedy in our Constitution, in my judgment, and that is as + to the mode of electing a President. I believe it of the greatest + importance that the Executive should be entirely independent of the + legislative and judicial departments of the country. I do not believe that + Congress should have the right to create a vacancy which it can fill. I do + not believe that the Senate of the United States, or the lower house of + Congress, by a simple objection, should have the right to deprive any + State of its electoral vote. Our Constitution now provides that the + electors chosen in each State shall meet in their respective States upon a + certain day and there cast their votes for President and Vice-President of + the United States. They shall properly certify to the votes which are + cast, and shall transmit lists of them, together with the proper + certificates, to the Vice-President of the United States. And it is then + declared that upon a certain day in the presence of both houses of + Congress, the Vice-President shall open the certificates and the votes + shall then be counted. It does not exactly say who shall count these + votes. It does not in so many words say the Vice-President shall do it, or + may do it, or that both houses of Congress shall do it, or may do it, or + that either house can prevent a count of the votes. It leaves us in the + dark, and, to a certain degree, in blindness. I believe there is a way, + and a very easy way, out of the entire trouble, and it is this: I do not + care whether the electors first meet in their respective States or not, + but I want the Constitution so amended that the electors of all the States + shall meet on a certain day in the city of Washington, and count the votes + themselves; to allow that body to be the judge of who are electors, to + allow it to choose a chairman, and to allow the person so chosen to + declare who is the President, and who is the Vice-President of the United + States. The Executive is then entirely free and independent of the + legislative department of Government. The Executive is then entirely free + from the judicial department, and I tell you, it is a public calamity to + have the ermine of the Supreme Court of the United States touched or + stained by a political suspicion. In my judgment, this country can never + stand such a strain again as it has now. + </p> + <p> + Now, my friends, all these questions are upon us and they have to be + settled. We cannot go on as we have been going. We cannot afford to live + as we have lived—one section running against the other. We cannot go + along that way. It must be settled, either peaceably or there must again + be a resort to the boisterous sword of civil war. + </p> + <p> + The people of the South must stop trampling on the rights of the colored + men. It must not be a crime in any State of this Union to be a lover of + this country. I have seen it stated in several papers lately that it is + the duty of each State to protect its own citizens. Well, I know that. + Suppose that the State does not do it; what then I say? Well, then, say + these people, the Governor of the State has the right to call on the + General Government for assistance. But suppose the Governor will not call + for assistance, what then? Then, they tell us, the Legislature can do so + by a joint resolution. But suppose the Legislature will not do it, what + then? Then, say these people, it is a defect in the Constitution. In my + judgment, that is the absurdest kind of secession. If the State of + Illinois must protect me, if I have no right to call for the protection of + the General Government, all I have to say is that my allegiance must + belong to the Government that protects me. If Illinois protects me, and + the General Government has not the power, then my first allegiance is due + to Illinois; and should Illinois unsheathe the sword of civil war, I must + stand by my State, if that doctrine is true. I say, my first allegiance is + due to the General Government, and not to the State of Illinois, and if + the State of Illinois goes out of the Union, I swear to you that I will + not. What does the General Government propose to give me in exchange for + my allegiance? The General Government has a right to take my property. The + General Government has a right to take my body in its necessary defence. + What does that Government propose to give in exchange for that right? + Protection, or else our Government is a fraud. Who has a right to call for + the protection of the United States? I say, the citizen who needs it. Can + our Government obtain information only through the official sources? Must + our Government wait until the Government asks the proofs, while the State + tramples upon the rights of the citizens? Must it wait until the + Legislature calls for assistance to help it stop robbing and plundering + citizens of the United States? Is that the doctrine and the idea of the + Northern Democratic party? It is not mine. A Government that will not + protect its citizens is a disgrace to humanity. A Government that waits + until a Governor calls—a Government that cannot hear the cry of the + meanest citizen under its flag when his rights are being trampled upon, + even by citizens of a Southern State—has no right to exist. + </p> + <p> + It is the duty of the American citizen to see to it that every State has a + Government, not only republican in form, but it is the duty of the United + States to see to it that life, liberty and property are protected in each + State. If they are not protected, it is the duty of the United States to + protect them, if it takes all her military force both upon land and upon + the sea. The people whose Government cannot always hear the faintest wail + of the meanest man beneath its flag have no right to call themselves a + nation. The flag that will not protect its protectors and defend its + defenders is a rag that is not worth the air in which it waves. + </p> + <p> + How are we going to do it? Do it by kindness if you can; by conciliation + if you can, but the Government is bound to try every way until it + succeeds. Now, Rutherford B. Hayes was elected President. The Democracy + will say, of course, that he never was elected, but that does not make any + difference. He is President to-day, and all these things are about him to + be settled. + </p> + <p> + What shall we do? What can we do? There are two Governors in South + Carolina and two Legislatures and not one cent of taxes has been collected + by either. A dual government would seem to be the most economical in the + world. Now, the question for us to decide, the question to be decided by + this administration is, how are we to ascertain which is the legal + Government of the State, and what department of the Government has a right + to ascertain that fact? Must it be left to Congress? Has the Senate alone + the right to determine it? Can it be left in any way to the Supreme Court, + or shall the Executive decide it himself? I do not say that the Executive + has the power to decide that question for himself. I do not say he has + not, but I do not say he has. The question, so far as Louisiana and South + Carolina are concerned—that question is now in the Senate of the + United States. Governor Kellogg is asking for admission as a Senator from + the State of Louisiana, and the question is to be decided by the Senate + first, whether he is entitled to his seat, and that question of course, + rests upon the one fact—was the Legislature that elected him the + legal Legislature of the State of Louisiana? It seems to me that when that + question is pending in the Senate of the United States the President has + not the right, or at least it would be improper for him to decide it on + his own motion, and say this or that Government is the real and legal + Government of the State of Louisiana. But some mode must be adopted, some + way must be discovered to settle this question, and to settle it + peacefully. We are an enlightened people. Force is the last thing that + civilized men should resort to. As long as courts can be created, as long + as courts of arbitration can be selected, as long as we can reason and + think, and urge all the considerations of humanity upon each other, there + should be no appeal to arms in the United States upon any question + whatever. What should the President do? He could only spare twenty-five + hundred men from the Indian war—that is the same army that has so + long been trampling on the rights of the South, the same army that the + Democratic Congress wished to reduce, and that army of twenty-five hundred + men is all he has to spare to protect American citizens in the Southern + States. Is there any sentiment in the North that would uphold the + Executive in calling for volunteers? Is there any sentiment here that + would respond to a call for twenty, fifty, or a hundred thousand men? Is + there any Congress to pass the necessary act to pay them if there was? + </p> + <p> + And so the President of the United States appreciated the situation, and + the people of the South came to him and said, "We have had war enough, we + have had trouble enough, our country languishes, we have no trade, our + pockets are empty, something must be done for us, we are utterly and + perfectly disgusted with the leadership of the Democratic party of the + North. Now, will you let us be your friends?" And he had the sense to say, + "Yes." The President took the right hand of the North, and put it into the + right hand of the South and said "Let us be friends. We parted at the + cannon's mouth; we were divided by the edge of the glittering sword; we + must become acquainted again. We are equals. We are all fellow-citizens. + In a Government of the people, by the people and for the people, there + shall not be an outcast class, whether white or black. To this feast, + every child of the Republic shall be invited and welcomed." It was a grand + thing grandly done. If the President succeeds in his policy, it will be an + immense compliment to his brain. If he fails, it will be an equal + compliment to his heart. He has opened the door; he has advanced; he has + extended his hand, he has broken the silence of hatred with the words of + welcome. Actuated by this broad and catholic spirit he has selected his + constitutional advisors, and allow me to say right here, the President has + the right to select his constitutional advisors to suit himself, and the + idea of men endeavoring to force themselves or others into the Cabinet of + the President, against, as it were, his will, why I would as soon think of + circulating a petition to compel some woman to marry me. + </p> + <p> + He has gathered around him the men he considers the wisest and the best, + and I say, let us give them a fair chance. I say, let us be honest with + the President of the United States and his Cabinet, and give his policy a + fair and honest chance. In order to show his good faith with the South he + chose as a member of his Cabinet an ex-rebel from Tennessee. I confess, + when I heard of it I did not like it. It did not seem to be exactly what I + had been making all this fuss about. But I thought I would be honest about + it, and I went and called on Mr. Key, and really he begins already to look + a good deal like a Republican. A real honest looking man. And then I said + to myself that he had not done much more harm than as though he had been a + Democrat at the North during those four years, and had cursed and swore + instead of fought about it. And so I told him "I am glad you are + appointed." + </p> + <p> + And I am. Give him a chance, and so far as the whole Cabinet is concerned—I + have not the time to go over them one by one now, it is perfectly + satisfactory to me. The President made up his mind that to appoint that + man would be to say to the South: "I do not look upon you as pariahs in + this Government. I look upon you as fellow-citizens; I want you to wipe + forever the color line, or the Union line, from the records of this + Government on account of what has been done heretofore." What are you now? + is the only question that should be asked. It was a strange thing for the + President to appoint that man. It was an experiment. It is an experiment. + It has not yet been decided, but I believe it will simply be a proof of + the President's wisdom. I can stand that experiment taken in connection + with the appointment of Frederick Douglass as Marshal of the District of + Columbia. I was glad to see that man's appointment. He is a good, patient, + stern man. He has been fighting for the liberty of his race, and at the + same time for our liberty. This man has done something for the freedom of + my race as well as his own. This is no time for war. War settles nothing + except the mere question of strength. That is all war ever did settle. You + cannot shoot ideas into a man with a musket, or with cannon into one of + those old Bourbon Democrats of the North. You cannot let prejudices out of + a man with a sword. + </p> + <p> + This is the time for reason, for discussion, for compromise. This is the + time to repair, to rebuild, to preserve. War destroys. Peace creates. War + is decay and death. Peace is growth and life,—sunlight and air. War + kills men. Peace maintains them. Artillery does not reason; it asserts. A + bayonet has point enough, but no logic. When the sword is drawn, reason + remains in the scabbard. It is not enough to win upon the field of battle, + you must be victor within the realm of thought. There must be peace + between the North and South some time; not a conquered peace, but a peace + that conquers. The question is, can you and I forget the past? Can we + forget everything except the heroic sacrifices of the men who saved this + Government? Can we say to the South, "Let us be brothers"? Can we? I am + willing to do it because, in the first place, it is right, and in the + second place, it will pay if it can be carried out. We have fought and + hated long enough. Our country is prostrate. Labor is in rags. Energy has + empty hands. Industry has empty pockets. The wheels of the factory are + still. In the safe of prudence money lies idle, locked by the key of fear. + Confidence is what we need—confidence in each other; confidence in + our institutions; confidence in our form of government; in the great + future; confidence in law, confidence in liberty, confidence in progress, + and in the grand destiny of the Great Republic. Now, do not imagine that I + think this policy will please every body. Of course there are men South + and North who can never be conciliated. They are the Implacables in the + South—the Bourbons in the North. + </p> + <p> + Nothing will ever satisfy them. The Implacables want to own negroes and + whip them; the Bourbons never will be satisfied until they can help catch + one. The Implacables with violent hands drive emigration from their + shores. They are poisoning the springs and sources of prosperity. They + dine on hatred and sup on regret. They mourn over the lost cause and + partake of the communion of revenge. They strike down the liberties of + their fellow-citizens and refuse to enjoy their own. They remember nothing + but wrongs, and they forget nothing but benefits. Their bosoms are filled + with the serpents of hate. No one can compromise with them. Nothing can + change them. They must be left to the softening influence of time and + death. The Bourbons are the allies of the Implacables. A Bourbon in the + majority is an Implacable in the minority. An Implacable in the minority + is a Bourbon. We do not appeal to, but from these men. But there are in + the South thousands of men who have accepted in good faith the results of + the war; men who love and wish to preserve this nation, men tired of + strife—men longing for a real Union based upon mutual respect and + confidence. These men are willing that the colored man shall be free—willing + that he shall vote, and vote for the Government of his choice—willing + that his children shall be educated—willing that he shall have all + the rights of an American citizen. These men are tired of the Implacables + and disgusted with the Bourbons. These men wish to unite with the + patriotic men of the North in the great work of reestablishing a + government of law. For my part, call me of what party you please, I am + willing to join hands with these men, without regard to race, color or + previous condition. + </p> + <p> + With a knowledge of our wants—with a clear perception of our + difficulties, Rutherford B. Hayes became President. + </p> + <p> + Nations have been saved by the grandeur of one man. Above all things a + President should be a patriot. Party at best is only a means—the + good of the country, the happiness of the people, the only end. + </p> + <p> + Now, I appeal to you Democrats here—not a great many, I suppose—do + not oppose this policy because you think it is going to increase the + Republican strength. If it strengthens the Government, no matter whether + it is Republican or Democratic, it is for the common good. + </p> + <p> + And you Republicans, you who have had all these feelings of patriotism and + glory, I ask you to wait and let this experiment be tried. Do not prophesy + failure for it and then work to fulfill the prophecy. Give the President a + chance. I tell you to-night that he is as good a Republican as there is in + the United States; and I tell you that if this policy is not responded to + by the South, Rutherford B. Hayes will change it, just as soon and as + often as is necessary to accomplish the end. The President has offered the + Southern people the olive branch of peace, and so far as I am concerned, I + implore both the Southern people and the Northern people to accept it. I + extend to you each and all the olive branch of peace. Fellow-citizens of + the South, I beseech you to take it. By the memory of those who died for + naught; by the charred remains of your remembered homes; by the ashes of + your statesman dead; for the sake of your sons and your daughters and + their fair children yet to be, I implore you to take it with loving and + with loyal hands. It will cultivate your wasted fields. It will rebuild + your towns and cities. It will fill your coffers with gold. It will + educate your children. It will swell the sails of your commerce. It will + cause the roses of joy to clamber and climb over the broken cannon of war. + It will flood the cabins of the freedman with light, and clothe the weak + in more than coat of mail, and wrap the poor and lowly in "measureless + content." Take it. The North will forgive if the South will forget. Take + it! The negro will wipe from the tablet of memory the strokes and scars of + two hundred years, and blur with happy tears the record of his wrongs. + Take it! It will unite our nation. It will make us brothers once again. + Take it! And justice will sit in your courts under the outspread wings of + Peace. Take it! And the brain and lips of the future will be free. Take + it! It will bud and blossom in your hands and fill your land with + fragrance and with joy. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link0009" id="link0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + HARD TIMES AND THE WAY OUT. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Boston, October 20, 1878. +</pre> + <p> + LADIES and Gentlemen:—The lovers of the human race, the + philanthropists, the dreamers of grand dreams, all predicted and all + believed that when man should have the right to govern himself, when every + human being should be equal before the law, pauperism, crime, and want + would exist only in the history of the past. They accounted for misery in + their time by the rapacity of kings and the cruelty of priests. Here, in + the United States, man at last is free. Here, man makes the laws, and all + have an equal voice. The rich cannot oppress the poor, because the poor + are in a majority. The laboring men, those who in some way work for their + living, can elect every Congressman and every judge; they can make and + interpret the laws, and if labor is oppressed in the United States by + capital, labor has simply itself to blame. The cry is now raised that + capital in some mysterious way oppresses industry; that the capitalist is + the enemy of the man who labors. What is a capitalist? Every man who has + good health; every man with good sense; every one who has had his dinner, + and has enough left for supper, is, to that extent, a capitalist. Every + man with a good character, who has the credit to borrow a dollar or to buy + a meal, is a capitalist; and nine out of ten of the great capitalists in + the United States are simply successful workingmen. There is no conflict, + and can be no conflict, in the United States between capital and labor; + and the men who endeavor to excite the envy of the unfortunate and the + malice of the poor are the enemies of law and order. + </p> + <p> + As a rule, wealth is the result of industry, economy, attention to + business; and as a rule, poverty is the result of idleness, extravagance, + and inattention to business, though to these rules there are thousands of + exceptions. The man who has wasted his time, who has thrown away his + opportunities, is apt to envy the man who has not. For instance, there are + six shoemakers working in one shop. One of them attends to his business. + You can hear the music of his hammer late and early. He is in love with + some girl on the next street. He has made up his mind to be a man; to + succeed; to make somebody else happy; to have a home; and while he is + working, in his imagination he can see his own fireside, with the + firelight falling upon the faces of wife and child. The other five + gentlemen work as little as they can, spend Sunday in dissipation, have + the headache Monday, and, as a result, never advance. The industrious one, + the one in love, gains the confidence of his employer, and in a little + while he cuts out work for the others. The first thing you know he has a + shop of his own, the next a store; because the man of reputation, the man + of character, the man of known integrity, can buy all he wishes in the + United States upon a credit. The next thing you know he is married, and he + has built him a house, and he is happy, and his dream has been realized. + After awhile the same five shoemakers, having pursued the old course, + stand on the corner some Sunday when he rides by. He has a carriage, his + wife sits by his side, her face covered with smiles, and they have two + children, their eyes beaming with joy, and the blue ribbons are fluttering + in the wind. And thereupon, these five shoemakers adjourn to some + neighboring saloon and pass a resolution that there is an irrepressible + conflict between capital and labor. + </p> + <p> + There is, in fact, no such conflict, and the laboring men of the United + States have the power to protect themselves. In the ballot-box the vote of + Lazarus is on an equality with the vote of Dives; the vote of a wandering + pauper counts the same as that of a millionaire. In a land where the poor, + where the laboring men have the right and have the power to make the laws, + and do, in fact, make the laws, certainly there should be no complaint. In + our country the people hold the power, and if any corporation in any State + is devouring the substance of the people, every State has retained the + power of eminent domain, under which it can confiscate the property and + franchise of any corporation by simply paying to that corporation what + such property is worth. And yet thousands of people are talking as though + the rich combined for the express purpose of destroying the poor, are + talking as though there existed a widespread conspiracy against industry, + against honest toil; and thousands and thousands of speeches have been + made and numberless articles have been written to fill the breasts of the + unfortunate with hatred. + </p> + <p> + We have passed through a period of wonderful and unprecedented inflation. + For years we enjoyed the luxury of going into debt, the felicity of living + upon credit. We have in the United States about eighty thousand miles of + railway, more than enough to make a treble track around the globe. Most of + these miles were built in a period of twenty-five years, and at a cost of + at least five thousand millions of dollars. Think of the ore that had to + be dug, of the iron that was melted; think of the thousands employed in + cutting bridge timber and ties, and giving to the wintry air the music of + the axe; think of the thousands and thousands employed in making cars, in + making locomotives, those horses of progress with nerves of steel and + breath of flame; think of the thousands and thousands of workers in brass + and steel and iron; think of the numberless industries that thrived in the + construction of eighty thousand miles of railway, of the streams bridged, + of the mountains tunneled, of the plains crossed; and think of the towns + and cities that sprang up, as if by magic, along these highways of iron. + </p> + <p> + During the same time we had a war in which we expended thousands of + millions of dollars, not to create, not to construct, but to destroy. All + this money was spent in the work of demolition, and every shot and every + shell and every musket and every cannon was used to destroy. All the time + of every soldier was lost. An amount of property inconceivable was + destroyed, and some of the best and bravest were sacrificed. During these + years the productive power of the North was strained to the utmost; every + wheel was in motion; there was employment for every kind and description + of labor, and for every mechanic. There was a constantly rising market—speculation + was rife, and it seemed almost impossible to lose. As a consequence, the + men who had been toiling upon the farm became tired. It was too slow a way + to get rich. They heard of their neighbor, of their brother, who had gone + to the city and had suddenly become a millionaire. They became tired with + the slow methods of agriculture. The young men of intelligence, of vim, of + nerve became disgusted with the farms. On every hand fortunes were being + made. A wave of wealth swept over the United States; huts became houses; + houses became palaces with carpeted floors and pictured walls; tatters + became garments; rags became robes; and for the first time in the history + of the world, the poor tasted of the luxuries of wealth. We wondered how + our fathers could have endured their poor and barren lives. + </p> + <p> + Every business was pressed to the snow line. Old life insurance + associations had been successful; new ones sprang up on every hand. The + agents filled every town. These agents were given a portion of the + premium. You could hardly go out of your house without being told of the + uncertainty of life and the certainty of death. You were shown pictures of + life insurance agents emptying vast bags of gold at the feet of a + disconsolate widow. You saw in imagination your own fatherless children + wiping away the tears of grief and smiling with joy. + </p> + <p> + These agents insured everybody and everything. They would have insured a + hospital or consumption in its last hemorrhage. + </p> + <p> + Fire insurance was managed in precisely the same way. The agents received + a part of the premium, and they insured anything and everything, no matter + what its danger might be. They would have insured powder in perdition, or + icebergs under the torrid zone with the same alacrity. And then there were + accident companies, and you could not go to the station to buy your ticket + without being shown a picture of disaster. You would see there four horses + running away with a stage, and old ladies and children being thrown out; + you would see a steamer being blown up on the Mississippi, legs one way + and arms the other, heads one side and hats the other; locomotives going + through bridges, good Samaritans carrying off the wounded on stretchers. + </p> + <p> + The merchants, too, were not satisfied to do business in the old way. It + was too slow; they could not wait for customers. They filled the country + with drummers, and these drummers convinced all the country merchants that + they needed about twice as many goods as they could possibly sell, and + they took their notes on sixty and ninety days, and renewed them whenever + desired, provided the parties renewing the notes would take more goods. + And these country merchants pressed the goods upon their customers in the + same manner. Everybody was selling, everybody was buying, and nearly all + was done upon a credit. No one believed the day of settlement ever would + or ever could come. Towns must continue to grow, and in the imagination of + speculators there were hundreds of cities numbering their millions of + inhabitants. Land, miles and miles from the city, was laid out in blocks + and squares and parks; land that will not be occupied for residences + probably for hundreds of years to come, and these lots were sold, not by + the acre, not by the square mile, but by so much per foot. They were sold + on credit, with a partial payment down and the balance secured by a + mortgage. + </p> + <p> + These values, of course, existed simply in the imagination; and a deed of + trust upon a cloud or a mortgage upon a last year's fog would have been + just as valuable. Everybody advertised, and those who were not selling + goods and real estate were in the medicine line, and every rock beneath + our flag was covered with advice to the unfortunate; and I have often + thought that if some sincere Christian had made a pilgrimage to Sinai and + climbed its venerable crags, and in a moment of devotion dropped upon his + knees and raised his eyes toward heaven, the first thing that would have + met his astonished gaze would in all probability have been: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "St. 1860 X Plantation Bitters." +</pre> + <p> + Suddenly there came a crash. Jay Cooke failed, and I have heard thousands + of men account for the subsequent hard times from the fact that Cooke did + fail. As well might you account for the smallpox by saying that the first + pustule was the cause of the disease. The failure of Jay Cooke & Co. + was simply a symptom of a disease universal. + </p> + <p> + No language can describe the agonies that have been endured since 1873. No + language can tell the sufferings of the men that have wandered over the + dreary and desolate desert of bankruptcy. Thousands and thousands supposed + that they had enough, enough for their declining years, enough for wife + and children, and suddenly found themselves paupers and vagrants. + </p> + <p> + During all these years the bankruptcy law was in force, and whoever failed + to keep his promise had simply to take the benefit of this law. As a + consequence, there could be no real, solid foundation for business. + Property commenced to decline; that is to say, it commenced to resume; + that is to say, it began to be rated at its real instead of at its + speculative value. + </p> + <p> + Land is worth what it will produce, and no more. It may have speculative + value, and, if the prophecy is fulfilled, the man who buys it may become + rich, and if the prophecy is not fulfilled, then the land is simply worth + what it will produce. Lots worth from five to ten thousand dollars apiece + suddenly vanished into farms worth twenty-five dollars per acre. These + lots resumed. The farms that before that time had been considered worth + one hundred dollars per acre, and are now worth twenty or thirty, have + simply resumed. Magnificent residences supposed to be worth one hundred + thousand dollars, that can now be purchased for twenty-five thousand, they + have simply resumed. The property in the United States has not fallen in + value, but its real value has been ascertained. The land will produce as + much as it ever would, and is as valuable to-day as it ever was; and every + improvement, every invention that adds to the productiveness of the soil + or to the facilities for getting that product to market, adds to the + wealth of the nation. + </p> + <p> + As a matter of fact, the property kept pace with what we were pleased to + call our money. As the money depreciated, property appreciated; as the + money appreciated, property depreciated. The moment property began to fall + speculation ceased. There is but little speculation upon a falling market. + The stocks and bonds, based simply upon ideas, became worthless, the + collaterals became dust and ashes. + </p> + <p> + At the close of the war, when the Government ceased to be such a vast + purchaser and consumer, many of the factories had to stop. When the crash + came the men stopped digging ore; they stopped felling the forest; the + fires died out in the furnaces; the men who had stood in the glare of the + forge were in the gloom of want. There was no employment for them. The + employer could not sell his product; business stood still, and then came + what we call the hard times. Our wealth was a delusion and illusion, and + we simply came back to reality. Too many men were doing nothing, too many + men were traders, brokers, speculators. There were not enough producers of + the things needed; there were too many producers of the things no one + wished. There needed to be a re-distribution of men. + </p> + <p> + Many remedies have been proposed, and chief among these is the remedy of + fiat money. Probably no subject in the world is less generally understood + than that of money. So many false definitions have been given, so many + strange, conflicting theories have been advanced, that it is not at all + surprising that men have come to imagine that money is something that can + be created by law. The definitions given by the hard-money men themselves + have been used as arguments by those who believe in the power of Congress + to create wealth. We are told that gold is an instrumentality or a device + to facilitate exchanges. We are told that gold is a measure of value. Let + us examine these definitions. + </p> + <p> + "<i>Gold is an instrumentality or device to facilitate exchanges.</i>" + </p> + <p> + That sounds well, but I do not believe it. Gold and silver are + commodities. They are the products of labor. They are not + instrumentalities; they are not devices to facilitate exchanges; they are + the things exchanged for something else; and other things are exchanged + for them. The only device about it to facilitate exchanges is the coining + of these metals. Whenever the Government or any government certifies that + in a certain piece of gold or silver there are a certain number of grains + of a certain fineness, then he who gives it knows that he is not giving + too much, and he who receives, that he is receiving enough, so that I will + change the definition to this: + </p> + <p> + The <i>coining</i> of the precious metals is a device to facilitate + exchanges. + </p> + <p> + The precious metals themselves are property; they are merchandise; they + are commodities, and whenever one commodity is exchanged for another it is + barter, and gold is the last refinement of barter. + </p> + <p> + The second definition is: + </p> + <p> + "<i>Gold is the measure of value</i>." + </p> + <p> + We are told by those who believe in fiat money that gold is a measure of + value just the same as a half bushel or a yardstick. + </p> + <p> + I deny that gold is a measure of value. The yardstick is not a measure of + value; it is simply a measure of quantity. It measures cloth worth fifty + dollars a yard precisely as it does calico worth four cents. It is, + therefore, not a measure of value, but of quantities. The same with the + half bushel. The half bushel measures wheat precisely the same, whether + that wheat is worth three dollars or one dollar. It simply measures + quantity; not quality, or value. The yardstick, the half bushel, and the + coining of money are all devices to facilitate exchanges. The yardstick + assures the man who sells that he has not sold too much; it assures the + man who buys that he has received enough; and in that way it facilitates + exchanges. The coining of money facilitates exchange, for the reason that + were it not coined, each man who did any business would have to carry a + pair of scales and be a chemist. + </p> + <p> + It matters not whether the yardstick or half bushel are of gold, silver, + or wood, for the reason that the yardstick and half bushel are not the + things bought. We buy not them, but the things they measure. + </p> + <p> + If gold and silver are not the measure of value, what is? I answer—intelligent + labor. Gold gets its value from labor. Of course, I cannot account for the + fact that mankind have a certain fancy for gold or for diamonds, neither + can I account for the fact that we like certain things better than others + to eat. These are simply facts in nature, and they are facts, whether they + can be explained or not. The dollar in gold represents, on the average, + the labor that it took to dig and mint it, together with all the time of + the men who looked for it without finding it. That dollar in gold, on the + average, will buy the product of the same amount of labor in any other + direction. + </p> + <p> + Nothing ever has been money, from the most barbarous to the most civilized + times, unless it was a product of nature, and a something to which the + people among whom it passed as money attached a certain value, a value not + dependent upon law, not dependent upon "fiat" in any degree. + </p> + <p> + Nothing has ever been considered money that man could produce. + </p> + <p> + A bank bill is not money, neither is a check nor a draft. These are all + devices simply to facilitate business, but in or of themselves they have + no value. + </p> + <p> + We are told, however, that the Government can create money. This I deny. + The Government produces nothing; it raises no wheat, no corn; it digs no + gold, no silver. It is not a producer, it is a consumer. + </p> + <p> + The Government cannot by law create wealth. And right here I wish to ask + one question, and I would like to have it answered some time. If the + Government can make money, if it can create money, if by putting its + sovereignty upon a piece of paper it can create absolute money, why should + the Government collect taxes? We have in every district assessors and + collectors; we have at every port customhouses, and we are collecting + taxes day and night for the support of this Government. Now, if the + Government can make money itself, why should it collect taxes from the + poor? Here is a man cultivating a farm—he is working among the + stones and roots, and digging day and night; why should the Government go + to that man and make him pay twenty or thirty or forty dollars taxes when + the Government, according to the theory of these gentlemen, could make a + thousand-dollar fiat bill quicker than that man could wink? Why impose + upon industry in that manner? Why should the sun borrow a candle? + </p> + <p> + And if the Government can create money, how much should it create, and if + it should create it who will get it? Money has a great liking for money. A + single dollar in the pocket of a poor man is lonesome; it never is + satisfied until it has found its companions. Money gravitates towards + money, and issue as much as you may, as much as you will, the time will + come when that money will be in the hands of the industrious, in the hands + of the economical, in the hands of the shrewd, in the hands of the + cunning; in other words, in the hands of the successful. + </p> + <p> + The other day I had a conversation with one of the principal gentlemen + upon that side, and I told him, "Whenever you can successfully palm off on + a man a bill of fare for a dinner, I shall believe in your doctrine; and + when I can satisfy the pangs of hunger by reading a cook-book, I shall + join your party." Only that is money which stands for labor. Only that is + money which will buy, on the average, in all other directions the result + of the same labor expended in its production. As a matter of fact, there + is money enough in the country to transact the business. Never before in + the history of our Government was money so cheap; that is to say, was + interest so low; never. There is plenty of money, and we could borrow all + we wished had we the collaterals. We could borrow all we wish if there was + some business in which we could embark that promised a sure and reasonable + return. If we should come to a man who kept a ferry, and find his boat on + a sandbar and the river dry, what would he think of us should we tell him + he had not enough boat? He would probably reply that he had plenty of + boat, but not enough water. We have plenty of money, but not enough + business. The reason we have not enough business is, we have not enough + confidence, and the reason we have not confidence is because the market is + slowly falling, and the reason it is slowly falling is that things have + not yet quite resumed; that we have not quite touched the absolute bedrock + of valuation. Another reason is because those that left the cultivation of + the soil have not yet all returned, and they are living, some upon their + wits, some upon their relatives, some upon charity, and some upon crime. + </p> + <p> + The next question is: Suppose the Government should issue a thousand + millions of fiat money, how would it regulate the value thereof? Every + creditor could be forced to take it, but nobody else. If a man was in debt + one dollar for a bushel of wheat, he could compel the creditor to take the + fiat money; but if he wished to buy the wheat, then the owner could say, + "I will take one dollar in gold or fifty dollars in fiat money, or I will + not sell it for fiat money at any price." What will Congress do then? In + order to make this fiat money good it will have to fix the price of every + conceivable commodity; the price of painting a picture, of trying a + lawsuit, of chiseling a statue, the price of a day's work; in short, the + price of every conceivable thing. This even will not be sufficient. It + will be necessary, then, to provide by law that the prices fixed shall be + received, and that no man shall be allowed to give more for anything than + the price fixed by Congress. Now, I do not believe that any Congress has + sufficient wisdom to tell beforehand what will be the relative value of + all the products of labor. + </p> + <p> + When the volume of currency is inflated it is at the expense of the + creditor class; when it is contracted it is contracted at the expense of + the debtor class. In other words, inflation means going into debt; + contraction means the payment of the debt. + </p> + <p> + A gold dollar is a dollar's worth of gold. + </p> + <p> + A real paper dollar is a dollar's worth of paper. + </p> + <p> + Another remedy has been suggested by the same persons who advocate fiat + money. With a consistency perfectly charming, they say it would have been + much better had we allowed the Treasury notes to fade out. Why allow fiat + money to fade out when a simple act of Congress can make it as good as + gold? When greenbacks fade out the loss falls upon the chance holder, upon + the poor, the industrious, and the unfortunate. The rich, the cunning, the + well-informed manage to get rid of what they happen to hold. When, + however, the bills are redeemed, they are paid by the wealth and property + of the whole country. To allow them to fade out is universal robbery; to + pay them is universal justice. The greenback should not be allowed to fade + away in the pocket of the soldier or in the hands of his widow and + children. It is said that; the Continental money faded away. It was and is + a disgrace to our forefathers. When the greenback fades away there will + fade with it honor from the American heart, brain from the American head, + and our flag from the air of heaven. + </p> + <p> + A great cry has been raised against the holders of bonds. They have been + denounced by every epithet that malignity can coin. During the war our + bonds were offered for sale and they brought all that they then appeared + to be worth. They had to be sold or the Rebellion would have been a + success. To the bond we are indebted as much as to the greenback. The fact + is, however, we are indebted to neither; we are indebted to the soldiers. + But every man who took a greenback at less than gold committed the same + crime, and no other, as he who bought the bonds at less than par in gold. + These bonds have changed hands thousands of times. They have been paid for + in gold again and again. They have been bought at prices far above par; + they have been laid away by loving husbands for wives, by toiling fathers + for children; and the man who seeks to repudiate them now, or to pay them + in fiat rags, is unspeakably cruel and dishonest. If the Government has + made a bad bargain it must live up to it. If it has made a foolish promise + the only way is to fulfill it. + </p> + <p> + A dishonest government can exist only among dishonest people. + </p> + <p> + When our money is below par we feel below par. + </p> + <p> + We cannot bring prosperity by cheapening money; we cannot increase our + wealth by adding to the volume of a depreciated currency. If the + prosperity of a country depends upon the volume of its currency, and if + anything is money that people can be made to think is money, then the + successful counterfeiter is a public benefactor. The counterfeiter + increases the volume of currency; he stimulates business, and the money + issued by him will not be hoarded and taken from the channels of trade. + </p> + <p> + During the war, during the inflation—that is to say, during the + years that we were going into debt—fortunes were made so easily that + people left the farms, crowded to the towns and cities. Thousands became + speculators, traders, and merchants; thousands embarked in every possible + and conceivable scheme. They produced nothing; they simply preyed upon + labor and dealt with imaginary values. These men must go back; they must + become producers, and every producer is a paying consumer. Thousands and + thousands of them are unable to go back. To a man who begs of you a + breakfast you cannot say, "Why don't you get a farm?" You might as well + say, "Why don't you start a line of steamships?" To him both are + impossibilities. They must be helped. + </p> + <p> + We should all remember that society must support all of its members, all + of its robbers, thieves, and paupers. Every vagabond and vagrant has to be + fed and clothed, and society must support in some way all of its members. + It can support them in jails, in asylums, in hospitals, in penitentiaries; + but it is a very costly way. We have to employ judges to try them, juries + to sit upon their cases, sheriffs, marshals, and constables to arrest + them, policemen to watch them, and it may be, at last, a standing army to + put them down. It would be far cheaper, probably, to support them all at + some first-class hotel. We must either support them or help them support + themselves. They let us go upon the one hand simply to take us by the + other, and we can take care of them as paupers and criminals, or, by wise + statesmanship, help them to be honest and useful men. Of all the criminals + transported by England to Australia and Tasmania, the records show that a + very large per cent.—something over ninety—became useful and + decent people. In Australia they found homes; hope again spread its wings + in their breasts. They had different ambitions; they were removed from + vile and vicious associations. They had new surroundings; and, as a rule, + man does not morally improve without a corresponding improvement in his + physical condition. One biscuit, with plenty of butter, is worth all the + tracts ever distributed. + </p> + <p> + Thousands must be taken from the crowded streets and stifling dens, away + from the influences of filth and want, to the fields and forests of the + West and South. They must be helped to help themselves. + </p> + <p> + While the Government cannot create gold and silver, while it cannot by its + fiat make money, it can furnish facilities for the creation of wealth. It + can aid in the distribution of products, and in the distribution of men; + it can aid in the opening of new territories; it can aid great and vast + enterprises that cannot be accomplished by individual effort. The + Government should see to it that every facility is offered to honorable + adventure, enterprise and industry. Our ships ought to be upon every sea; + our flag ought to be flying in every port. Our rivers and harbors ought to + be improved. The usefulness of the Mississippi should be increased, its + banks strengthened, and its channel deepened. At no distant day it will + bear the commerce of a hundred millions of people. That grand river is the + great guaranty of territorial integrity; it is the protest of nature + against disunion, and from its source to the sea it will forever flow + beneath one flag. + </p> + <p> + The Northern Pacific Railway should be pushed to completion. In this way + labor would be immediately given to many thousands of men. Along the line + of that thoroughfare would spring up towns and cities; new communities + with new surroundings; and where now is the wilderness there would be + thousands and thousands of happy homes. + </p> + <p> + The Texas Pacific should also be completed. A vast agricultural and + mineral region would be opened to the enterprise and adventure of the + American people. Probably Arizona holds within the miserly clutches of her + rocks greater wealth than any other State or territory of the world. The + construction of that road would put life and activity into a hundred + industries. It would give employment to many thousands of people, and + homes at last to many millions. It would cause the building of thousands + of miles of branches to open, not only new territory, but to connect with + roads already built. It would double the products of gold and silver, open + new fields to trade, create new industries, and make it possible for us to + supply eight millions of people in the Republic of Mexico with our + products. The construction of this great highway will enable the + Government to dispense with from ten to fifteen regiments of infantry and + cavalry now stationed along the border. People enough will settle along + this line to protect themselves. It will permanently settle the Indian + question, saving the people millions each year. It will effectually + destroy the present monopoly, and in this way greatly increase production + and consumption. It will double our trade with China and Japan, and with + the Pacific States as well. It will settle the Southern question by + filling the Southern States with immigrants, diversifying the industries + of that section, changing and rebuilding the commercial and social fabric; + it will do away with the conservatism of regret and the prejudice born of + isolation. It will transmute to wealth the unemployed muscle of the + country. It will rescue California from the control of a single + corporation, from the government of an oligarchy united, watchful, + despotic, and vindictive. It will liberate the farmers, the merchants, and + even the politicians of the Pacific coast. Besides, it must not be + forgotten so to frame the laws and charters that Congress shall forever + have the control of fares and freights. In this way the public will be + perfectly protected and the Government perfectly secured. + </p> + <p> + Look at the map, and you will see the immense advantages its construction + will give to the entire country, not only to the South, but to the East + and West as well. It is one hundred and fifty miles nearer from Chicago to + San Diego than to San Francisco. You will see that the whole of Texas, a + State containing two hundred and ten thousand square miles; a State four + times as large as Illinois, five times as large as New York, capable of + supporting a population of twenty millions of people, is put in direct and + immediate communication with the whole country. Territory to the extent of + nearly a million square miles will be given to agriculture, trade, + commerce, and mining, by the construction of this line. + </p> + <p> + Let this road be built, and we shall feel again the enthusiasm born of + enterprise. In the vast stagnation there will be at last a current. + Something besides waiting is necessary to secure, or to even hasten, the + return of prosperity. Secure the completion of this line and extend the + time for building the Northern Pacific, and confidence and employment will + return together. + </p> + <p> + More men must cultivate the soil. In the older States lands are too high. + It requires too much capital to commence. There are so many failures in + business; so many merchants, traders, and manufacturers have been wrecked + and stranded upon the barren shores of bankruptcy, that the people are + beginning to prefer the small but certain profits of agriculture to the + false and splendid promises of speculation. We must open new territories; + we must give the mechanics now out of employment an opportunity to + cultivate the soil—not as day-laborers but as owners; not as + tenants, but as farmers. Something must be done to develop the resources + of this country. With the best lands of the world; with a population + intellectual, energetic, and ingenious far beyond the average of mankind; + with the richest mines of the globe; with plenty of capital; with a + surplus of labor; with thousands of arms folded in enforced idleness; with + billions of gold asking to be dug; with millions of acres waiting for the + plow, thousands upon thousands are in absolute want. + </p> + <p> + New avenues must be opened. All our territory must be given to + immigration. Greater facilities must be offered. Obstacles that cannot be + overcome by individual enterprise must be conquered by the Government for + the good of all. Every man out of employment is impoverishing the country. + Labor transmutes muscle into wealth. Idleness is a rust that devours even + gold. For five years we have been wasting the labor of millions—wasting + it for lack of something to do. Prosperity has been changed to want and + discontent. On every hand the poor are asking for work. That is a wretched + government where the honest and industrious beg, unsuccessfully, for the + right to toil; where those who are willing, anxious, and able to work, + cannot get bread. If everything is to be left to the blind and heartless + working of the laws of supply and demand, why have governments? If the + nation leaves the poor to starve, and the weak and unfortunate to perish, + it is hard to see for what purpose the nation should be preserved. If our + statesmen are not wise enough to foster great enterprises, and to adopt a + policy that will give us prosperity, it may be that the laboring classes, + driven to frenzy by hunger, the bitterness of which will be increased by + seeing others in the midst of plenty, will seek a remedy in destruction. + </p> + <p> + The transcontinental commerce of this country should not be in the clutch + and grasp of one corporation. All sections of the Union should, as far as + possible, be benefited. Cheap rates will come, and can be maintained only + by competition. We should cultivate commercial relations with China and + Japan. Six hundred millions of people are slowly awaking from a lethargy + of six thousand years. In a little while they will have the wants of + civilized men, and America will furnish a large proportion of the articles + demanded by these people. In a few years there will be as many ships upon + the Pacific as upon the Atlantic. In a few years our trade with China will + be far greater than with Europe. In a few years we will sustain the same + relation to the far East that Europe once sustained to us. America for + centuries to come will supply six hundred millions of people with the + luxuries of life. A country that expects to control the trade of other + countries must develop its own resources to the utmost. We have pursued a + small, a mean, and a penurious course. Demagogues have ridden into office + and power upon the cry of economy, by opposing every measure looking to + the improvement of the country, by endeavoring to see how cheaply nothing + could be done. A government, like an individual, should live up to its + privileges; it should husband its resources, simply that it may use them. + A nation that expects to control the commerce of half a world must have + its money equal with gold and silver. It must have the money of the world. + </p> + <p> + Whenever the laboring men are out of employment they begin to hate the + rich. They feel that the dwellers in palaces, the riders in carriages, the + wearers of broadcloth, silk, and velvet have in some way been robbing + them. As a matter of fact, the palace builders are the friends of labor. + The best form of charity is extravagance. When you give a man money, when + you toss him a dollar, although you get nothing, the man loses his + manhood. To help others help themselves is the only real charity. There is + no use in boosting a man who is not climbing. Whenever I see a splendid + home, a palace, a magnificent block, I think of the thousands who were fed—of + the women and children clothed, of the firesides made happy. + </p> + <p> + A rich man living up to his privileges, having the best house, the best + furniture, the best horses, the finest grounds, the most beautiful + flowers, the best clothes, the best food, the best pictures, and all the + books that he can afford, is a perpetual blessing. + </p> + <p> + The prodigality of the rich is the providence of the poor. + </p> + <p> + The extravagance of wealth makes it possible for the poor to save. + </p> + <p> + The rich man who lives according to his means, who is extravagant in the + best and highest sense, is not the enemy of labor. The miser, who lives in + a hovel, wears rags, and hoards his gold, is a perpetual curse. He is like + one who dams a river at its source. + </p> + <p> + The moment hard times come the cry of economy is raised. The press, the + platform, and the pulpit unite in recommending economy to the rich. In + consequence of this cry, the man of wealth discharges servants, sells + horses, allows his carriage to become a hen-roost, and after taking + employment and food from as many as he can, congratulates himself that he + has done his part toward restoring prosperity to the country. + </p> + <p> + In that country where the poor are extravagant and the rich economical + will be found pauperism and crime; but where the poor are economical and + the rich are extravagant, that country is filled with prosperity. + </p> + <p> + The man who wants others to work to such an extent that their lives are + burdens, is utterly heartless. The toil of the world should continually + decrease. Of what use are your inventions if no burdens are lifted from + industry—if no additional comforts find their way to the home of + labor; why should labor fill the world with wealth and live in want? + </p> + <p> + Every labor-saving machine should help the whole world. Every one should + tend to shorten the hours of labor. + </p> + <p> + Reasonable labor is a source of joy. To work for wife and child, to toil + for those you love, is happiness; provided you can make them happy. But to + work like a slave, to see your wife and children in rags, to sit at a + table where food is coarse and scarce, to rise at four in the morning, to + work all day and throw your tired bones upon a miserable bed at night, to + live without leisure, without rest, without making those you love + comfortable and happy—this is not living—it is dying—a + slow, lingering crucifixion. + </p> + <p> + The hours of labor should be shortened. With the vast and wonderful + improvements of the nineteenth century there should be not only the + necessaries of life for those who toil, but comforts and luxuries as well. + </p> + <p> + What is a reasonable price for labor? I answer: Such a price as will + enable the man to live; to have the comforts of life; to lay by a little + something for his declining years, so that he can have his own home, his + own fireside; so that he can preserve the feelings of a man. + </p> + <p> + Every man ought to be willing to pay for what he gets. He ought to desire + to give full value received. The man who wants two dollars' worth of work + for one is not an honest man. + </p> + <p> + I sympathize with every honest effort made by the children of labor to + improve their condition. That is a poorly governed country in which those + who do the most have the least. There is something wrong when men are + obliged to beg for leave to toil. We are not yet a civilized people; when + we are, pauperism and crime will vanish from our land. + </p> + <p> + There is one thing, however, of which I am glad and proud, and that is, + that society is not, in our country, petrified; that the poor are not + always poor. + </p> + <p> + The children of the poor of this generation may, and probably will, be the + rich of the next. The sons of the rich of this generation may be the poor + of the next; so that after all, the rich fear and the poor hope. + </p> + <p> + I sympathize with the wanderers, with the vagrants out of employment; with + the sad and weary men who are seeking for work. When I see one of these + men, poor and friendless—no matter how bad he is—I think that + somebody loved him once; that he was once held in the arms of a mother; + that he slept beneath her loving eyes, and wakened in the light of her + smile. I see him in the cradle, listening to lullabies sung soft and low, + and his little face is dimpled as though touched by the rosy fingers of + Joy. + </p> + <p> + And then I think of the strange and winding paths, the weary roads he has + traveled from that mother's arms to vagrancy and want. + </p> + <p> + There should be labor and food for all. We invent; we take advantage of + the forces of nature; we enslave the winds and waves; we put shackles upon + the unseen powers and chain the energy that wheels the world. These slaves + should release from bondage all the children of men. + </p> + <p> + By invention, by labor—that is to say, by working and thinking—we + shall compel prosperity to dwell with us. + </p> + <p> + Do not imagine that wealth can be created by law; do not for a moment + believe that paper can be changed to gold by the fiat of Congress. + </p> + <p> + Do not preach the heresy that you can keep a promise by making another in + its place that is never to be kept. Do not teach the poor that the rich + have conspired to trample them into the dust. + </p> + <p> + Tell the workingmen that they are in the majority; that they can make and + execute the laws. + </p> + <p> + Tell them that since 1873 the employers have suffered about as much as the + employed. + </p> + <p> + Tell them that the people who have the power to make the laws should never + resort to violence. Tell them never to envy the successful. Tell the rich + to be extravagant and the poor to be economical. + </p> + <p> + Tell every man to use his best efforts to get him a home. Without a home, + without some one to love, life and country are meaningless words. Upon the + face of the patriot must have fallen the firelight of home. + </p> + <p> + Tell the people that they must have honest money, so that when a man has a + little laid by for wife and child, it will comfort him even in death; so + that he will feel that he leaves something for bread, something that, in + some faint degree, will take his place; that he has left the coined toil + of his hands to work for the loved when he is dust. + </p> + <p> + Tell your representatives in Congress to improve our rivers and harbors; + to release our transcontinental commerce from the grasp of monopoly; to + open all our territories, and to build up our trade with the whole world. + </p> + <p> + Tell them not to issue a dollar of fiat paper, but to redeem every promise + the nation has made. + </p> + <p> + If fiat money is ever issued it will be worthless, for the folly that + would issue has not the honor to pay when the experiment fails. + </p> + <p> + Tell them to put their trust in work. Debts can be created by law, but + they must be paid by labor. + </p> + <p> + Tell them that "fiat money" is madness and repudiation is death. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link0010" id="link0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + SUFFRAGE ADDRESS. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * This address was delivered at a Suffrage Meeting in + Washington, D. C., January 24,1880 +</pre> + <p> + 1880. + </p> + <p> + LADIES and Gentlemen: I believe the people to be the only rightful source + of political power, and that any community, no matter where, in which any + citizen is not allowed to have his voice in the making of the laws he must + obey, that community is a tyranny. It is a matter of astonishment to me + that a meeting like this is necessary in the Capital of the United States. + If the citizens of the District of Columbia are not permitted to vote, if + they are not allowed to govern themselves, and if there is no sound reason + why they are not allowed to govern themselves, then the American idea of + government is a failure. I do not believe that only the rich should vote, + or that only the whites should vote, or that only the blacks should vote. + I do not believe that right depends upon wealth, upon education, or upon + color. It depends absolutely upon humanity. I have the right to vote + because I am a man, because I am an American citizen, and that right I + should and am willing to share equally with every human being. There has + been a great deal said in this country of late in regard to giving the + right of suffrage to women. So far as I am concerned I am willing that + every woman in the nation who desires that privilege and honor shall vote. + If any woman wants to vote I am too much of a gentleman to say she shall + not. She gets her right, if she has it, from precisely the same source + that I get mine, and there are many questions upon which I would deem it + desirable that women should vote, especially upon the question of peace or + war. If a woman has a child to be offered upon the altar of that Moloch, a + husband liable to be drafted, and who loves a heart that can be entered by + the iron arrow of death, she surely has as much right to vote for peace as + some thrice-besotted sot who reels to the ballot-box and deposits a vote + for war. I believe, and always have, that there is only one objection to a + woman voting, and that is, the men are not sufficiently civilized for her + to associate with them, and for several years I have been doing what + little I can to civilize them. The only question before this meeting, as I + understand it, is, Shall the people of this District manage their own + affairs—whether they shall vote their own taxes and select their own + officers who are to execute the laws they make? and for one, I say there + is no human being with ingenuity enough to frame an argument against this + question. It is all very well to say that Congress will do this, but + Congress has a great deal to do besides. There is enough before that body + coming from all the States and Territories of the Union, and the + numberless questions arising in the conduct of the General Government. I + am opposed to a government where the few govern the many. I am opposed to + a government that depends upon suppers, and upon flattery; upon crooking + the hinges of the knee; upon favors, upon subterfuges. We want to be manly + men in this District. We must direct and control our own affairs, and if + we are not capable of doing it, there is no part of the Union where they + are capable. It is said there is a vast amount of ignorance here. That is + true; but that is also true of every section of the United States. There + is too much ignorance and there will continue to be until the people + become great enough, generous enough, and splendid enough to see that no + child shall grow up in their midst without a good, common-school + education. The people of this District are capable of managing their + educational affairs if they are allowed to do so. The fact is, a man now + living in the District lives under a perpetual flag of truce. He is + nobody. He counts for nothing. He is not noticed except as a suppliant. + Nothing as a citizen. That day should pass away. It will be a perpetual + education for this people to govern themselves, and until they do they + cannot be manly men. They say, though, that there is a vast rabble here. + Very well. Make your election laws so as to exclude the vast rabble. Let + it be understood that no man shall vote who has not lived here at least + one year. + </p> + <p> + Let your registration laws prohibit any man from voting unless he has been + registered at least six months. We do not want to be governed by people + who have no abode here—who are political Bedouins of the desert. We + want to be governed by people who live with us—who live somewhere + among us, and whom somebody knows, and if a law is properly framed there + will be no trouble about self-government in the District of Columbia. Let + the experiment be tried here of a perfect, complete and honest + registration; let every man, no matter who he is or where he comes from, + vote only by strict compliance with a good registry law. We can have a + fair election, and wherever there is a fair election there will be good + government. Our Government depends for its stability upon honest + elections. The great principle underlying our system of government is that + the people have the virtue and the patriotism to govern themselves. That + is the foundation stone, the corner and the base of our edifice, and upon + it our Government is on trial to-day. And until a man is considered + infamous who casts an illegal vote, our Government will not be safe. + Whoever casts an illegal vote knowingly is a traitor to the principle upon + which our Government is founded. And whoever deprives a citizen of his + right to vote is also a traitor to our Government. When these things are + understood; when the finger of public scorn shall be pointed at every man + who votes illegally, or unlawfully prevents an honest vote, then you will + have a splendid Government. It is humiliating for one hundred and + seventy-five thousand people to depend simply upon the right of petition. + The few will disregard the petition of the many. + </p> + <p> + I have not one word to say against the officers of the District. Not a + word. But let them do as well as they can; that is no justification. It is + no justification of a monarchy that the king is a good man; it is no + justification of a tyranny that the despot does justice. There may come + another who will do injustice; and a free people like ours should not be + satisfied to be governed by strangers. They would better have bad men of + their own choosing than to have good men forced upon them. You have + property here, and you have a right to protect it, and a right to improve + it. You have life and liberty and the right to protect it. You have a + right to say what money shall be assessed and collected and paid for that + protection. You have laws and you have a right to have them executed by + officers of your own selection, and by nobody else. In my judgment, all + that is necessary to have these things done is to have the subject + properly laid before Congress, and let that body thoroughly and perfectly + understand the situation. There is no member there, who rightly + understanding our wishes, will dare continue this disfranchisement of the + people. We have the same right to vote that their constituents have, + precisely—no more and no less. + </p> + <p> + This District ought to have one representative in Congress, a + representative with a right to speak—not a tongueless dummy. The + idea of electing a delegate who has simply the privilege of standing + around! We ought to have a representative who has not only the right to + talk, but who will talk. This District has the right to a vote in the + committees of Congress, and not simply the privilege of receiving a little + advice. And more than that, this District ought to have at least one + electoral vote in a selection of a President of the United States. A + smaller population than yours is represented not only in Congress, but in + the Electoral College. If it is necessary to amend the Constitution to + secure these rights let us try and have it amended; and when that question + is put to the people of the whole country they will be precisely as + willing that the people of the District of Columbia shall have an equal + voice as that they themselves should have a voice. + </p> + <p> + Let us stop at no half-way ground, but claim, and keep claiming all our + rights until somebody says we shall have them. And let me tell you another + thing: Once have the right of self-government recognized here, have a + delegate in Congress, and an electoral vote for President, and thousands + will be willing to come here and become citizens of the District. As it + is, the moment a man settles here his American citizenship falls from him + like dead leaves from a tree. From that moment he is nobody. Every + American citizen wants a little political power—wants to cast his + vote for the rulers of the nation. He wants to have something to say about + the laws he has to obey, and they are not willing to come here and + disfranchise themselves. The moment it is known that a man is from the + District he has no influence, and no one cares what his political opinions + may be. Now, let us have it so that we can vote and be on an equality with + the rest of the voters of the United States. This Government was founded + upon the idea that the only source of power is the people. Let us show at + the Capital that we have confidence in that principle; that every man + should have a vote and voice in the South, in the North, everywhere, no + matter how low his condition, no matter that he was a slave, no matter + what his color is, or whether he can read or write, he is clothed with the + right to name those who make the laws he is to obey. While the lowest and + most degraded in every State in this Union have that right, the best and + most intelligent in the District have not that right. It will not do. + There is no sense in it—there is no justice in it—nothing + American in it. If this were the case in some of the capitals of Europe we + would not be surprised; but here in the United States, where we have so + much to say about the right of self-government, that two hundred thousand + people should not have the right to say who shall make, and who shall + execute the laws is at least an anomaly and a contradiction of our theory + of government, and for one, I propose to do what little I can to correct + it. It has been said that you had once here the right of self-government. + If I understand it, the right you had was to elect somebody to some + office, and all the other officers were appointed. You had no control over + your Legislature; you had very little control over your other officers, + and the people of the District were held responsible for what was actually + done by the appointing power. We want no appointing power. If it is + necessary to have a police magistrate, I say the people are competent to + elect that magistrate; and if he is not a good man they are qualified to + select another in his place. You ought to elect your judges. I do not want + the office of the Judiciary so far from the people that it may feel + entirely independent. I want every officer in this District + held-accountable to the people, and, unless he discharges his duties + faithfully, the people will put him out, and select another in his stead. + </p> + <p> + I want it understood that no American citizen can be forced to pay a + dollar in a State or in the district where he lives who is not + represented, and where he has not the right to vote. It is all tyranny, + and all infamous. The people of the United States wonder to-day that you + have submitted to this outrage as long as you have. + </p> + <p> + Neither do I believe that only the rich should have the right to vote; + that only they should govern; or that only the educated should govern. I + have noticed among educated men many who did not know enough to govern + themselves. I have known many wealthy men who did not believe in liberty, + in giving the people the same rights they claimed for themselves. I + believe in that government where the ballot of Lazarus counts as much as + the vote of Dives. Let the rich, let the educated, govern the people by + moral suasion and by example and by kindness, and not by brute force. And + in a community like this, where the avenues to distinction are open alike + to all, there will be many more reasons for acting like men. When you can + hold any position, when every citizen can have conferred upon him honor + and responsibility, there is some stimulus to be a man. But in a community + where but the few are clothed with power by appointment, no incentive + exists among the people. If the avenues to distinction and honor are open + to all, such a government is beneficial on every hand, and the poorest man + in the community may say to himself, "If I pursue the right course the + very highest place is open to me." And the poorest man, with his little + tow-headed boy on his knee, can say, "John, all the avenues are open to + you; although I am poor, you may be rich, and while I am obscure, you may + become distinguished." + </p> + <p> + That idea sweetens every hour of toil and renders holy every drop of sweat + that rolls down the face of labor. I hate tyranny in every form. I despise + it, and I execrate a tyrant wherever he may be, and in every country where + the people are struggling for the right of self-government I sympathize + with them in their struggle. Wherever the sword of rebellion is drawn in + favor of human rights I am a rebel. I sympathize with all the people in + Europe who are endeavoring to push kings from thrones and struggling for + the right to govern themselves. America ought to send greeting to every + part of the world where such a struggle is pending, and we of the District + of Columbia ought to be able to join in the greeting, but we never shall + be until we have the right of self-government ourselves. No man who is a + good citizen can have any objection to self-government here. No man can be + opposed to it who believes that our people have enough wisdom, enough + virtue, enough patriotism to govern themselves. The man who doubts the + right of the people to govern themselves casts a little doubt upon the + question, simply because he is not man enough himself to believe in + liberty. I would trust the poor of this country with our liberties as soon + as I would the rich. I will trust the huts and hovels, just as soon as I + will the mansions and palaces. I will trust those who work by the day in + the street as soon as I will the bankers of the United States. I will + trust the ignorant—even the ignorant. Why? Because they want + education, and no people in this country are so anxious to have their + children educated as those who are not educated themselves. I will trust + the ignorant with the liberties of this country quicker than I would some + of the educated who doubt the principles upon which our Government is + founded. But let the intelligent do what they can to instruct the + ignorant. Let the wealthy do what they can to give the blessings of + liberty to the poor, and then this Government will remain forever. The + time is passing away when any man of genius can be respected who will not + use that genius in elevating his fellow-man. The time is passing away when + men, however wealthy, can be respected unless they use their millions for + the elevation of mankind. The time is coming when no man will be called an + honest man who is not willing to give to every other man, be he white or + black, every right that he asks for himself. + </p> + <p> + For my part, I am willing to live under a government where all govern, and + am not willing to live under any other. I am willing to live where I am on + an equality with other men, where they have precisely my rights, and no + more; and I despise any government that is not based upon this principle + of human equality. Now, let us go just for that one thing, that we have + the same right as any other people in the United States—that is, to + govern this District ourselves. Let us be represented in the lawmaking + power, and let us advocate a change in the fundamental law so that the + people of this District shall be entitled to one vote as to who shall be + President of the United States. And when that is done and our people are + clothed with the panoply of citizenship, you will find this District + growing not to two hundred thousand, but in a little while one million of + people will live here. Now, for one, I have not the slightest feeling + against members of Congress for what has been done. I believe when this + matter is laid before them fully and properly you will find few men in + that august body who will vote against the proposition. They have had + trouble enough. They do not understand our affairs. They never did, never + will, never can. No one who does not live here will. The public interests + are so many and so conflicting, and touch the sides of so many, that the + people must attend to this matter themselves. They know when they want a + market, a judge, or a collector of taxes, and nobody else does and nobody + else has a right to. + </p> + <p> + And instead of going up to Congress and standing around some + committee-room with a long petition in your hands, begging somebody to + wait just one moment, it will be far better that you should go to the + polls and elect your representative, who can attend to your interests in + Congress. But above all things, I want to warn you, charge you, beseech + you, that in any legislation upon this subject you must secure a + registration law that will prevent the casting of an illegal vote. Do this + before it is known whether the District is Republican or Democratic. I do + not care. No matter how much of a Republican I am, absolutely, I would + rather be governed by Democrats who live here than by Republicans who do + not. And now, while it is not known whether this is a Democratic or + Republican community, let us get up a registration that no one can + violate; because the moment you have an election, and it is ascertained to + be either Democratic or Republican, the victorious party may be opposed to + any registration or any legislation that will put in jeopardy their power. + I have lived long enough to be satisfied that any State in this Union, no + matter whether Democratic or Republican, will be safe as long as the + people have the right to vote, and to see that the ballots will be + counted. This country is now upon trial. In nearly every State in this + Union there is liable to happen just the same thing that only the other + day happened in Maine. + </p> + <p> + In every State there can be two legislatures, one in the State-house and + the other on the fence. Let us in this District so guard the right to vote + and the counting of the ballots, that we shall know after the election who + has been elected and know with certainty the men who have been elected by + the legal voters of the District. + </p> + <p> + It becomes us all, whether Republicans or Democrats, to unite in securing + such a law. Let us act together, Democrats and Republicans, black and + white, rich and poor, educated and ignorant—let us all unite upon + the principle that we have the right to govern ourselves. Then it will + make no difference whether the District of Columbia shall be Democratic or + Republican, provided it is the will of a legal majority of her people. + </p> + <p> + Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link0011" id="link0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + WALL STREET SPEECH. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * A political demonstration was made in Wall Street + yesterday afternoon that stands without a rival among the + many out-door meetings in that place, which for years have + been memorable features of Presidential campaigns. + + Bankers and brokers, members of the Produce Exchange, and + dry goods merchants assembled at their respective rendezvous + and marched in Imposing processions to the open space in + front of the Sub-Treasury building, from the steps of which + Col. Ingersoll delivered an address. Written words are + entirely inadequate to describe this demonstration of Wall + Street business men. It never was equaled in point of + numbers, respectability or enthusiasm, even during the + excitement caused by the outbreak of the Rebellion. + Throughout the day the business houses, banking offices and + public buildings down town were gay with flags and bunting. + Business was practically suspended all day, and the + principal topic of conversation on the Exchanges and m + offices and stores was the coming meeting. Long before the + hour set, well-dressed people began to gather near the Sub- + Treasury Building and by two o'clock Wall Street, from Broad + and Nassau half way down to William, was passable only with + difficulty. While the crowd was fast gathering on every + hand, Graiulla's band, stationed upon the corner buttress + near the Sub-Treasury, struck up a patriotic air, and in a + few minutes the throngs had swelled to such proportions that + the police had all they could do to maintain a thoroughfare. + A few minutes more ana the distant strains of another band + attracted all eyes toward Broadway, where the head of the + procession was seen turning into Wall Street. Ten abreast + and every man a gentleman, they marched by. At this time + Wall street from half way to William Street to half way to + Broadway, Nassau Street half way to Pine, and Broad Street + as far as the eye could reach, were densely packed with + people from side to side. Everything else, except the + telegraph-poles and the tops of the lamp-posts, was hidden + from view. Every window, roof, stoop, and projecting point + was covered. The Produce Exchange men finding Broad Street + impassable made a detour to the east and marched up Wall + Street, filling that thoroughfare to William. It was a + tremendous crowd In point of numbers, and its composition + was entirely of gentlemen—men with refined, intelligent + faces—bankers, brokers, merchants of all kinds—real + business men. Thousands of millions of dollars were + represented in It. On the left of the Sub-Treasury steps a + platform had been erected, with a sounding board covering + the rear and top. A national flag floated from its roof, and + its railing was draped with other flags. After the arrival + of the several organizations the banners they bore were hung + at the sides by way of further ornamentation. Mr. Jackson S. + Schultz then introduced Col. Ingersoll, the speaker of the + day. The cheering was terrific for several minutes. Raising + his hand for silence, Col. Ingersoll then delivered his + address.—New York Times, October 29th, 1880. +</pre> + <p> + N.Y. CITY. + </p> + <p> + (Garfield Campaign.) + </p> + <p> + 1880. + </p> + <p> + FELLOW-CITIZENS of the Great City of New York: This is the grandest + audience I ever saw. This audience certifies that General James A. + Garfield is to be the next President of the United States. This audience + certifies that a Republican is to be the next mayor of the city of New + York. This audience certifies that the business men of New York understand + their interests, and that the business men of New York are not going to + let this country be controlled by the rebel South and the rebel North. In + 1860 the Democratic party appealed to force; now it appeals to fraud. In + 1860 the Democratic party appealed to the sword; now it appeals to the + pen. It was treason then, it is forgery now. The Democratic party cannot + be trusted with the property or with the honor of the people of the United + States. + </p> + <p> + The city of New York owes a great debt to the country. Every man that has + cleared a farm has helped to build New York; every man that helped to + build a railway helped to build up the palaces of this city. Where I am + now speaking are the termini of all the railways in the United States. + They all come here. New York has been built up by the labor of the + country, and New York owes it to the country to protect the best interests + of the country. + </p> + <p> + The farmers of Illinois depend upon the merchants, the brokers and the + bankers, upon the gentlemen of New York, to beat the rabble of New York. + You owe to yourselves; you owe to the great Re public; and this city that + does the business of a hemisphere—this city that will in ten years + be the financial centre of this world—owes it to itself, to be true + to the great principles that have allowed it to exist and flourish. + </p> + <p> + The Republicans of New York ought to say that this shall forever be a free + country. The Republicans of New York ought to say that free speech shall + forever be held sacred in the United States. The Republicans of New York + ought to see that the party that defended the Nation shall still remain in + power. The Republicans of New York should see that the flag is safely held + by the hands that defended it in war. The Republicans of New York know + that the prosperity of the country depends upon good government, and they + also know that good government means protection to the people—rich + and poor, black and white. The Republicans of New York know that a black + friend is better than a white enemy. They know that a negro while fighting + for the Government, is better than any white man who will fight against + it. + </p> + <p> + The Republicans of New York know that the colored party in the South which + allows every man to vote as he pleases, is better than any white man who + is opposed to allowing a negro to cast his honest vote. A black man in + favor of liberty is better than a white man in favor of slavery. The + Republicans of New York must be true to their friends. This Government + means to protect all its citizens, at home and abroad, or it becomes a + byword in the mouths of the nations of the world. + </p> + <p> + Now, what do we want to do? We are going to have an election next Tuesday, + and every Republican knows why he is going to vote the Republican ticket; + while every Democrat votes his without knowing why. A Republican is a + Republican because he loves something; a Democrat is a Democrat because he + hates something. A Republican believes in progress; a Democrat in + retrogression. A Democrat is a "has been." He is a "used to be." The + Republican party lives on hope; the Democratic on memory. The Democrat + keeps his back to the sun and imagines himself a great man because he + casts a great shadow. Now, there are certain things we want to preserve—that + the business men of New York want to preserve—and, in the first + place, we want an honest ballot. And where the Democratic party has power + there never has been an honest ballot. You take the worst ward in this + city, and there is where you will find the greatest Democratic majority. + You know it, and so do I. + </p> + <p> + There is not a university in the North, East or West that has not in it a + Republican majority. There is not a penitentiary in the United States that + has not in it a Democratic majority—and they know it. Two years ago, + about two hundred and eighty-three convicts were in the penitentiary of + Maine. Out of that whole number there was one Republican, and only one. [A + voice—"Who was the man?"] Well, I do not know, but he broke out. He + said that he did not mind being in the penitentiary, but the company was a + little more than he could stand. + </p> + <p> + You cannot rely upon that party for an honest ballot. Every law that has + been passed in this country in the last twenty years, to throw a safeguard + around the ballot-box, has been passed by the Republican party. Every law + that has been defeated has been defeated by the Democratic party. And you + know it. Unless we have an honest ballot the days of the Republic are + numbered; and the only way to get an honest ballot is to beat the + Democratic party forever. And that is what we are going to do. That party + can never carry its record; that party is loaded down with the infamies of + twenty years; yes, that party is loaded down with the infamies of fifty + years. It will never elect a President in this world. I give notice to the + Democratic party to-day that it will have to change its name before the + people of the United States will change the administration. You will have + to change your natures; you will have to change your personnel, and you + will have to get enough Republicans to join you and tell you how to run a + campaign. If you want an honest ballot—and every honest man does—then + you will vote to keep the Republican party in power. What else do you + want? You want honest money, and I say to the merchants and to the bankers + and to the brokers, the only party that will give you honest money is the + party that resumed specie payments. The only party that will give you + honest money is the party that said a greenback is a broken promise until + it is redeemed with gold. You can only trust the party that has been + honest in disaster. From 1863 to 1879—sixteen long years—the + Republican party was the party of honor and principle, and the Republican + party saved the honor of the United States. And you know it. + </p> + <p> + During that time the Democratic party did what it could to destroy our + credit at home and abroad. + </p> + <p> + We are not only in favor of free speech, and an honest ballot and honest + money, but we are for law and order. What part of this country believes in + free speech—the South or the North? The South would never give free + speech to the country; there was no free speech in the city of New York + until the Republican party came into power. The Democratic party has not + intelligence enough to know that free speech is the germ of this Republic. + The Democratic party cares little for free speech because it has no + argument to make—no reasons to offer. Its entire argument is summed + up and ended in three words—"Hurrah for Hancock!" The Republican + party believes in free speech because it has something to say; because it + believes in argument; because it believes in moral suasion; because it + believes in education. Any man that does not believe in free speech is a + barbarian. Any State that does not support it is not a civilized State. + </p> + <p> + I have a right to express my opinion, in common with every other human + being, and I am willing to give to every other human being the right that + I claim for myself. Republicanism means justice in politics. Republicanism + means progress in civilization. Republicanism means that every man shall + be an educated patriot and a gentleman. I want to say to you to-day that + it is an honor to belong to the Republican party. It is an honor to have + belonged to it for twenty years; it is an honor to belong to the party + that elected Abraham Lincoln President. And let me say to you that Lincoln + was the greatest, the best, the purest, the kindest man that has ever sat + in the presidential chair. It is an honor to belong to the Republican + party that gave four millions of men the rights of freemen; it is an honor + to belong to the party that broke the shackles from four millions of men, + women and children. It is an honor to belong to the party that declared + that bloodhounds were not the missionaries of civilization. It is an honor + to belong to the party that said it was a crime to steal a babe from its + mother's breast. It is an honor to belong to the party that swore that + this is a Nation forever, one and indivisible. It is an honor to belong to + the party that elected U. S. Grant President of the United States. It is + an honor to belong to the party that issued thousands and thousands of + millions of dollars in promises—that issued promises until they + became as thick as the withered leaves of winter; an honor to belong to + the party that issued them to put down a rebellion; an honor to belong to + the party that put it down; an honor to belong to the party that had the + moral courage and honesty to make every one of the promises made in war, + as good as shining, glittering gold in peace. And I tell you that if there + is another life, and if there is a day of judgment, all you need say upon + that solemn occasion is, "I was in life and in my death a good square + Republican." + </p> + <p> + I hate the doctrine of State Sovereignty because it fostered State pride; + because it fostered the idea that it is more to be a citizen of a State + than a citizen of this glorious country. I love the whole country. I like + New York because it is a part of the country, and I like the country + because it has New York in it. I am not standing here to-day because the + flag of New York floats over my head, but because that flag for which more + heroic blood has been shed than for any other flag that is kissed by the + air of heaven, waves forever over my head. That is the reason I am here. + </p> + <p> + The doctrine of State Sovereignty was appealed to in defence of the + slave-trade; the next time in defence of the slave trade as between the + States; the next time in defence of the Fugitive Slave Law; and if there + is a Democrat in favor of the Fugitive Slave Law he should be ashamed—if + not of himself—of the ignorance of the time in which he lived. + </p> + <p> + That Fugitive Slave Law was a compromise so that we might be friends of + the South. They said in 1850-52: "If you catch the slave we will be your + friend;" and they tell us now: "If you let us trample upon the rights of + the black man in the South, we will be your friend." I do not want their + friendship upon such terms. I am a friend of my friend, and an enemy of my + enemy. That is my doctrine. We might as well be honest about it. Under + that doctrine of State Rights, such men as I see before me—bankers, + brokers, merchants, gentlemen—were expected to turn themselves into + hounds and chase a poor fugitive that had been lured by the love of + liberty and guided by the glittering North Star. + </p> + <p> + The Democratic party wanted you to keep your trade with the South, no + matter to what depths of degradation you had to sink, and the Democratic + party to-day says if you want to sell your goods to the Southern people, + you must throw your honor and manhood into the streets. The patronage of + the splendid North is enough to support the city of New York. + </p> + <p> + There is another thing: Why is this city filled with palaces, covered with + wealth? Because American labor has been protected. I am in favor of + protection to American labor, everywhere. I am in favor of protecting + American brain and muscle; I am in favor of giving scope to American + ingenuity and American skill. We want a market at home, and the only way + to have it is to have mechanics at home; and the only way to have + mechanics is to have protection; and the only way to have protection is to + vote the Republican ticket. You, business men of New York, know that + General Garfield understands the best interests not only of New York, but + of the entire country. And you want to stand by the men who will stand by + you. What does a simple soldier know about the wants of the city of New + York? What does he know about the wants of this great and splendid + country? If he does not know more about it than he knows about the tariff + he does not know much. I do not like to hit the dead. My hatred stops with + the grave, and I tell you we are going to bury the Democratic party next + Tuesday. The pulse is feeble now, and if that party proposes to take + advantage of the last hour, it is time it should go into the repenting + business. Nothing pleases me better than to see the condition of that + party to-day. What do the Democrats know on the subject of the tariff? + They are frightened; they are rattled. + </p> + <p> + They swear their plank and platform meant nothing. They say in effect: + "When we put that in we lied; and now having made that confession we hope + you will have perfect confidence in us from this out." Hancock says that + the object of the party is to get the tariff out of politics. That is the + reason, I suppose, why they put that plank in the platform. I presume he + regards the tariff as a little local issue, but I tell you to-day that the + great question of protecting American labor never will be taken out of + politics. As long as men work, as long as the laboring man has a wife and + family to support, just so long will he vote for the man that will protect + his wages. + </p> + <p> + And you can no more take it out of politics than you can take the question + of Government out of politics. I do not want any question taken out of + politics. I want the people to settle these questions for themselves, and + the people of this country are capable of doing it. If you do not believe + it, read the returns from Ohio and Indiana. There are other persons who + would take the question of office out of politics. Well, when we get the + tariff and office both out of politics, then, I presume, we will see two + parties on the same side. It will not do. + </p> + <p> + David A. Wells has come to the rescue of the Democratic party on the + tariff, and shed a few pathetic tears over scrap iron. But it will not do. + You cannot run this country on scraps. + </p> + <p> + We believe in the tariff because it gives skilled labor good pay. We + believe in the tariff because it allows the laboring man to have something + to eat. We believe in the tariff because it keeps the hands of the + producer close to the mouth of the devourer. We believe in the tariff + because it developed American brain; because it builds up our towns and + cities; because it makes Americans self-supporting; because it makes us an + independent Nation. And we believe in the tariff because the Democratic + party does not. + </p> + <p> + That plank in the Democratic party was intended for a dagger to + assassinate the prosperity of the North. The Northern people have become + aroused and that is the plank that is broken in the Democratic platform; + and that plank was wide enough when it broke to let even Hancock through. + </p> + <p> + Gentlemen, they are gone. They are gone—honor bright. Look at the + desperate means that have been resorted to by the Democratic party, driven + to the madness of desperation. Not satisfied with having worn the tongue + of slander to the very tonsils, not satisfied with attacking the private + reputation of a splendid man, not satisfied with that, they have appealed + to a crime; a deliberate and infamous forgery has been committed. That + forgery has been upheld by some of the leaders of the Democratic party; + that forgery has been defended by men calling themselves respectable. + Leaders of the Democratic party have stood by and said that they were + acquainted with the handwriting of James A. Garfield; and that the + handwriting in the forged letter was his, when they knew that it was + absolutely unlike his. They knew it, and no man has certified that that + was the writing of James A. Garfield who did not know that in his throat + of throats he told a falsehood. + </p> + <p> + Every honest man in the city of New York ought to leave such a party if he + belongs to it. Every honest man ought to refuse to belong to the party + that did such an infamous crime. + </p> + <p> + Senator Barnum, chairman of the Democratic Committee, has lost control. He + is gone, and I will tell you what he puts me in mind of. There was an old + fellow used to come into town every Saturday and get drunk. He had a + little yoke of oxen, and the boys out of pity used to throw him into the + wagon and start the oxen for home. Just before he got home they had to go + down a long hill, and the oxen, when they got to the brow of it, commenced + to run. Now and then the wagon struck a stone and gave the old fellow an + awful jolt, and that would wake him up. After he had looked up and had one + glance at the cattle he would fall helplessly back to the bottom, and + always say, "Gee a little, if anything." And that is the only order Barnum + has been able to give for the last two weeks—"Gee a little, if + anything." I tell you now that forgery makes doubly sure the election of + James A. Garfield. The people of the North believe in honest dealing; the + people of the North believe in free speech and an honest ballot. The + people of the North believe that this is a Nation; the people of the North + hate treason; the people of the North hate forgery; the people of the + North hate slander. The people of the North have made up their minds to + give to General Garfield a vindication of which any American may be + forever proud. + </p> + <p> + James A. Garfield is to-day a poor man, and you know that there is not + money enough in this magnificent street to buy the honor and manhood of + James A. Garfield. Money cannot make such a man, and I will swear to you + that money cannot buy him. James A. Garfield to-day wears the glorious + robe of honest poverty. He is a poor man; I like to say it here in Wall + Street; I like to say it surrounded by the millions of America; I like to + say it in the midst of banks and bonds and stocks; I love to say it where + gold is piled—that although a poor man, he is rich in honor; in + integrity he is wealthy, and in brain he is a millionaire. I know him, and + I like him. So do you all, gentlemen. Garfield was a poor boy, he is a + certificate of the splendid form of our Government. Most of these + magnificent buildings have been built by poor boys; most of the success of + New York began almost in poverty. You know it. The kings of this street + were once poor, and they may be poor again; and if they are fools enough + to vote for Hancock they ought to be. Garfield is a certificate of the + splendor of our Government, that says to every poor boy, "All the avenues + of honor are open to you." I know him, and I like him. He is a scholar; he + is a statesman; he is a soldier; he is a patriot; and above all, he is a + magnificent man; and if every man in New York knew him as well as I do, + Garfield would not lose a hundred votes in this city. + </p> + <p> + Compare him with Hancock, and then compare General Arthur with William H. + English. If there ever was a pure Republican in this world, General Arthur + is one. + </p> + <p> + You know in Wall Street, there are some men always prophesying disaster, + there are some men always selling "short." That is what the Democratic + party is doing to-day. You know as well as I do that if the Democratic + party succeeds, every kind of property in the United States will + depreciate. You know it. There is not a man on the street, who if he knew + Hancock was to be elected would not sell the stocks and bonds of every + railroad in the United States "short." I dare any broker here to deny it. + There is not a man in Wall or Broad Street, or in New York, but what knows + the election of Hancock will depreciate every share of railroad stock, + every railroad bond, every Government bond, in the United States of + America. And if you know that, I say it is a crime to vote for Hancock and + English. + </p> + <p> + I belong to the party that is prosperous when the country is prosperous. I + belong to the party that believes in good crops; that is glad when a + fellow finds a gold mine; that rejoices when there are forty bushels of + wheat to the acre; that laughs when every railroad declares dividends, + that claps both its hands when every investment pays; when the rain falls + for the farmer, when the dew lies lovingly on the grass. I belong to the + party that is happy when the people are happy; when the laboring man gets + three dollars a day; when he has roast beef on his table; when he has a + carpet on the floor; when he has a picture of Garfield on the wall. I + belong to the party that is happy when everybody smiles, when we have + plenty of money, good horses, good carriages; when our wives are happy and + our children feel glad. I belong to the party whose banner floats side by + side with the great flag of the country; that does not grow fat on defeat. + </p> + <p> + The Democratic party is a party of famine; it is a good friend of an early + frost, it believes in the Colorado beetle and the weevil. When the crops + are bad the Democratic mouth opens from ear to ear with smiles of joy; it + is in partnership with bad luck; a friend of empty pockets; rags help it. + I am on the other side. The Democratic party is the party of darkness. I + believe in the party of sunshine; and in the party that even in darkness + believes that the stars are shining and waiting for us. + </p> + <p> + Now, gentlemen, I have endeavored to give you a few reasons for voting the + Republican ticket; and I have given enough to satisfy any reasonable man. + And you know it. Do not go with the Democratic party, young man. You have + a character to make. + </p> + <p> + You cannot make it, as the Democratic party does, by passing a resolution. + </p> + <p> + If your father voted the Democratic ticket, that is disgrace enough for + one family. Tell the old man you can stand it no longer. Tell the old + gentleman that you have made up your mind to stand with the party of human + progress; and if he asks you why you cannot vote the Democratic ticket you + tell him: "Every man that tried to destroy the Government, every man that + shot at the holy flag in heaven, every man that starved our soldiers, + every keeper of Libby, Andersonville and Salisbury, every man that wanted + to burn the negro, every one that wanted to scatter yellow fever in the + North, every man that opposed human liberty, that regarded the + auction-block as an altar and the howling of the bloodhound as the music + of the Union, every man who wept over the corpse of slavery, that thought + lashes on the naked back were a legal tender for labor performed, every + one willing to rob a mother of her child—every solitary one was a + Democrat." + </p> + <p> + Tell him you cannot stand that party. Tell him you have to go with the + Republican party, and if he asks you why, tell him it destroyed slavery, + it preserved the Union, it paid the national debt; it made our credit as + good as that of any nation on the earth. + </p> + <p> + Tell him it makes every dollar in a four per cent, bond worth a dollar and + ten cents; that it satisfies the demands of the highest civilization. Tell + the old man that the Republican party preserved the honor of the Nation; + that it believes in education; that it looks upon the schoolhouse as a + cathedral. Tell him that the Republican party believes in absolute + intellectual liberty; in absolute religious freedom; in human rights, and + that human rights rise above States. Tell him that the Republican party + believes in humanity, justice, human equality, and that the Republican + party believes this is a Nation and will be forever and ever; that an + honest ballot is the breath of the Republic's life; that honest money is + the blood of the Republic; and that nationality is the great throbbing + beat of the heart of the Republic. Tell him that. And tell him that you + are going to stand by the flag that the patriots of the North carried upon + the battle-field of death. Tell him you are going to be true to the + martyred dead; that you are going to vote exactly as Lincoln would have + voted were he living. Tell him that if every traitor dead were living now, + there would issue from his lips of dust, "Hurrah for Hancock!" that could + every patriot rise, he would cry for Garfield and liberty; for union and + for human progress everywhere. Tell him that the South seeks to secure by + the ballot what it lost by the bayonet; to whip by the ballot those who + fought it in the field. But we saved the country; and we have the heart + and brains to take care of it. I will tell you what we are going to do. We + are going to treat them in the South just as well as we treat the people + in the North. Victors cannot afford to have malice. The North is too + magnanimous to have hatred. We will treat the South precisely as we treat + the North. There are thousands of good people there. Let us give them + money to improve their rivers and harbors; I want to see the sails of + their commerce filled with the breezes of prosperity; their fences + rebuilt; their houses painted. I want to see their towns prosperous; I + want to see schoolhouses in every town; I want to see books in the hands + of every child, and papers and magazines in every house; I want to see all + the rays of light, of civilization of the nineteenth century, enter every + home of the South; and in a little while you will see that country full of + good Republicans. We can afford to be kind; we cannot afford to be unkind. + </p> + <p> + I will shake hands cordially with every believer in human liberty; I will + shake hands with every believer in Nationality; I will shake hands with + every man who is the friend of the human race. That is my doctrine. I + believe in the great Republic; in this magnificent country of ours. I + believe in the great people of the United States. I believe in the muscle + and brain of America, in the prairies and forests. I believe in New York. + I believe in the brains of your city. I believe that you know enough to + vote the Republican ticket. I believe that you are grand enough to stand + by the country that has stood by you. But whatever you do, I never shall + cease to thank you for the great honor you have conferred upon me this + day. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Note.—This being a newspaper report it is necessarily + incomplete. +</pre> + <p> + <a name="link0012" id="link0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + BROOKLYN SPEECH. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * The Rev. Henry Ward Beecher and Colonel Robert G. + Ingersoll spoke from the same platform last night, and the + great preacher introduced the great orator and free-thinker + to the grandest political audience that was ever assembled + in Brooklyn. The reverend gentleman presided over the + Republican mass meeting held in the Academy of Music. When + he introduced Ingersoll he did it with a warmth and + earnestness of compliment that brought the six thousand + lookers-on to their feet to applaud. When the expounder of + the Gospel of Christ took the famous atheist by the hand, + and shook it fervently, saying that while he respected and + honored him for the honesty of his convictions and his + splendid labors for patriotism and the country, the + enthusiasm knew no bounds, and the great building trembled + and vibrated with the storm of applause. With such a scene + to harmonize the multitude at the outstart it is not strange + that the meeting continued to the end such a one as has no + parallel even in these days of feverish political excitement + and turmoil. The orator spoke in his best vein and his + audience was responsive to the wonderful magical spell of + his eloquence. And when his last glowing utterance had lost + its echo in the wild storm of applause that rewarded him at + the close, Mr. Beecher again stepped forward and, as if to + emphasize the earnestness of his previous compliments, + proposed a vote of thanks to the distinguished speaker. The + vote was a roar of affirmation, whose voice was not stronger + when Mr. Ingersoll in turn called upon the audience to give + three cheers for the great preacher. They were given, and + repeated three times over. Men waved their ats and + umbrellas, ladies, of whom there were many hundreds present, + waved their handkerchiefs, and men, strangers to each other, + shook hands with the fervency of brotherhood. It was indeed + a strange scene, and the principal actors in it seemed not + less than the most wildly excited man there to appreciate + its peculiar import and significance. Standing at the front + of the stage, underneath a canopy of nags, at either side + great baskets of flowers, they clasped each other's hands, + and stood thus for several minutes, while the excited + thousands cheered themselves hoarse and applauded wildly. + + As Mr. Beecher began to speak, however, the applause that + broke out was deafening. + + In substance Mr. Beecher spoke as follows:—"I am not + accustomed to preside at meetings like this; only the + exigency of the times could induce me to do It. I am not + here either to make a speech, but more especially to + introduce the eminent orator of the evening. * * * I stand + not as a minister, but as a man among men, pleading the + cause of fellowship and equal rights. We are not here as + mechanics, as artists, merchants, or professional men, but + as fellow-citizens. The gentleman who will speak to-night is + in no Conventicle or Church. He is to speak to a great body + of citizens, and I take the liberty of saying that I respect + him as the man that for a full score and more of years has + worked for the right in the great, broad field of humanity, + and for the cause of human rights. I consider it an honor to + extend to him, as I do now, the warm, earnest, right hand of + fellowship." (As Mr. Beecher said this he turned to Mr. + Ingersoll and extended his hand. The palms of the two men + met with a clasp that was heard all over the house, and was + the signal for tumultuous cheering and applause, which + continued for several minutes.) + + "I now introduce to you," continued Mr. Beecher, leading Mr. + Ingersoll forward, "a man who—and I say it not + flatteringly—is the most brilliant speaker of the English + tongue of all men on this globe. But as under the brilliancy + of the blaze or light we find the living coals of fire, + under the lambent flow of his wit and magnificent antithesis + we find the glorious flame of genius and honest thought. + Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Ingersoll."—New York Herald, + October 81st, 1880. +</pre> + <p> + (Garfield Campaign.) + </p> + <p> + 1880. + </p> + <p> + LADIES and Gentlemen: Years ago I made up my mind that there was no + particular argument in slander. I made up my mind that for parties, as + well as for individuals, honesty in the long-run is the best policy. I + made up my mind that the people were entitled to know a man's honest + thoughts, and I propose to-night to tell you exactly what I think. And it + may be well enough, in the first place, for me to say that no party has a + mortgage on me. I am the sole proprietor of myself. No party, no + organization, has any deed of trust on what little brains I have, and as + long as I can get my part of the common air I am going to tell my honest + thoughts. One man in the right will finally get to be a majority. I am not + going to say a word to-night that every Democrat here will not know is + true, and, whatever he may say, I will compel him in his heart to give + three cheers. + </p> + <p> + In the first place, I wish to admit that during the war there were + hundreds of thousands of patriotic Democrats. I wish to admit that if it + had not been for the War Democrats of the North, we never would have put + down the Rebellion. Let us be honest. I further admit that had it not been + for other than War Democrats there never would have been a rebellion to + put down. War Democrats! + </p> + <p> + Why did we call them War Democrats? Did you ever hear anybody talk about a + War Republican? We spoke of War Democrats to distinguish them from those + Democrats who were in favor of peace upon any terms. + </p> + <p> + I also wish to admit that the Republican party is not absolutely perfect. + While I believe that it is the best party that ever existed, while I + believe it has, within its organization, more heart, more brain, more + patriotism than any other organization that ever existed beneath the sun, + I still admit that it is not entirely perfect. I admit, in its great + things, in its splendid efforts to preserve this nation, in its grand + effort to keep our flag in heaven, in its magnificent effort to free four + millions of slaves, in its great and sublime effort to save the financial + honor of this Nation, I admit that it has made some mistakes. In its great + effort to do right it has sometimes by mistake done wrong. And I also wish + to admit that the great Democratic party, in its effort to get office has + sometimes by mistake done right. You see that I am inclined to be + perfectly fair. + </p> + <p> + I am going with the Republican party because it is going my way; but if it + ever turns to the right or left, I intend to go straight ahead. + </p> + <p> + In every government there is something that ought to be preserved, in + every government there are many things that ought to be destroyed. Every + good man, every patriot, every lover of the human race, wishes to preserve + the good and destroy the bad; and every one in this audience who wishes to + preserve the good will go with that section of our common country—with + that party in our country that he honestly believes will preserve the good + and destroy the bad. It takes a great deal of trouble to raise a good + Republican. It is a vast deal of labor. The Republican party is the fruit + of all ages—of self-sacrifice and devotion. The Republican party is + born of every good thing that was ever done in this world. The Republican + party is the result of all martyrdom, of all heroic blood shed for the + right. It is the blossom and fruit of the great world's best endeavor. In + order to make a Republican you have to have schoolhouses. You have to have + newspapers and magazines. A good Republican is the best fruit of + civilization, of all there is of intelligence, of art, of music and of + song. If you want to make Democrats, let them alone. The Democratic party + is the settlings of this country. Nobody hoes weeds. Nobody takes especial + pains to raise dog-fennel, and yet it grows under the very hoof of travel, + The seeds are sown by accident and gathered by chance. But if you want to + raise wheat and corn you must plough the ground. You must defend and you + must harvest the crop with infinite patience and toil. It is precisely + that way—if you want to raise a good Republican you must work. If + you wish to raise a Democrat give him wholesome neglect. The Democratic + party flatters the vices of mankind. That party says to the ignorant man, + "You know enough." It says to the vicious man, "You are good enough." + </p> + <p> + The Republican party says, "You must be better next year than you are + this." A Republican takes a man by the collar and says, "You must do your + best, you must climb the infinite hill of human progress as long as you + live." Now and then one gets tired. He says, "I have climbed enough and so + much better than I expected to do that I do not wish to travel any + farther." Now and then one gets tired and lets go all hold, and he rolls + down to the very bottom, and as he strikes the mud he springs upon his + feet transfigured, and says: "Hurrah for Hancock!" + </p> + <p> + There are things in this Government that I wish to preserve, and there are + things that I wish to destroy; and in order to convince you that you ought + to go the way that I am going: it is only fair that I give to you my + reasons. This is a Republic founded upon intelligence and the patriotism + of the people, and in every Republic it is absolutely necessary that there + should be free speech. Free speech is the gem of the human soul. Words are + the bodies of thought, and liberty gives to those words wings, and the + whole intellectual heavens are filled with light. In a Republic every + individual tongue has a right to the general ear. In a Republic every man + has the right to give his reasons for the course he pursues to all his + fellow-citizens, and when you say that a man shall not speak, you also say + that others shall not hear. When you say a man shall not express his + honest thought you say his fellow-citizens shall be deprived of honest + thoughts; for of what use is it to allow the attorney for the defendant to + address the jury if the jury has been bought? Of what use is it to allow + the jury to bring in a verdict of "not guilty," if the defendant is to be + hung by a mob? I ask you to-night, is not every solitary man here in favor + of free speech? Is there a solitary Democrat here who dares say he is not + in favor of free speech? In which part of this country are the lips of + thought free—in the South or in the North? Which section of our + country can you trust the inestimable gem of free speech with? Can you + trust it to the gentlemen of Mississippi or to the gentlemen of + Massachusetts? Can you trust it to Alabama or to New York? Can you trust + it to the South or can you trust it to the great and splendid North? Honor + bright—honor bright, is there any freedom of speech in the South? + There never was and there is none to-night—and let me tell you why. + </p> + <p> + They had the institution of human slavery in the South, which could not be + defended at the bar of public reason. It was an institution that could not + be defended in the high forum of human conscience. No man could stand + there and defend the right to rob the cradle—none to defend the + right to sell the babe from the breast of the agonized mother—none + to defend the claim that lashes on a bare back are a legal tender for + labor performed. Every man that lived upon the unpaid labor of another + knew in his heart that he was a thief. And for that reason he did not wish + to discuss that question. Thereupon the institution of slavery said, "You + shall not speak; you shall not reason," and the lips of free thought were + manacled. You know it. Every one of you. Every Democrat knows it as well + as every Republican. There never was free speech in the South. + </p> + <p> + And what has been the result? And allow me to admit right here, because I + want to be fair, there are thousands and thousands of most excellent + people in the South—thousands of them. There are hundreds and + hundreds of thousands there who would like to vote the Republican ticket. + And whenever there is free speech there and whenever there is a free + ballot there, they will vote the Republican ticket. I say again, there are + hundreds of thousands of good people in the South; but the institution of + human slavery prevented free speech, and it is a splendid fact in nature + that you cannot put chains upon the limbs of others without putting + corresponding manacles upon your own brain. When the South enslaved the + negro, it also enslaved itself, and the result was an intellectual desert. + No book has been produced, with one exception, that has added to the + knowledge of mankind; no paper, no magazine, no poet, no philosopher, no + philanthropist, was ever raised in that desert. Now and then some one + protested against that infamous institution, and he came as near being a + philosopher as the society in which he lived permitted. Why is it that New + England, a rock-clad land, blossoms like a rose? Why is it that New York + is the Empire State of the great Union? I will tell you. Because you have + been permitted to trade in ideas. Because the lips of speech have been + absolutely free for twenty years. + </p> + <p> + We never had free speech in any State in this Union until the Republican + party was born. That party was rocked in the cradle of intellectual + liberty, and that is the reason I say it is the best party that ever + existed in the wide, wide world. I want to preserve free speech, and, as + an honest man, I look about me and I say, "How can I best preserve it?" By + giving it to the South or North; to the Democracy or to the Republican + party? And I am bound, as an honest man, to say free speech is safest with + its earliest defenders. Where is there such a thing as a Republican mob to + prevent the expression of an honest thought? Where? The people of the + South are allowed to come to the North; they are allowed to express their + sentiments upon every stump in the great East, the great West, and in the + great Middle States; they go to Maine, to Vermont, and to all our States, + and they are allowed to speak, and we give them a respectful hearing, and + the meanest thing we do is to answer their arguments. + </p> + <p> + I say to-night that we ought to have the same liberty to discuss these + questions in the South that Southerners have in the North. And I say more + than that, the Democrats of the North ought to compel the Democrats of the + South to treat the Republicans of the South as well as the Republicans of + the North treat them. We treat the Democrats well in the North; we treat + them like gentlemen in the North; and yet they go into partnership with + the Democracy of the South, knowing that the Democracy of the South will + not treat Republicans in that section with fairness. A Democrat ought to + be ashamed of that. + </p> + <p> + If my friends will not treat other people as well as the friends of the + other people treat me, I'll swap friends. + </p> + <p> + First, then, I am in favor of free speech, and I am going with that + section of my country that believes in free speech; I am going with that + party that has always upheld that sacred right. When you stop free speech, + when you say that a thought shall die in the womb of the brain,—why, + it would have the same effect upon the intellectual world that to stop + springs at their sources would have upon the physical world. Stop the + springs at their sources and they cease to gurgle, the streams cease to + murmur, and the great rivers cease rushing to the embrace of the sea. So + you stop thought. Stop thought in the brain in which it is born, and + theory dies; and the great ocean of knowledge to which all should be + permitted to contribute, and from which all should be allowed to draw, + becomes a vast desert of ignorance. + </p> + <p> + I have always said, and I say again, that the more liberty there is given + away, the more you have. I endeavor to be consistent in my life and + action. I am a believer in intellectual liberty, and wherever the torch of + knowledge burns the whole horizon is filled with a glorious halo. I am a + free man. I would be less than a man if I did not wish to hand this flame + to my child with the flame increased rather than diminished. + </p> + <p> + Whom will we trust to take care of free speech? Let us consider and be + honest with one another. The gem of the brain is the innocence of the + soul. + </p> + <p> + I am not only in favor of free speech, but I am also in favor of an + absolutely honest ballot. There is only one emperor in this country; there + is one czar; only one supreme crown and king, and that is the will, the + legally expressed will of the majority. Every American citizen is a + sovereign. The poorest and humblest may wear that crown, the beggar holds + in his hand that sceptre equally with the proudest and richest, and so far + as his sovereignty is concerned, the poorest American, he who earns but + one dollar a day, has the same voice in controlling the destiny of the + United States as the millionaire. The man who casts an illegal vote, the + man who refuses to count a legal vote, poisons the fountain of power, + poisons the springs of justice, and is a traitor to the only king in this + land. The Government is upon the edge of Mexicanization through fraudulent + voting. The ballot-box is the throne of America; the ballot-box is the ark + of the covenant. Unless we see to it that every man who has a right to + vote, votes, and unless we see to it that every honest vote is counted, + the days of this Republic are numbered. + </p> + <p> + When you suspect that a Congressman is not elected; when you suspect that + a judge upon the bench holds his place by fraud, then the people will hold + the law in contempt and will laugh at the decisions of courts, and then + come revolution and chaos. + </p> + <p> + It is the duty of every good man to see to it that the ballot-box is kept + absolutely pure. It is the duty of every patriot, whether he is a Democrat + or Republican—and I want further to admit that I believe a large + majority of Democrats are honest in their opinions, and I know that all + Republicans <i>must</i> be honest in their opinions. It is the duty, then, + of all honest men of both parties to see to it that only honest votes are + cast and counted. Now, honor bright, which section of this Union can you + trust the ballot-box with? + </p> + <p> + Do you wish to trust Louisiana, or do you wish to trust Alabama that gave, + in 1872, thirty-four thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight Republican + majority and now gives ninety-two thousand Democratic majority? And of + that ninety-two thousand majority, every one is a lie! A contemptible, + infamous lie! Because if every voter had been allowed to vote, there would + have been forty thousand Republican majority. Honor bright, can you trust + it with the masked murderers who rode in the darkness of night to the hut + of the freedman and shot him down, notwithstanding the supplication of his + wife and the tears of his babe? Can you trust it to the men who since the + close of our war have killed more men, simply because those men wished to + vote, simply because they wished to exercise a right with which they had + been clothed by the sublime heroism of the North—who have killed + more men than were killed on both sides in the Revolutionary war; than + were killed on both sides during the War of 1812; than were killed on both + sides in both wars? Can you trust them? Can you trust the gentlemen who + invented the tissue ballot? Do you wish to put the ballot-box in the + keeping of the shot-gun, of the White-Liners, of the Ku Klux? Do you wish + to put the ballot-box in the keeping of men who openly swear that they + will not be ruled by a majority of American citizens if a portion of that + majority is made of black men? And I want to tell you right here, I like a + black man who loves this country better than I do a white man who hates + it. I think more of a black man who fought for our flag than for any white + man who endeavored to tear it out of heaven! + </p> + <p> + I say, can you trust the ballot-box to the Democratic party? Read the + history of the State of New York. Read the history of this great and + magnificent city—the Queen of the Atlantic—read her history + and tell us whether you can implicitly trust Democratic returns? Honor + bright! + </p> + <p> + I am not only, then, for free speech, but I am for an honest ballot; and + in order that you may have no doubt left upon your minds as to which party + is in favor of an honest vote, I will call your attention to this striking + fact. Every law that has been passed in every State of this Union for + twenty long years, the object of which was to guard the American + ballot-box, has been passed by the Republican party, and in every State + where the Republican party has introduced such a bill for the purpose of + making it a law; in every State where such a bill has been defeated, it + has been defeated by the Democratic party. That ought to satisfy any + reasonable man to satiety. + </p> + <p> + I am not only in favor of free speech and an honest ballot, but I am in + favor of collecting and disbursing the revenues of the United States. I + want plenty of money to collect and pay the interest on our debt. I want + plenty of money to pay our debt and to preserve the financial honor of the + United States. I want money enough to be collected to pay pensions to + widows and orphans and to wounded soldiers. And the question is, which + section in this country can you trust to collect and disburse that + revenue? Let us be honest about it. Which section can you trust? In the + last four years we have collected four hundred and sixty-eight million + dollars of the internal revenue taxes. We have collected principally from + taxes upon high wines and tobacco, four hundred and sixty-eight million + dollars, and in those four years we have seized, libeled and destroyed in + the Southern States three thousand eight hundred and seventy-four illicit + distilleries. And during the same time the Southern people have shot to + death twenty-five revenue officers and wounded fifty-five others, and the + only offence that the wounded and dead committed was an honest effort to + collect the revenues of this country. Recollect it—don't you forget + it. And in several Southern States to-day every revenue collector or + officer connected with the revenue is furnished by the Internal Revenue + Department with a breech-loading rifle and a pair of revolvers, simply for + the purpose of collecting the revenue. + </p> + <p> + I don't feel like trusting such people to collect the revenue of my + Government. + </p> + <p> + During the same four years we have arrested and have indicted seven + thousand and eighty-four Southern Democrats for endeavoring to defraud the + revenue of the United States. Recollect—three thousand eight hundred + and seventy-four distilleries seized. Twenty-five revenue officers killed, + fifty-five wounded, and seven thousand and eighty-four Democrats arrested. + Can we trust them? + </p> + <p> + The State of Alabama in its last Democratic convention passed a resolution + that no man should be tried in a Federal Court for a violation of the + revenue laws—that he should be tried in a State Court. Think of it—he + should be tried in a State Court! Let me tell you how it will come out if + we trust the Southern States to collect this revenue. A couple of + Methodist ministers had been holding a revival for a week, and at the end + of the week one said to the other that he thought it time to take up a + collection. When the hat was returned he found in it pieces of + slate-pencils and nails and buttons, but not a single solitary cent—not + one—and his brother minister got up and looked at the contribution, + and said, "Let us thank God!" And the owner of the hat said, "What for?" + And the brother replied, "Because you got your hat back." If we trust the + South we shan't get our hats back. + </p> + <p> + I am next in favor of honest money. I am in favor of gold and silver, and + paper with gold and silver behind it. I believe in silver, because it is + one of the greatest of American products, and I am in favor of anything + that will add to the value of an American product. But I want a silver + dollar worth a gold dollar, even if you make it or have to make it four + feet in diameter. No government can afford to be a clipper of coin. A + great Republic cannot afford to stamp a lie upon silver or gold. Honest + money, an honest people, an honest Nation. When our money is only worth + eighty cents on the dollar, we feel twenty per cent, below par. When our + money is good we feel good. When our money is at par, that is where we + are. I am a profound believer in the doctrine that for nations as well as + men, honesty is the best policy, always, everywhere, and forever. + </p> + <p> + What section of this country, what party, will give us honest money—honor + bright—honor bright? I have been told that during the war, we had + plenty of money. I never saw it. I lived years without seeing a dollar. I + saw promises for dollars, but not dollars. And the greenback, unless you + have the gold behind it, is no more a dollar than a bill of fare is a + dinner. You cannot make a paper dollar without taking a dollar's worth of + paper. We must have paper that represents money. I want it issued by the + Government, and I want behind every one of these dollars either a gold or + silver dollar, so that every greenback under the flag can lift up its hand + and swear, "I know that my redeemer liveth." + </p> + <p> + When we were running into debt, thousands of people mistook that for + prosperity, and when we began paying they regarded it as adversity. Of + course we had plenty when we bought on credit. No man has ever starved + when his credit was good, if there were no famine in that country. As long + as we buy on credit we shall have enough. The trouble commences when the + pay-day arrives. And I do not wonder that after the war thousands of + people said, "Let us have another inflation." Which party said, "No, we + must pay the promise made in war"? Honor bright! The Democratic party had + once been a hard money party, but it drifted from its metallic moorings + and floated off in the ocean of inflation, and you know it. They said, + "Give us more money;" and every man that had bought on credit and owed a + little something on what he had purchased, when the property went down + commenced crying, or many of them did, for inflation. I understand it. + </p> + <p> + A man, say, bought a piece of land for six thousand dollars; paid five + thousand dollars on it; gave a mortgage for one thousand dollars, and + suddenly, in 1873, found that the land would not pay the other thousand. + The land had resumed, and then he said, looking lugubriously at his note + and mortgage, "I want another inflation." And I never heard a man call for + it that did not also say, "If it ever comes, and I don't unload, you may + shoot me." + </p> + <p> + It was very much as it is sometimes in playing poker, and I make this + comparison knowing that hardly a person here will understand it. I have + been told that along toward morning the man that is ahead suddenly says, + "I have got to go home. The fact is, my wife is not well." And the fellow + who is behind says, "Let us have another deal; I have my opinion of the + fellow that will jump a game." And so it was in the hard times of 1873. + They said: "Give us another deal; let us get our driftwood back into the + centre of the stream." And they cried out for more money. But the + Republican party said: "We do want more money, but not more promises. We + have got to pay this first, and if we start out again upon that wide sea + of promise we may never touch the shore." A thousand theories were born of + want; a thousand theories were born of the fertile brain of trouble; and + these people said, "After all, what is money? Why, it is nothing but a + measure of value, just the same as a half bushel or yardstick." True; and + consequently it makes no difference whether your half bushel is of wood or + gold or silver or paper; and it makes no difference whether your yardstick + is gold or paper. But the trouble about that statement is this: A half + bushel is not a measure of value; it is a measure of quantity, and it + measures rubies, diamonds and pearls precisely the same as corn and wheat. + The yardstick is not a measure of value; it is a measure of length, and it + measures lace worth one hundred dollars a yard precisely as it does cent + tape. And another reason why it makes no difference to the purchaser + whether the half bushel is gold or silver, or whether the yardstick is + gold or paper, you do not buy the yardstick; you do not get the half + bushel in the trade. And if it were so with money—if the people that + had the money at the start of the trade, kept it after the consummation of + the bargain—then it would not make any difference what you made your + money of. But the trouble is the money changes hands. And let me say + to-night, money is a thing—it is a product of nature—and you + can no more make a "fiat" dollar than you can make a fiat star. I am in + favor of honest money. Free speech is the brain of the Republic; an honest + ballot is the breath of its life, and honest money is the blood that + courses through its veins. + </p> + <p> + If I am fortunate enough to leave a dollar when I die, I want it to be a + good one. I do not wish to have it turn to ashes in the hands of + widowhood, or become a Democratic broken promise in the pocket of the + orphan; I want it money. I want money that will outlive the Democratic + party. They told us—and they were honest about it—they said, + "When we have plenty of money, we are prosperous." And I said, "When we + are prosperous, we have plenty of money." When we are prosperous, then we + have credit, and credit inflates the currency. Whenever a man buys a pound + of sugar and says, "Charge it," he inflates the currency; whenever he + gives his note, he inflates the currency; whenever his word takes the + place of money, he inflates the currency. The consequence is that when we + are prosperous, credit takes the place of money, and we have what we call + "plenty." + </p> + <p> + But you cannot increase prosperity simply by using promises to pay. + Suppose you should come to a river that was about dry, so dry that the + turtle had to help the catfish over the shoals, and there you would see + the ferryboat, and the gentleman who kept the ferry, up on the sand, high + and dry, and the cracks all opening in the sun, filled with loose oakum, + looking like an average Democratic mouth listening to a constitutional + argument, and you should say to him, "How is business?" And he would say, + "Dull." And then you would say to him, "Now, what you want is more boat." + He would probably answer, "If I had a little more water I could get along + with this one." + </p> + <p> + Suppose I next came to a man running a railroad, complaining of hard + times. "Why," said he, "I did a million dollars' worth of business the + first year and used five hundred thousand dollars' worth of grease. The + second year I did five hundred thousand dollars' worth of business and + used four hundred thousand dollars' worth of grease." "Well," said I, "the + reason your road fell off was because you did not use enough grease." + </p> + <p> + But I want to be fair, and I wish to-night to return my thanks to the + Democratic party. You did a great and splendid work. You went all over the + United States and you said upon every stump that a greenback was better + than gold. You said, "We have at last found the money of the poor man. + Gold loves the rich; gold haunts banks and safes and vaults; but we have + money that will go around inquiring for a man that is dead broke. We have + finally found money that will stay in a pocket with holes in it." But, + after all, do you know that money is the most social thing in this world? + If a fellow has one dollar in his pocket, and he meets another with two, + do you know that dollar is absolutely homesick until it gets where the + other two are? And yet the Greenbackers told us that they had finally + invented money that would be the poor mans friend. They said, "It is + better than gold, better than silver," and they got so many men to believe + it that when we resumed and said, "Here is your gold for your greenback," + the fellows who had the greenback said, "We don't want it. The greenbacks + are good enough for us." Do you know, if they had wanted it we could not + have given it to them? And so I return my thanks to the Greenback party. + But allow me to say in this connection, the days of their usefulness have + passed forever. + </p> + <p> + Now, I am not foolish enough to claim that the Republican party resumed. I + am not silly enough to say that John Sherman resumed. But I will tell you + what I do say. I say that every man who raised a bushel of corn or a + bushel of wheat or a pound of beef or pork for sale helped to resume. I + say that the gentle rain and the loving dew helped to resume. The soil of + the United States impregnated by the loving sun helped to resume. The men + that dug the coal and the iron and the silver and the copper and the gold + helped to resume. And the men upon whose foreheads fell the light of + furnaces helped to resume. And the sailors who fought with the waves of + the seas helped to resume. + </p> + <p> + I admit to-night that the Democrats earned their share of the money to + resume with. All I claim is that the Republican party furnished the + honesty to pay it over. That is what I claim; and the Republican party set + the day, and the Republican party worked to the promise. That is what I + say. And had it not been for the Republican party this Nation would have + been financially dishonored. I am for honest money, and I am for the + payment of every dollar of our debt, and so is every Democrat now, I take + it. But what did you say a little while ago? Did you say we could resume? + No; you swore we could not, and you swore our bonds would be worthless as + the withered leaves of winter. And now when a Democrat goes to England and + sees an American four per cent, quoted at one hundred and ten he kind of + swells up, and says: "That's the kind of man I am." In that country he + pretends he was a Republican in this. And I do not blame him. I do not + begrudge him enjoying respectability when away from home. The Republican + party is entitled to the credit for keeping this Nation grandly and + splendidly honest. I say, the Republican party is entitled to the credit + of preserving the honor of this Nation. + </p> + <p> + In 1873 came the crash, and all the languages of the world cannot describe + the agonies suffered by the American people from 1873 to 1879. A man who + thought he was a millionaire came to poverty; he found his stocks and + bonds ashes in the paralytic hand of old age. Men who expected to live all + their lives in the sunshine of joy found themselves beggars and paupers. + The great factories were closed, the workmen were demoralized, and the + roads of the United States were filled with tramps. In the hovel of the + poor and the palace of the rich came the serpent of temptation and + whispered in the American ear the terrible word "Repudiation." But the + Republican party said, "No; we will pay every dollar. No; we have started + toward the shining goal of resumption and we never will turn back." And + the Republican party struggled until it had the happiness of seeing upon + the broad shining forehead of American labor the words "Financial Honor." + </p> + <p> + The Republican party struggled until every paper promise was as good as + gold. And the moment we got back to gold then we commenced to rise again. + We could not jump until our feet touched something that they could be + pressed against. And from that moment to this we have been going, going, + going higher and higher, more prosperous every hour. And now they say, + "Let us have a change." When I am sick I want a change; when I am poor I + want a change; and if I were a Democrat I would have a personal change. We + are prosperous to-day, and must keep so. We are back to gold and silver. + Let us stay there; and let us stay with the party that brought us there. + </p> + <p> + Now, I am not only in favor of free speech and an honest ballot-box and an + honest collection of the revenue of the United States, and an honest + money, but I am in favor of the idea, of the great and splendid truth, + that this is a Nation one and indivisible. I deny that we are a + confederacy bound together with ropes of cloud and chains of mist. This is + a Nation, and every man in it owes his first allegiance to the grand old + flag for which more brave blood was shed than for any other flag that + waves in the sight of heaven. There is another thing; we all want to live + in a land where the law is supreme. We desire to live beneath a flag that + will protect every citizen beneath its folds. We desire to be citizens of + a Government so great and so grand that it will command the respect of the + civilized world. Most of us are convinced that our Government is the best + upon this earth. It is the only Government where manhood, and manhood + alone, is not made simply a condition of citizenship, but where manhood, + and manhood alone, permits its possessor to have his equal share in + control of the Government. It is the only Government in the world where + poverty is upon an exact equality with wealth, so far as controlling the + destiny of the Republic is concerned. It is the only Nation where the man + clothed in rags stands upon an equality with the one wearing purple. It is + the only country in the world where, politically, the hut is upon an + equality with the palace. + </p> + <p> + For that reason every poor man should stand by this Government, and every + poor man who does not is a traitor to the best interests of his children; + every poor man who does not is willing his children should bear the badge + of political inferiority; and the only way to make this Government a + complete and perfect success is for the poorest man to think as much of + his manhood as the millionaire does of his wealth. A man does not vote in + this country simply because he is rich; he does not vote in this country + simply because he has an education; he does not vote simply because he has + talent or genius; we say that he votes because he is a man, and that he + has his manhood to support; and we admit in this country that nothing can + be more valuable to any human being than his manhood, and for that reason + we put poverty on an equality with wealth. We say in this country manhood + is worth more than gold. We say in this country that without Liberty the + Nation is not worth preserving. Now, I appeal to-day to every poor man; I + appeal to-day to every laboring man, and I ask him, is there another + country on this globe where you can have equal rights with others? There + is another thing; do you want a Government of law or of brute force? In + which part of this country do you find law supreme? In which part of this + country can a man find justice in the courts; in the North or in the + South? Where is crime punished? Where is innocence protected, in the North + or in the South? Which section of this country will you trust? + </p> + <p> + You can tell what a man is by the way he treats persons in his power, and + the man that will sneak and crawl in the presence of greatness, will + trample the weak when he gets them in his power. What class of people does + the State have in its power? Criminals and creditors; and you can judge of + a State by the way it treats its criminals and creditors. Georgia is the + best State in the South. They have a penitentiary system by which they + hire out their convict labor. Only two years ago the whole thing was + examined by a friend of mine, Col. Allston. He had been in the rebel army + and was my good friend. He used to come to my house day after day to see + me. He got converted and had the grit to say so. Being a member of the + Legislature, he had a committee of investigation appointed. Now, in order + that you may understand the difference, you must know that in the Northern + penitentiaries the average annual death rate is one per cent.; that is, of + one thousand convicts, ten will die in a year, on the average. That low + death rate is because we are civilized, because we do not kill; but in the + Georgia penitentiary it was as high as fifteen, twenty-seven and + forty-seven per cent., at a time when there was no typhoid or yellow + fever, or epidemic of any kind. They died for four months at a rate of ten + per cent, per month. They crowded the convicts in together, regardless of + sex. They treated them precisely as wild beasts, and many of them were + shot down. Persons high in authority, Senators of the United States, held + interests in those contracts, and Robert Allston denounced them. When on a + visit he said, "I believe when I get home I shall be killed." I told him + not to go back to Georgia, but to stay in the civilized North; but no, he + would go back, and on the very day of his arrival he was murdered in cold + blood. Do you want to trust such men? * * * + </p> + <p> + The Southern people say this is a Confederacy and they are honest in it. + They fought for it, they believed it. They believe in the doctrine of + State Sovereignty, and many Democrats of the North believe in the same + doctrine. No less a man than Horatio Seymour—standing it may be at + the head of Democratic statesmen—said, if he has been correctly + reported, only the other day, that he despised the word "Nation." I bless + that word. I owe my first allegiance to this Nation, and it owes its first + protection to me. I am talking here to-night, not because I am protected + by the flag of New York. I would not know that flag if I should see it. I + am talking here, and have the right to talk here, because the flag of my + country is above us. I have the same right as though I had been born upon + this very platform. I am proud of New York because it is a part of my + country. I am proud of my country because it has such a State as New York + in it, and I will be prouder of New York on a week from next Tuesday than + ever before in my life. I despise the doctrine of State Sovereignty. I + believe in the rights of the States, but not in the sovereignty of the + States. States are political conveniences. Rising above States, as the + Alps above valleys, are the rights of man. Rising above the rights of the + Government, even in this Nation, are the sublime rights of the people. + Governments are good only so long as they protect human rights. But the + rights of a man never should be sacrificed upon the altar of the State, or + upon the altar of the Nation. + </p> + <p> + Let me tell you a few objections that I have to State Sovereignty. That + doctrine has never been appealed to for any good. The first time it was + appealed to was when our Constitution was made. And the object then was to + keep the slave-trade open until the year 1808. The object then was to make + the sea the highway of piracy—the object then was to allow American + citizens to go into the business of selling men and women and children, + and feed their cargo to the sharks of the sea, and the sharks of the sea + were as merciful as they. That was the first time that the appeal to the + doctrine of State Sovereignty was made, and the next time was for the + purpose of keeping alive the interstate slave-trade, so that a gentleman + in Virginia could sell the slave who had nursed him, and rob the cradles + of their babes. Think of it! It was made so they could rob the cradle in + the name of law. Think of it! Think of it! And the next time they appealed + to the doctrine of State Sovereignty was in favor of the Fugitive Slave + Law—a law that made a bloodhound of every Northern man; that made + charity a crime; a law that made love a state-prison offence; that branded + the forehead of charity as if it were a felon. Think of it! + </p> + <p> + It is a part of my honor to hate such principles. I have no respect for + any man who is so mean, cruel and wicked, as to allow himself to be + transformed into a bloodhound to bay upon the tracks of innocent human + prey. I will follow my logic, no matter where it goes, after it has + consulted with my heart. If you ever come to a conclusion without calling + the heart in, you will come to a bad conclusion. + </p> + <p> + A good man is pretty apt to be right; a perfectly honest man is like the + surface of the stainless mirror, that gives back by simply looking at him, + the image of the one who looks. + </p> + <p> + The next time they appealed to the doctrine of State Sovereignty was to + increase the area of human slavery, so that the bloodhound, with clots of + blood dropping from his loose and hanging jaws, might traverse the billowy + plains of Kansas. Think of it! + </p> + <p> + The Democratic party then said the Federal Government had a right to cross + the State line. And the next time they appealed to that infamous doctrine + was in defence of secession and treason; a doctrine that cost us six + thousand millions of dollars; a doctrine that cost four hundred thousand + lives; a doctrine that filled our country with widows, our homes with + orphans. And I tell you, the doctrine of State Sovereignty is the viper in + the bosom of this Republic, and if we do not kill that viper it will kill + us. + </p> + <p> + The Democrats tell us that in the olden time the Federal Government had a + right to cross a State line to put shackles upon the limbs of men. It had + the right to cross a State line to trample upon the rights of human + beings, but now it has no right to cross those lines upon an errand of + mercy or justice. We are told that now, when the Federal Government wishes + to protect a citizen, a State line rises like a Chinese wall, and the + sword of Federal power turns to air the moment it touches one of those + lines. I deny it and I despise, abhor and execrate the doctrine of State + Sovereignty. The Democrats tell us if we wish to be protected by the + Federal Government we must leave home. I wish they would try it for about + ten days. They say the Federal Government can defend a citizen in England, + France, Spain or Germany, but cannot defend a child of the Republic + sitting around the family hearth. I deny it. A Government that cannot + protect its citizens at home is unfit to be called a Government. I want a + Government with an ear so good that it can hear the faintest cry of the + oppressed wherever its flag floats. I want a Government with an arm long + enough and a sword sharp enough to cut down treason wherever it may raise + its serpent head. I want a Government that will protect a freedman, + standing by his little log hut, with the same alacrity and with the same + efficiency that it would protect Vanderbilt, living in a palace of marble + and gold. Humanity is a sacred thing, and manhood is a thing to be + preserved. Let us look at it. For instance, here is a war, and the Federal + Government says to a man, "We want you," and he says, "No, I don't want to + go," and then they put a lot of pieces of paper in a wheel and on one of + those pieces is his name, and another man turns the crank, and then they + pull it out and there is his name, and they say, "Come," and so he goes. + And they stand him in front of the brazen-throated guns; they make him + fight for his native land, and when the war is over he goes home and he + finds the war has been unpopular in his neighborhood, and they trample on + his rights, and he says to the Federal Government, "Protect me." And he + says to the Government, "I owe my allegiance to you. You must protect me." + What will you say of that Government if it says to him, "You must look to + your State for protection"? "Ah, but," he says, "my State is the very + power trampling upon me," and, of course, the robber is not going to send + for the police, It is the duty of the Government to defend even its + drafted men; and if that is the duty of the Government, what shall I say + of the volunteer, who for one moment holds his wife in a tremulous and + agonized embrace, kisses his children, shoulders his musket, goes to the + field and says, "Here I am, ready to die for my native land"? A Nation + that will not defend its volunteer defenders is a disgrace to the map of + this world. This is a Nation. Free speech is the brain of the Republic; an + honest ballot is the breath of its life; honest money is the blood of its + veins; and the idea of nationality is its great, beating, throbbing heart. + I am for a Nation. And yet the Democrats tell me that it is dangerous to + have centralized power. How would you have it? I believe in the + localization of power; I believe in having enough of it localized in one + place to be effectively used; I believe in a localization of brain. I + suppose Democrats would like to have it spread all over your body, and + they act as though theirs was. + </p> + <p> + There is another thing in which I believe: I believe in the protection of + American labor. The hand that holds Aladdin's lamp must be the hand of + toil. This Nation rests upon the shoulders of its workers, and I want the + American laboring man to have enough to wear; I want him to have enough to + eat: + </p> + <p> + I want him to have something for the ordinary misfortunes of life; I want + him to have the pleasure of seeing his wife well-dressed; I want him to + see a few blue ribbons fluttering about his children; I want him to see + the flags of health flying in their beautiful cheeks; I want him to feel + that this is his country, and the shield of protection is above his labor. + </p> + <p> + And I will tell you why I am for protection, too. If we were all farmers + we would be stupid. If we were all shoemakers we would be stupid. If we + all followed one business, no matter what it was, we would become stupid. + Protection to American labor diversifies American industry, and to have it + diversified touches and develops every part of the human brain. Protection + protects ingenuity; it protects intelligence; and protection raises sense; + and by protection we have greater men, better looking women and healthier + children. Free trade means that our laborer is upon an equality with the + poorest paid labor of this world. And allow me to tell you that for an + empty stomach, "Hurrah for Hancock!" is a poor consolation. I do not think + much of a Government where the people do not have enough to eat. I am a + materialist to that extent; I want something to eat. I have been in + countries where the laboring man had meat once a year; sometimes twice—Christmas + and Easter. And I have seen women carrying upon their heads a burden that + no man in this audience could carry, and at the same time knitting busily + with both hands, and those women lived without meat; and when I thought of + the American laborer, I said to myself, "After all, my country is the best + in the world." And when I came back to the sea and saw the old flag + flying, it seemed to me as though the air from pure joy had burst into + blossom. + </p> + <p> + Labor has more to eat and more to wear in the United States than in any + other land of this earth. I want America to produce everything that + Americans need. I want it so that if the whole world should declare war + against us, if we were surrounded by walls of cannon and bayonets and + swords, we could supply all our material wants in and of ourselves. I want + to live to see the American woman dressed in American silk; the American + man in everything, from hat to boots, produced in America by the cunning + hand of American toil. I want to see the workingman have a good house, + painted white, grass in the front yard, carpets on the floor, pictures on + the wall. I want to see him a man, feeling that he is a king by the divine + right of living in the Republic. And every man here is just a little bit a + king, you know. Every man here is a part of the sovereign power. Every man + wears a little of purple; every man has a little of crown and a little of + sceptre; and every man that will sell his vote for money or be ruled by + prejudice is unfit to be an American citizen. + </p> + <p> + I believe in American labor, and I will tell you why. The other day a man + told me that we had produced in the United States of America one million + tons of steel rails. How much are they worth? Sixty dollars a ton. In + other words, the million tons are worth sixty million dollars. How much is + a ton of iron worth in the ground? Twenty-five cents. American labor takes + twenty-five cents worth of iron in the ground and adds to it fifty-nine + dollars and seventy-five cents. One million tons of rails, and the raw + material not worth twenty-four thousand dollars! We build a ship in the + United States worth five hundred thousand dollars, and the value of the + ore in the earth, of the trees in the great forest, of all that enters + into the composition of that ship bringing five hundred thousand dollars + in gold is only twenty thousand dollars; four hundred and eighty thousand + dollars by American labor, American muscle, coined into gold; American + brains made a legal tender the world round. + </p> + <p> + I propose to stand by the Nation. I want the furnaces kept hot. I want the + sky to be filled with the smoke of American industry, and upon that cloud + of smoke will rest forever the bow of perpetual promise. That is what I am + for. Where did this doctrine of a tariff for revenue only come from? From + the South. The South would like to stab the prosperity of the North. They + would rather trade with Old England than with New England. They would + rather trade with the people who were willing to help them in war than + with those who conquered the Rebellion. They knew what gave us our + strength in war. They knew that all the brooks and creeks and rivers of + New England were putting down the Rebellion. They knew that every wheel + that turned, every spindle that revolved, was a soldier in the army of + human progress. It won't do! They were so lured by the greed of office + that they were willing to trade upon the misfortunes of a Nation. It won't + do! I do not wish to belong to a party that succeeds only when my country + fails. I do not wish to belong to a party whose banner went up with the + banner of rebellion. I do not wish to belong to a party that was in + partnership with defeat and disaster. I do not. And there is not a + Democrat here who does not know that a failure of the crops this year + would have helped his party. You know that an early frost would have been + a godsend to them. You know that the potato-bug could have done them more + good than all their speakers. + </p> + <p> + I wish to belong to that party which is prosperous when the country is + prosperous. I belong to that party which is not poor when the golden + billows are running over the seas of wheat. I belong to that party which + is prosperous when there are oceans of corn, and when the cattle are upon + the thousand hills. I belong to that party which is prosperous when the + furnaces are aflame, and when you dig coal and iron and silver; when + everybody has enough to eat; when everybody is happy; when the children + are all going to school, and when joy covers my Nation as with a garment. + That party which is prosperous then, is my party. + </p> + <p> + Now, then, I have been telling you what I am for. I am for free speech, + and so ought you to be. I am for an honest ballot, and if you are not you + ought to be. I am for the collection of the revenue. I am for honest + money. I am for the idea that this is a Nation forever. I believe in + protecting American labor. I want the shield of my country above every + anvil, above every furnace, above every cunning head and above every deft + hand of American labor. + </p> + <p> + Now, then, which section of this country will be the more apt to carry + these ideas into execution? Which party will be the more apt to achieve + these grand and splendid things? Honor bright? Now we have not only to + choose between sections of the country; we have to choose between parties. + Here is the Democratic party, and I admit there are thousands of good + Democrats who went to the war, and some of those that stayed at home were + good men; and I want to ask you, and I want you to tell me in reply what + that party did during the war when the War Democrats were away from home. + What did they do? That is the question. I say to you, that every man who + tried to tear our flag out of heaven was a Democrat. The men who wrote the + ordinances of secession, who fired upon Fort Sumter; the men who starved + our soldiers, who fed them with the crumbs that the worms had devoured + before, they were Democrats. The keepers of Libby, the keepers of + Andersonville, were Democrats—Libby and Andersonville, the two + mighty wings that will bear the memory of the Confederacy to eternal + infamy! The men who wished to scatter yellow fever in the North and who + tried to fire the great cities of the North—they were all Democrats. + He who said that the greenback would never be paid and he who slandered + sixty cents out of every dollar of the Nation's promises were Democrats. + Who were joyful when your brothers and your sons and your fathers lay dead + on a field of battle that the country had lost? They were Democrats. The + men who wept when the old banner floated in triumph above the ramparts of + rebellion—they were Democrats. You know it. The men who wept when + slavery was destroyed, who believed slavery to be a divine institution, + who regarded bloodhounds as apostles and missionaries, and who wept at the + funeral of that infernal institution—they were Democrats. Bad + company—bad company! + </p> + <p> + And let me implore all the young men here not to join that party. Do not + give new blood to that institution. The Democratic party has a yellow + passport. On one side it says "dangerous." They imagine they have not + changed, and that is because they have not intellectual growth. That party + was once the enemy of my country, was once the enemy of our flag, and more + than that, it was once the enemy of human liberty, and that party to-night + is not willing that the citizens of the Republic should exercise all their + rights irrespective of their color. And allow me to say right here that I + am opposed to that party. + </p> + <p> + We have not only to choose between parties, but to choose between + candidates. The Democracy have put forward as the bearers of their + standard General Hancock and William H. English. The Democrats have at + last nominated a Union soldier. They nominated George B. McClellan once, + because he failed to whip the South; they nominated Mr. Greeley, when they + despised him, and now they have nominated General Hancock. Do they think + the South loves him? At Gettysburg they say he fought against them, and + that is one great reason why he should be President—that he shot + rebels. Do the men that fought at Gettysburg still believe in State + Sovereignty? Wade Hampton says, "We must vote as Lee and Jackson fought." + They fought for State Sovereignty. Has the South changed? Hancock went to + kill them then; they want to vote for him now. Who has changed? [A voice: + "Hancock."] I think so. They are using him as a figure-head. They have + dressed him in the noble blue, with the patriotic coat and Union buttons, + and they do not like him any better than they did at Gettysburg. It would + be just as consistent for the Republicans to have nominated Wade Hampton. + Did General Hancock believe in State Sovereignty when he was at + Gettysburg? If he did, he was a murderer, and not a Union soldier—he + was killing men he believed to be in the right, and a man cannot fight + unless his conscience approves of what his sword does, and if he was + honest at that time, he did not believe in State Sovereignty, and it seems + to me he would hate to have the men who tried to destroy this Government + cheering him. All the glory he ever got was in the service of the + Republican party, and if he does not look out he will lose it all in the + service of the Democratic party. He had a conversation with General Grant. + It was a time when he had been appointed at the head of the Department of + the Gulf. In that conversation he stated to General Grant that he was + opposed to "nigger domination." Grant said to him, "We must obey the laws + of Congress. We are soldiers." And that meant, the military is not above + the civil authority. And I tell you to-night, that the army and the navy + are the right and left hands of the civil power. Grant said to him: "Three + or four million ex-slaves, without property and without education, cannot + dominate over thirty or forty millions of white people, with education and + property." General Hancock replied to that: "I am opposed to 'nigger + domination.'" Allow me to say that I do not believe any man fit for the + presidency of the great Republic, who is capable of insulting a + down-trodden race. I never meet a negro that I do not feel like asking his + forgiveness for the wrongs that my race has inflicted on his. I remember + that from the white man he received for two hundred years agony and tears; + I remember that my race sold a child from the agonized breast of a mother; + I remember that my race trampled with the feet of greed upon all the holy + relations of life; and I do not feel like insulting the colored man; I + feel rather like asking the forgiveness of his race for the crimes that my + race have put upon him. "Nigger domination!" What a fine scabbard that + makes for the sword of Gettysburg! It won't do! + </p> + <p> + What is General Hancock for, besides the presidency? How does he stand + upon the great questions affecting American prosperity? He told us the + other day that the tariff is a local question. The tariff affects every + man and woman, live they in hut, hovel or palace; it affects every man + that has a back to be covered or a stomach to be filled, and yet he says + it is a local question. So is death. He also told us that he heard that + question discussed once, in Pennsylvania. He must have been eavesdropping. + And he tells us that his doctrine of the tariff will continue as long as + Nature lasts. Then Senator Randolph wrote him a letter. I do not know + whether Senator Randolph answered it or not; but that answer was worse + than the first interview; and I understand now that another letter is + going through a period of incubation at Governor's Island, upon the great + subject of the tariff. It won't do! + </p> + <p> + They say one thing they are sure of, he is opposed to paying Southern + pensions and Southern claims. He says that a man that fought against this + Government has no right to a pension. Good! I say a man that fought + against this Government has no right to office. If a man cannot earn a + pension by tearing our flag out of the sky, he cannot earn power. [A Voice—"How + about Longstreet?"] Longstreet has repented of what he did. Longstreet + admits that he was wrong. And there was no braver officer in the Southern + Confederacy. Every man of the South who will say, "I made a mistake"—I + do not want him to say that he knew he was wrong—all I ask him to + say is that he now thinks he was wrong; and every man of the South to-day + who says he was wrong, and who says from this day forward, henceforth and + forever, he is for this being a Nation. + </p> + <p> + I will take him by the hand. But while he is attempting to do at the + ballot-box what he failed to accomplish upon the field of battle, I am + against him; while he uses a Northern general to bait a Southern trap, I + won't bite. I will forgive men when they deserve to be forgiven; but while + they insist that they were right, while they insist that State Sovereignty + is the proper doctrine, I am opposed to their climbing into power. + </p> + <p> + Hancock says that he will not pay these claims; he agrees to veto a bill + that his party may pass; he agrees in advance that he will defeat a party + that he expects will elect him; he, in effect, says to the people, "You + can not trust that party, but you can trust me." He says, "Look at them; I + admit they are a hungry lot; I admit that they haven't had a bite in + twenty years; I admit that an ordinary famine is satiety compared to the + hunger they feel. But between that vast appetite known as the Democratic + party, and the public treasury, I will throw the shield of my veto." No + man has a right to say in advance what he will veto, any more than a judge + has a right to say in advance how he will decide a case. The veto power is + a distinction with which the Constitution has clothed the Executive, and + no President has a right to say that he will veto until he has heard both + sides of the question. But he agrees in advance. + </p> + <p> + I would rather trust a party than a man. Death may veto Hancock, and Death + has not been a successful politician in the United States. Tyler, + Fillmore, Andy Johnson—I do not wish Death to elect any more + Presidents; and if he does, and if Hancock is elected, William H. English + becomes President of the United States. No, no, no! All I need to say + about him is simply to pronounce his name; that is all. You do not want + him. Whether the many stories that have been told about him are true or + not I do not know, and I will not give currency to a solitary word against + the reputation of an American citizen unless I know it to be true. What I + have against him is what he has done in public life. When Charles Sumner, + that great and splendid publicist—Charles Sumner, the + philanthropist, one who spoke to the conscience of his time and to the + history of the future—when he stood up in the United States Senate + and made a great and glorious plea for human liberty, there crept into the + Senate a villain and struck him down as though he had been a wild beast. + That man was a member of Congress, and when a resolution was introduced in + the House, to expel that man, William H. English voted "No." All the + stories in the world could not add to the infamy of that public act. That + is enough for me, and whatever his private life may be, let it be that of + an angel, never, never, never would I vote for a man that would defend the + assassin of free speech. General Hancock, they tell me, is a statesman; + that what little time he has had to spare from war he has given to the + tariff, and what little time he could spare from the tariff he has given + to the Constitution of his country; showing under what circumstances a + Major-General can put at defiance the Congress of the United States. It + won't do! + </p> + <p> + But while I am upon that subject it may be well for me to state that he + never will be President of the United States. Now, I say that a man who in + time of peace prefers peace, and prefers the avocations of peace; a man + who in the time of peace would rather look at the corn in the air of June, + rather listen to the hum of bees, rather sit by his door with his wife and + children; the man who in time of peace loves peace, and yet when the blast + of war blows in his ears, shoulders a musket and goes to the field of war + to defend his country, and when the war is over goes home and again + pursues the avocations of peace—that man is just as good, to say the + least of it, as a man who in a time of profound peace makes up his mind + that he would like to make his living killing other folks. To say the + least of it, he is as good. + </p> + <p> + The Republicans have named as their standard bearers James A. Garfield and + Chester A. Arthur. James A. Garfield was a volunteer soldier, and he took + away from the field of Chickamauga as much glory as any one man could + carry. He is not only a soldier—7-he is a statesman. He has studied + and discussed all the great questions that affect the prosperity and + well-being of the American people. His opinions are well known, and I say + to you tonight that there is not in this Nation, there is not in this + Republic a man with greater brain and greater heart than James A. + Garfield. I know him and I like him. I know him as well as any other + public man, and I like him. The Democratic party say that he is not + honest. I have been reading some Democratic papers to-day, and you would + say that every one of their editors had a private sewer of his own into + which has been emptied for a hundred years the slops of hell. They tell me + that James A. Garfield is not honest. Are you a Democrat? Your party tried + to steal nearly half of this country. Your party stole the armament of a + nation. Your party was willing to live upon the unpaid labor of four + millions of people. You have no right to the floor for the purpose of + making a motion of honesty. James A. Garfield has been at the head of the + most important committees of Congress; he is a member of the most + important one of the whole House. He has no peer in the Congress of the + United States. And you know it. He is the leader of the House. With one + wave of his hand he can take millions from the pocket of one industry and + put it into the pocket of another; with a motion of his hand he could have + made himself a man of wealth, but he is to-night a poor man. I know him + and I like him. He is as genial as May and he is as generous as Autumn. + And the men for whom he has done unnumbered favors, the men whom he had + pity enough not to destroy with an argument, the men who, with his great + generosity, he has allowed, intellectually, to live, are now throwing + filth at the reputation of that great and splendid man. + </p> + <p> + Several ladies and gentlemen were passing a muddy place around which were + gathered ragged and wretched urchins. And these little wretches began to + throw mud at them; and one gentleman said, "If you don't stop I will throw + it back at you." And a little fellow said, "You can't do it without + dirtying your hands, and it doesn't hurt us anyway." + </p> + <p> + I never was more profoundly happy than on the night of that 12th day of + October when I found that between an honest and a kingly man and his + maligners, two great States had thrown their shining shields. When Ohio + said, "Garfield is my greatest son, and there never has been raised in the + cabins of Ohio a grander man"—and when Indiana held up her hands and + said, "Allow me to indorse that verdict," I was profoundly happy, because + that said to me, "Garfield will carry every Northern State;" that said to + me, "The Solid South will be confronted by a great and splendid North." + </p> + <p> + I know Garfield—I like him. Some people have said, "How is it that + you support Garfield, when he was a minister?" "How is it that you support + Garfield when he is a Christian?" I will tell you. There are two reasons. + The first is I am not a bigot; and secondly, James A. Garfield is not a + bigot. He believes in giving to every other human being every right he + claims for himself. He believes in freedom of speech and freedom of + thought; untrammeled conscience and upright manhood. He believes in an + absolute divorce between church and state. He believes that every religion + should rest upon its morality, upon its reason, upon its persuasion, upon + its goodness, upon its charity, and that love should never appeal to the + sword of civil power. He disagrees with me in many things; but in the one + thing, that the air is free for all, we do agree. I want to do equal and + exact justice everywhere. + </p> + <p> + I want the world of thought to be without a chain, without a wall, and I + wish to say to you, [turning toward Mr. Beecher and directly addressing + him] that I thank you for what you have said to-night, and to congratulate + the people of this city and country that you have intellectual horizon + enough, intellectual sky enough to take the hand of a man, howsoever much + he may disagree in some things with you, on the grand platform and broad + principle of citizenship. James A. Garfield, believing with me as he does, + disagreeing with me as he does, is perfectly satisfactory to me. I know + him, and I like him. + </p> + <p> + Men are to-day blackening his reputation, who are not fit to blacken his + shoes. He is a man of brain. Since his nomination he must have made forty + or fifty speeches, and every one has been full of manhood and genius. He + has not said a word that has not strengthened him with the American + people. He is the first candidate who has been free to express himself and + who has never made a mistake. I will tell you why he does not make a + mistake; because he spoke from the inside out. Because he was guided by + the glittering Northern Star of principle. Lie after lie has been told + about him. Slander after slander has been hatched and put in the air, with + its little short wings, to fly its day, and the last lie is a forgery. + </p> + <p> + I saw to-day the fac-simile of a letter that they pretend he wrote upon + the Chinese question. I know his writing; I know his signature; I am well + acquainted with his writing. I know handwriting, and I tell you to-night, + that letter and that signature are forgeries. A forgery for the benefit of + the Pacific States; a forgery for the purpose of convincing the American + workingman that Garfield is without heart. I tell you, my fellow-citizens, + that cannot take from him a vote. But Ohio pierced their centre and + Indiana rolled up both flanks and the rebel line cannot re-form with a + forgery for a standard. They are gone! + </p> + <p> + Now, some people say to me, "How long are you going to preach the doctrine + of hate?" I never did preach it. In many States of this Union it is a + crime to be a Republican. I am going to preach my doctrine until every + American citizen is permitted to express his opinion and vote as he may + desire in every State of this Union. I am going to preach my doctrine + until this is a civilized country. That is all. + </p> + <p> + I will treat the gentlemen of the South precisely as we do the gentlemen + of the North. I want to treat every section of the country precisely as we + do ours-. I want to improve their rivers and their harbors; I want to fill + their land with commerce; I want them to prosper; I want them to build + schoolhouses; I want them to open the lands to immigration to all people + who desire to settle upon their soil. I want to be friends with them; I + want to let the past be buried forever; I want to let bygones be bygones, + but only upon the basis that we are now in favor of absolute liberty and + eternal justice. I am not willing to bury nationality or free speech in + the grave for the purpose of being friends. Let us stand by our colors; + let the old Republican party that has made this a Nation—the old + Republican party that has saved the financial honor of this country—let + that party stand by its colors. + </p> + <p> + Let that party say, "Free speech forever!" Let that party say, "An honest + ballot forever!" Let that party say, "Honest money forever! the Nation and + the flag forever!" And let that party stand by the great men carrying her + banner, James A. Garfield and Chester A. Arthur. I would rather trust a + party than a man. If General Garfield dies, the Republican party lives; if + General Garfield dies, General Arthur will take his place—a brave, + honest, and intelligent gentleman, upon whom every Republican can rely. + And if he dies, the Republican party lives, and as long as the Republican + party does not die, the great Republic will live. As long as the + Republican party lives, this will be the asylum of the world. Let me tell + you, Mr. Irishman, this is the only country on the earth where Irishmen + have had enough to eat. Let me tell you, Mr. German, that you have more + liberty here than you had in the Fatherland. Let me tell you, all men, + that this is the land of humanity. + </p> + <p> + Oh! I love the old Republic, bounded by the seas, walled by the wide air, + domed by heaven's blue, and lit with the eternal stars. I love the + Republic; I love it because I love liberty. Liberty is my religion, and at + its altar I worship, and will worship. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link0013" id="link0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + ADDRESS TO THE 86TH ILLINOIS REGIMENT. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * This is only a fragment of a speech made by Col. Ingersoll + at Peoria, 111., in 1866, to the 86th Illinois Regiment, at + their anniversary meeting. +</pre> + <p> + PEORIA, ILLS. 1865. + </p> + <p> + THE history of the past four years seems to me like a terrible dream. It + seems almost impossible that the events that have now passed into history + ever happened. That hundreds of thousands of men, born and reared under + one flag, with the same history, the same future, and, in truth, the same + interests, should have met upon the terrible field of death, and for four + long years should have fought with a bitterness and determination never + excelled; that they should have filled our land with orphans and widows, + and made our country hollow with graves, is indeed wonderful; but that the + people of the South should have thus fought—thus attempted to + destroy and overthrow the Government founded by the heroes of the + Revolution—merely for the sake of perpetuating the infamous + institution of slavery, is wonderful almost beyond belief. + </p> + <p> + Strange that people should be found in this, the nineteenth century, to + fight against freedom and to die for slavery! It is most wonderful that + the terrible war ceased as suddenly as it did, and that the soldiers of + the Republic, the moment that the angel of peace spread her white wings + over our country, dropped from their hands the instruments of war and + eagerly went back to the plough, the shop and the office, and are to-day, + with the same determination that characterized them in battle, engaged in + effacing every vestige of the desolation and destruction of war. But the + progress we have made as a people is if possible still more astonishing. + We pretended to be the lovers of freedom, yet we defended slavery. We + quoted the Declaration of Independence and voted for the compromise of + 1850. + </p> + <p> + From servility and slavishness we have marched to heroism. We were + tyrants. We are liberators. We were slave-catchers. We are now the + chivalrous breakers of chains. + </p> + <p> + From slavery, over a bloody and terrible path, we have marched to freedom. + Hirelings of oppression, we have become the champions of justice—the + defenders of the right—the pillar upon which rests the hope of the + world. To whom are we indebted for this wonderful change? Most of all to + you, the soldiers of the great Republic. We thank you that the hands of + time were not turned back a thousand years—that the Dark Ages did + not again come upon the world—that Prometheus was not again chained—that + the river of progress was not stopped or stayed—that the dear blood + shed during all the past was not rendered vain—that the sublime + faith of all the grand and good did not become a bitter dream, but a + reality more glorious than ever entered into the imagination of the rapt + heroes of the past. Soldiers of the Eighty-sixth Illinois, we thank you, + and through you all the defenders of the Republic, living and dead. We + thank you that the deluge of blood has subsided, that the ark of our + national safety is at rest, that the dove has returned with the olive + branch of peace, and that the dark clouds of war are in the far distance, + covered with the beautiful bow. + </p> + <p> + In the name of humanity, in the name of progress, in the name of freedom, + in the name of America, in the name of the oppressed of the whole world, + we thank you again and again. We thank you, that in the darkest hour you + never despaired of the Republic, that you were not dismayed, that through + disaster and defeat, through cruelty and famine, through the serried ranks + of the enemy, in spite of false friends, you marched resolutely, + unflinchingly and bravely forward. Forward through shot and shell! Forward + through fire and sword! Forward past the corpses of your brave comrades, + buried in shallow graves by the hurried hands of heroes! Forward past the + scattered bones of starved captives! Forward through the glittering + bayonet lines, and past the brazen throats of the guns! Forward through + the din and roar and smoke and hell of war! Onward through blood and fire + to the shining, glittering mount of perfect and complete victory, and from + the top your august hands unfurled to the winds the old banner of the + stars, and it waves in triumph now, and shall forever, from the St. + Lawrence to the Rio Grande, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific! + </p> + <p> + We thank you that our waving fields of golden wheat and rustling corn are + not trodden down beneath the bloody feet of invasion—that our homes + are not ashes—that our hearthstones are not desolate—that our + towns and cities still stand, that our temples and institutions of + learning are secure, that prosperity covers us as with a mantle, and, more + than all, we thank you that the Republic still lives; that law and order + reign supreme; that the Constitution is still sacred; that a republican + government has ceased to be only an experiment, and has become a certainty + for all time; that we have by your heroism established the sublime and + shining truth that a government by the people, for the people, can and + will stand until governments cease among men; that you have given the lie + to the impudent and infamous prophecy of tyranny, and that you have firmly + established the Republic upon the great ideas of National Unity and Human + Liberty. + </p> + <p> + We thank you for our commerce on the high seas, upon our lakes and + beautiful rivers, for the credit of our nation, for the value of our + money, and for the grand position that we now occupy among the nations of + the earth. We thank you for every State redeemed, for every star brought + back to glitter again upon the old flag, and we thank you for the grand + future that you have opened for us and for our children through all the + ages yet to come; and, not only for us and our children, but for mankind. + </p> + <p> + Thanks to your efforts our country is still an asylum for the oppressed of + the Old World; the arms of our charity are still open, we still beckon + them across the sea, and they come in multitudes,'leaving home, the graves + of their sires, and the dear memories of the heart, and with their wives + and little ones come to this, the only free land upon which the sun shines—and + with their countless hands of labor add to the wealth, the permanence and + the glory of our country. And let them come from the land of Luther, of + Hampden and Emmett. Whoever is for freedom and the sacred rights of man is + a true American, and as such, we welcome them all. We thank you to-day in + the name of four millions of people, whose shackles you have so nobly and + generously broken, and who, from the condition of beasts of burden, have + by your efforts become men. We thank you in the name of this poor and + hitherto despised and insulted race, and say that their emancipation was, + and is, the crowning glory of this most terrible war. Peace without + liberty could have been only a bloody delusion and a snare. Freedom is + peace; Slavery is war. + </p> + <p> + We must act justly and honorably with these emancipated men, knowing that + the eyes of the civilized world are upon us. We must do what is best for + both races. We must not be controlled merely by party. + </p> + <p> + If the Government is founded upon principle, it will stand against the + shock of revolution and foreign war as long as liberty is sacred, the + rights of man respected, and honor dwells in the hearts of men. + </p> + <p> + We thank you for the lesson that has been taught the Old World by your + patriotism and valor; believing that when the people shall have learned + that sublime and divine lesson, thrones will become kingless, kings + crownless, royalty an epitaph, the purple of power the shroud of death, + the chains of tyranny will fall from the bodies of men, the shackles of + superstition from the souls of the people, the spirit of persecution will + fly from the earth, and the banner of Universal Freedom, with the words + "Civil and Religious Liberty for the World" written upon every fold, + blazing from every star, will float over every land and sea under the + whole heavens. + </p> + <p> + We thank you for the glorious past, for the still more glorious future, + and will continue to thank you while our hearts are warm with life. We + will gather around you in the hour of your death and soothe your last + moments with our gratitude. We will follow you tearfully to the narrow + house of the dead, and over your sacred remains erect the whitest and + purest marble. The hands of love will adorn your last abode, and the + chisel will record that beneath rests the sacred dust of the Heroic + Saviors of the Great Republic. Such ground will be holy, and future + generations will draw inspiration from your tombs, courage from your + heroic examples, patience and fortitude from your sufferings, and strength + eternal from your success. + </p> + <p> + I cannot stop without speaking of the heroic dead. It seems to me as + though their spirits ought to hover over you to-day—that they might + join with us in giving thanks for the great victory,—that their + faces might grow radiant to think that their blood was not shed in vain,—that + the living are worthy to reap the benefits of their sacrifices, their + sufferings and death, and it almost seems as if their sightless eyes are + suffused with tears. Then we think of the dear mothers waiting for their + sons, of the devoted wives waiting for their husbands, of the orphans + asking for fathers whose returning footsteps they can never hear; that + while they can say "my country," they cannot say "my son," "my husband," + or "my father." + </p> + <p> + My heart goes out to all the slain, to those heroic corpses sleeping far + away from home and kindred in unknown and lonely graves, to those poor + pieces of dear, bleeding earth that won for me the blessings I enjoy + to-day. + </p> + <p> + Shall I recount their sufferings? They were starved day by day with a + systematic and calculating cruelty never equaled by the most savage + tribes. They were confined in dens as though they had been beasts, and + then they slowly faded and wasted from life. Some were released from their + sufferings by blessed insanity, until their parched and fevered lips, + their hollow and glittering eyes, were forever closed by the angel of + death. And thus they died, with the voices of loved ones in their ears; + the faces of the dear absent hovering over them; around them their dying + comrades, and the fiendish slaves of slavery. + </p> + <p> + And what shall I say more of the regiment before me? It is enough that you + were a part of the great army that accomplished so much for America and + mankind. + </p> + <p> + It is but just, however, to say that you were at the bloody field of + Perryville, that you stood with Thomas at Chickamauga and kept at bay the + rebel host, that you marched to the relief of Knoxville through bitter + cold, hunger and privations, and had the honor of relieving that heroic + garrison. + </p> + <p> + It is but just to say that you were with Sherman in his wonderful march + through the heart of the Confederacy; that you were in the terrible charge + at Kenesaw Mountain, and held your ground for days within a few steps of + the rebel fortifications; that you were at Atlanta and took part in the + terrible conflict before that city and marched victoriously through her + streets; that you were at Savannah; that you had the honor of being + present when Johnson surrendered, and his ragged rebel horde laid down + their arms; that from there you marched to Washington and beneath the + shadow of the glorious dome of our Capitol, that lifts from the earth as + though jealous of the stars, received the grandest national ovation + recorded in the annals of the world. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link0014" id="link0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + DECORATION DAY ORATION. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * At the Memorial Celebration of the Grand Army of the + Republic last evening the Academy of Music was filled to + overflowing, within a few minutes after the opening of the + doors. + + Gen. Hancock was the first arrival of importance. The + Governor's Island band accepted this as a signal for the + overture. The Academy was tastefully decorated. The three + balconies were covered, the first with blue cloth, the + second with white and national bunting, studded with the + insignia of the original thirteen States, and the family + circle with red. Over the centre of the stage the national + flag and device hung suspended, and was held In its place by + flying streamers extending to the boxes. The latter were + draped with flags, relieved by antique armor and weapons— + shields, casques and battle axes and crossed swords and + pikes. + + At 8.05 the curtain slowly rose, and discovered to the view + of the audience, a second audience reaching back to the + farthest depths of the scenes. These were the fortunate + holders of stage tickets, and comprised a great number of + distinguished men. + + Among them were noticed Gen. Horace Porter, Gen. Lloyd + Aspinwall, Gen. Daniel Butterfield, Gen. D. D. Wylie, Gen. + Charles Roome, Gen. W. Palmer, Gen. John Cochrane, Gen. H. + G. Tremaine, the Hon. Edward Pierrepont, Dep't. Commander + James M. Fraser, the Hon. Carl Schurz, August Belmont, Henry + Clews, Dr. Lewis A. Sayre, Charles Scribner, Jesse Seligman, + William Dowa, Henry Bergh and George William Curtis. Gen. + Bamum came upon the stage followed by President Arthur, + Gen's. Grant and Hancock, Secretaries Folger and Brewster, + ex-Senator Roscoe Conkling, Mayor Grace and the Rev. J. P. + Newman. Gen. Hancock's brilliant uniform made him a very + conspicuous figure, and he served as a foil to the plain + evening dress of Gen. Grant, who was separated from him by + the portly form of the President. + + Gen. James McQuade, the President of the day, rose and + uncovering a flag which draped a sort of patriotic altar in + front of him, announced that It was the genuine flag upon + which was written the famous order, "If any man pull down + the American flag, shoot him on the spot.' * This was the + signal for round after round of applause, while Gen. McQuade + waved this precious relic of the past. The time had now come + for the introduction of the orator of the evening, Col. + Robert G. Ingersoll. Col. Ingersoll stepped across the stage + to the reading desk, and was received with an ovation of + cheering and waving of handkerchiefs. + + After the enthusiasm had somewhat abated, a gentleman in one + of the boxes shouted: "Three-cheers for Ingersoll." + These were given with a will, the excitement quieted down + and the orator spoke as follows '.—The New York Times. May + 31st, 1883. +</pre> + <p> + New York City. + </p> + <p> + 1882. + </p> + <p> + THIS day is sacred to our heroes dead. Upon their tombs we have lovingly + laid the wealth of Spring. + </p> + <p> + This is a day for memory and tears. A mighty Nation bends above its + honored graves, and pays to noble dust the tribute of its love. + </p> + <p> + Gratitude is the fairest flower that sheds its perfume in the heart. + </p> + <p> + To-day we tell the history of our country's life—recount the lofty + deeds of vanished years—the toil and suffering, the defeats and + victories of heroic men,—of men who made our Nation great and free. + </p> + <p> + We see the first ships whose prows were gilded by the western sun. We feel + the thrill of discovery when the New World was found. We see the + oppressed, the serf, the peasant and the slave, men whose flesh had known + the chill of chains—the adventurous, the proud, the brave, sailing + an unknown sea, seeking homes in unknown lands. We see the settlements, + the little clearings, the blockhouse and the fort, the rude and lonely + huts. Brave men, true women, builders of homes, fellers of forests, + founders of States. + </p> + <p> + Separated from the Old World,—away from the heartless distinctions + of caste,—away from sceptres and titles and crowns, they governed + themselves. They defended their homes; they earned their bread. Each + citizen had a voice, and the little villages became republics. Slowly the + savage was driven back. The days and nights were filled with fear, and the + slow years with massacre and war, and cabins' earthen floors were wet with + blood of mothers and their babes. + </p> + <p> + But the savages of the New World were kinder than the kings and nobles of + the Old; and so the human tide kept coming, and the places of the dead + were filled. Amid common dangers and common hopes, the prejudiced and + feuds of Europe faded slowly from their hearts. From every land, of every + speech, driven by want and lured by hope, exiles and emigrants sought the + mysterious Continent of the West. + </p> + <p> + Year after year the colonists fought and toiled and suffered and + increased. They began to talk about liberty—to reason of the rights + of man. They * t asked no help from distant kings, and they began to doubt + the use of paying tribute to the useless. They lost respect for dukes and + lords, and held in high esteem all honest men. There was the dawn of a new + day. They began to dream of independence. They found that they could make + and execute the laws. They had tried the experiment of self-government. + They had succeeded. The Old World wished to dominate the New. In the care + and keeping of the colonists was the destiny of this Continent—of + half the world. + </p> + <p> + On this day the story of the great struggle between colonists and kings + should be told. We should tell our children of the contest—first for + justice, then for freedom. We should tell them the history of the + Declaration of Independence—the chart and compass of all human + rights:—All men are equal, and have the right to life, to liberty + and joy. + </p> + <p> + This Declaration uncrowned kings, and wrested from the hands of titled + tyranny the sceptre of usurped and arbitrary power. It superseded royal + grants, and repealed the cruel statutes of a thousand years. It gave the + peasant a career; it knighted all the sons of toil; it opened all the + paths to fame, and put the star of hope above the cradle of the poor man's + babe. + </p> + <p> + England was then the mightiest of nations—mistress of every sea—and + yet our fathers, poor and few, defied her power. + </p> + <p> + To-day we remember the defeats, the victories, the disasters, the weary + marches, the poverty, the hunger, the sufferings, the agonies, and above + all, the glories of the Revolution. We remember all—from Lexington + to Valley Forge, and from that midnight of despair to Yorktown's cloudless + day. We remember the soldiers and thinkers—the heroes of the sword + and pen. They had the brain and heart, the wisdom and courage to utter and + defend these words: "Governments derive their just powers from the consent + of the governed." In defence of this sublime and self-evident truth the + war was waged and won. + </p> + <p> + To-day we remember all the heroes, all the generous and chivalric men who + came from other lands to make ours free. Of the many thousands who shared + the gloom and glory of the seven sacred years, not one remains. The last + has mingled with the earth, and nearly all are sleeping now in unmarked + graves, and some beneath the leaning, crumbling stones from which their + names have been effaced by Time's irreverent and relentless hands. But the + Nation they founded remains. The United States are still free and + independent. The "government derives its just power from the consent of + the governed," and fifty millions of free people remember with gratitude + the heroes of the Revolution. + </p> + <p> + Let us be truthful; let us be kind. When peace came, when the independence + of a new Nation was acknowledged, the great truth for which our fathers + fought was half denied, and the Constitution was inconsistent with the + Declaration. The war was waged for liberty, and yet the victors forged new + fetters for their fellow-men. The chains our fathers broke were put by + them upon the limbs of others. "Freedom for All" was the cloud by day and + the pillar of fire by night, through seven years of want and war. In peace + the cloud was forgotten and the pillar blazed unseen. + </p> + <p> + Let us be truthful; all our fathers were not true to themselves. In war + they had been generous, noble and self-sacrificing; with peace came + selfishness and greed. They were not great enough to appreciate the + grandeur of the principles for which they fought. They ceased to regard + the great truths as having universal application. "Liberty for All" + included only themselves. They qualified the Declaration. They + interpolated the word "white." They obliterated the word "All." + </p> + <p> + Let us be kind. We will remember the age in which they lived. We will + compare them with the citizens of other nations. They made merchandise of + men. They legalized a crime. They sowed the seeds of war. But they founded + this Nation. + </p> + <p> + Let us gratefully remember. + </p> + <p> + Let us gratefully forget. + </p> + <p> + To-day we remember the heroes of the second war with England, in which our + fathers fought for the freedom of the seas—for the rights of the + American sailor. We remember with pride the splendid victories of Erie and + Champlain and the wondrous achievements upon the sea—achievements + that covered our navy with a glory that neither the victories nor defeats + of the future can dim. We remember the heroic services and sufferings of + those who fought the merciless savage of the frontier. We see the midnight + massacre, and hear the war-cries of the allies of England. We see the + flames climb around the happy homes, and in the charred and blackened + ruins the mutilated bodies of wives and children. Peace came at last, + crowned with the victory of New Orleans—a victory that "did redeem + all sorrows" and all defeats. + </p> + <p> + The Revolution gave our fathers a free land—the War of 1812 a free + sea. + </p> + <p> + To-day we remember the gallant men who bore our flag in triumph from the + Rio Grande to the heights of Chapultepec. + </p> + <p> + Leaving out of question the justice of our cause—the necessity for + war—we are yet compelled to applaud the marvelous courage of our + troops. A handful of men, brave, impetuous, determined, irresistible, + conquered a nation. Our history has no record of more daring deeds. + </p> + <p> + Again peace came, and the Nation hoped and thought that strife was at an + end. We had grown too powerful to be attacked. Our resources were + boundless, and the future seemed secure. The hardy pioneers moved to the + great West. Beneath their ringing strokes the forests disappeared, and on + the prairies waved the billowed seas of wheat and corn. The great plains + were crossed, the mountains were conquered, and the foot of victorious + adventure pressed the shore of the Pacific. In the great North all the + streams went singing to the sea, turning wheels and spindles, and casting + shuttles back and forth. Inventions were springing like magic from a + thousand brains. From Labor's holy altars rose and leaped the smoke and + flame, and from the countless forges ran the chant of rhythmic stroke. + </p> + <p> + But in the South, the negro toiled unpaid, and mothers wept while babes + were sold, and at the auction-block husbands and wives speechlessly looked + the last good-bye. Fugitives, lighted by the Northern Star, sought liberty + on English soil, and were, by Northern men, thrust back to whip and chain. + The great statesmen, the successful politicians, announced that law had + compromised with crime, that justice had been bribed, and that time had + barred appeal. A race was left without a right, without a hope. The future + had no dawn, no star—nothing but ignorance and fear, nothing but + work and want. This, was the conclusion of the statesmen, the philosophy + of the politicians—of constitutional expounders:—this was + decided by courts and ratified by the Nation. + </p> + <p> + We had been successful in three wars. We had wrested thirteen colonies + from Great Britain. We had conquered our place upon the high seas. We had + added more than two millions of square miles to the national domain. We + had increased in population from three to thirty-one millions. We were in + the midst of plenty. We were rich and free. Ours appeared to be the most + prosperous of Nations. But it was only appearance. The statesmen and the + politicians were deceived. Real victories can be won only for the Right. + The triumph of Justice is the only Peace. Such is the nature of things. He + who enslaves another cannot be free. He who attacks the right, assaults + himself. The mistake our fathers made had not been corrected. The + foundations of the Republic were insecure. The great dome of the temple + was clad in the light of prosperity, but the corner-stones were crumbling. + Four millions of human beings were enslaved. Party cries had been mistaken + for principles—partisanship for patriotism—success for + justice. + </p> + <p> + But Pity pointed to the scarred and bleeding backs of slaves; Mercy heard + the sobs of mothers reft of babes, and Justice held aloft the scales, in + which one drop of blood shed by a master's lash, outweighed a Nation's + gold. There were a few men, a few women, who had the courage to attack + this monstrous crime. They found it entrenched in constitutions, statutes, + and decisions—barricaded and bastioned by every department and by + every party. Politicians were its servants, statesmen its attorneys, + judges its menials, presidents its puppets, and upon its cruel altar had + been sacrificed our country's honor. It was the crime of the Nation—of + the whole country—North and South responsible alike. + </p> + <p> + To-day we reverently thank the abolitionists. Earth has no grander men—no + nobler women. They were the real philanthropists, the true patriots. When + the will defies fear, when the heart applauds the brain, when duty throws + the gauntlet down to fate, when honor scorns to compromise with death,—this + is heroism. The abolitionists were heroes. He loves his country best who + strives to make it best. The bravest men are those who have the greatest + fear of doing wrong. Mere politicians wish the country to do something for + them. True patriots desire to do something for their country. Courage + without conscience is a wild beast. Patriotism without principle is the + prejudice of birth, the animal attachment to place. These men, these + women, had courage and conscience, patriotism and principle, heart and + brain. + </p> + <p> + The South relied upon the bond,—upon a barbarous clause that + stained, disfigured and defiled the Federal pact, and made the monstrous + claim that slavery was the Nation's ward. The spot of shame grew red in + Northern cheeks, and Northern men declared that slavery had poisoned, + cursed and blighted soul and soil enough, and that the Territories must be + free. The radicals of the South cried: "No Union without Slavery!" The + radicals of the North replied: "No Union without Liberty!" The Northern + radicals were right. Upon the great issue of free homes for free men, a + President was elected by the free States. The South appealed to the sword, + and raised the standard of revolt. For the first time in history the + oppressors rebelled. + </p> + <p> + But let us to-day be great enough to forget individuals,—great + enough to know that slavery was treason, that slavery was rebellion, that + slavery fired upon our flag and sought to wreck and strand the mighty ship + that bears the hope and fortune of this world. The first shot liberated + the North. Constitution, statutes and decisions, compromises, platforms, + and resolutions made, passed, and ratified in the interest of slavery + became mere legal lies, base and baseless. Parchment and paper could no + longer stop or stay the onward march of man. The North was free. Millions + instantly resolved that the Nation should not die—that Freedom + should not perish, and that Slavery should not live. + </p> + <p> + Millions of our brothers, our sons, our fathers, our husbands, answered to + the Nation's call. + </p> + <p> + The great armies have desolated the earth. The greatest soldiers have been + ambition's dupes. They waged war for the sake of place and pillage, pomp + and power,—for the ignorant applause of vulgar millions,—for + the flattery of parasites, and the adulation of sycophants and slaves. + </p> + <p> + Let us proudly remember that in our time the greatest, the grandest, the + noblest army of the world fought, not to enslave, but to free; not to + destroy, but to save; not for conquest, but for conscience; not only for + us, but for every land and every race. + </p> + <p> + With courage, with enthusiasm, with a devotion' never excelled, with an + exaltation and purity of purpose never equaled, this grand army fought the + battles of the Republic. For the preservation of this Nation, for the + destruction of slavery, these soldiers, these sailors, on land and sea, + disheartened by no defeat, discouraged by no obstacle, appalled by no + danger, neither paused nor swerved until a stainless flag, without a + rival, floated over all our wide domain, and until every human being + beneath its folds was absolutely free. + </p> + <p> + The great victory for human rights—the greatest of all the years—had + been won; won by the Union men of the North, by the Union men of the + South, and by those who had been slaves. Liberty was national, Slavery was + dead. + </p> + <p> + The flag for which the heroes fought, for which they died, is the symbol + of all we are, of all we hope to be. + </p> + <p> + It is the emblem of equal rights. + </p> + <p> + It means free hands, free lips, self-government and the sovereignty of the + individual. + </p> + <p> + It means that this continent has been dedicated to freedom. + </p> + <p> + It means universal education,—light for every mind, knowledge for + every child. + </p> + <p> + It means that the schoolhouse is the fortress of Liberty. + </p> + <p> + It means that "Governments derive their just powers from the consent of + the governed;" that each man is accountable to and for the Government; + that responsibility goes hand in hand with liberty. + </p> + <p> + It means that it is the duty of every citizen to bear his share of the + public burden,—to take part in the affairs of his town, his county, + his State and his country. + </p> + <p> + It means that the ballot-box is the Ark of the Covenant; that the source + of authority must not be poisoned. + </p> + <p> + It means the perpetual right of peaceful revolution. It means that every + citizen of the Republic—native or naturalized—must be + protected; at home, in every State,—abroad, in every land, on every + sea. + </p> + <p> + It means that all distinctions based on birth or blood, have perished from + our laws; that our Government shall stand between labor and capital, + between the weak and the strong, between the individual and the + corporation, between want and wealth, and give the guarantee of simple + justice to each and all. + </p> + <p> + It means that there shall be a legal remedy for every wrong. + </p> + <p> + It means national hospitality,—that we must welcome to our shores + the exiles of the world, and that we may not drive them back. Some may be + deformed by labor, dwarfed by hunger, broken in spirit, victims of tyranny + and caste,—in whose sad faces may be read the touching record of a + weary life; and yet their children, born of liberty and love, will be + symmetrical and fair, intelligent and free. + </p> + <p> + That flag is the emblem of a supreme will—of a Nation's power. + Beneath its folds the weakest must be protected and the strongest must + obey. It shields and canopies alike the loftiest mansion and the rudest + hut. That flag was given to the air in the Revolution's darkest days. It + represents the sufferings of the past, the glories yet to be; and like the + bow of heaven, it is the child of storm and sun. + </p> + <p> + This day is sacred to the great heroic host who kept this flag above our + heads,—sacred to the living and the dead—sacred to the scarred + and maimed,—sacred to the wives who gave their husbands, to the + mothers who gave their sons. + </p> + <p> + Here in this peaceful land of ours,—here where the sun shines, where + flowers grow, where children play, millions of armed men battled for the + right and breasted on a thousand fields the iron storms of war. + </p> + <p> + These brave, these incomparable men, founded the first Republic. They + fulfilled the prophecies; they brought to pass the dreams; they realized + the hopes, that all the great and good and wise and just have made and had + since man was man. + </p> + <p> + But what of those who fell? There is no language to express the debt we + owe, the love we bear, to all the dead who died for us. Words are but + barren sounds. We can but stand beside their graves and in the hush and + silence feel what speech has never told. + </p> + <p> + They fought, they died; and for the first time since man has kept a record + of events, the heavens bent above and domed a land without a serf, a + servant or a slave. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link0015" id="link0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + DECORATION DAY ADDRESS. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Empty sleeves worn by veterans with scanty locks and + grizzled mustaches graced the Metropolitan Opera House last + night. On the breasts of their faded uniforms glittered the + badges of the legions in which they had fought and suffered, + and beside them sat the wives and daughters, whose hearts + had ached at home while they served their country at the + front. + + Every seat in the great Opera House was filled, and hundreds + stood, glad to And any place where they could see and hear. + And the gathering and the proceedings were worthy of the + occasion. + + Mr. Depew upon taking the chair said that he had the chief + treat of the evening to present to the audience, and that + was Robert G. Ingersoll, the greatest living orator, and one + of the great controversialists of the age. + + Then came the orator of the occasion Col. Ingersoll, whose + speech is printed herewith. + + Enthusiastic cheers greeted all his points, and his audience + simply went wild at the end. It was a grand oration, and it + was listened to by enthusiastic and appreciative hearers, + upon whom not a single word was lost, and in whose hearts + every word awoke a responsive echo. + + Nor did the enthusiasm which Col. Ingersoll created end + until the very last, when the whole assemblage arose and + sang "America" in a way which will never be forgotten by any + one present. It was a great ending of a great evening.—The + New York Times, May 31st, 1888. +</pre> + <p> + New York City. + </p> + <p> + 1888. + </p> + <p> + THIS is a sacred day—a day for gratitude and love. + </p> + <p> + To-day we commemorate more than independence, more than the birth of a + nation, more than the fruits of the Revolution, more than physical + progress, more than the accumulation of wealth, more than national + prestige and power. + </p> + <p> + We commemorate the great and blessed victory over ourselves—the + triumph of civilization, the reformation of a people, the establishment of + a government consecrated to the preservation of liberty and the equal + rights of man. + </p> + <p> + Nations can win success, can be rich and powerful, can cover the earth + with their armies, the seas with their fleets, and yet be selfish, small + and mean. Physical progress means opportunity for doing good. It means + responsibility. Wealth is the end of the despicable, victory the purpose + of brutality. + </p> + <p> + But there is something nobler than all these—something that rises + above wealth and power—something above lands and palaces—something + above raiment and gold—it is the love of right, the cultivation of + the moral nature, the desire to do justice, the inextinguishable love of + human liberty. + </p> + <p> + Nothing can be nobler than a nation governed by conscience, nothing more + infamous than power without pity, wealth without honor and without the + sense of justice. + </p> + <p> + Only by the soldiers of the right can the laurel be won or worn. + </p> + <p> + On this day we honor the heroes who fought to make our Nation just and + free—who broke the shackles of the slave, who freed the masters of + the South and their allies of the North. We honor chivalric men who made + America the hope and beacon of the human race—the foremost Nation of + the world. + </p> + <p> + These heroes established the first republic, and demonstrated that a + government in which the legally expressed will of the people is sovereign + and supreme is the safest, strongest, securest, noblest and the best. + </p> + <p> + They demonstrated the human right of the people, and of all the people, to + make and execute the laws—that authority does not come from the + clouds, or from ancestry, or from the crowned and titled, or from + constitutions and compacts, laws and customs—not from the admissions + of the great, or the concessions of the powerful and victorious—not + from graves, or consecrated dust—not from treaties made between + successful robbers—not from the decisions of corrupt and menial + courts—not from the dead, but from the living—not from the + past but from the present, from the people of to-day—from the brain, + from the heart and from the conscience of those who live and love and + labor. + </p> + <p> + The history of this world for the most part is the history of conflict and + war, of invasion, of conquest, of victorious wrong, of the many enslaved + by the few. + </p> + <p> + Millions have fought for kings, for the destruction and enslavement of + their fellow-men. Millions have battled for empire, and great armies have + been inspired by the hope of pillage; but for the first time in the + history of this world millions of men battled for the right, fought to + free not themselves, but others, not for prejudice, but for principle, not + for conquest, but for conscience. + </p> + <p> + The men whom we honor were the liberators of a Nation, of a whole country, + North and South—of two races. They freed the body and the brain, + gave liberty to master and to slave. They opened all the highways of + thought, and gave to fifty millions of people the inestimable legacy of + free speech. + </p> + <p> + They established the free exchange of thought. They gave to the air a flag + without a stain, and they gave to their country a Constitution that honest + men can reverently obey. They destroyed the hateful, the egotistic and + provincial—they established a Nation, a national spirit, a national + pride and a patriotism as broad as the great Republic. + </p> + <p> + They did away with that ignorant and cruel prejudice that human rights + depend on race or color, and that the superior race has the right to + oppress the inferior. They established the sublime truth that the superior + are the just, the kind, the generous, and merciful—that the really + superior are the protectors, the defenders, and the saviors of the + oppressed, of the fallen, the unfortunate, the weak and helpless. They + established that greatest of all truths that nothing is nobler than to + labor and suffer for others. + </p> + <p> + If we wish to know the extent of our debt to these heroes, these soldiers + of the right, we must know what we were and what we are. A few years ago + we talked about liberty, about the freedom of the world, and while so + talking we enslaved our fellow-men. We were the stealers of babes and the + whippers of women. We were in partnership with bloodhounds. We lived on + unpaid labor. We held manhood in contempt. Honest toil was disgraceful—sympathy + was a crime—pity was unconstitutional—humanity contrary to + law, and charity was treason. Men were imprisoned for pointing out in + heaven's dome the Northern Star—for giving food to the hungry, water + to the parched lips of thirst, shelter to the hunted, succor to the + oppressed. In those days criminals and courts, pirates and pulpits were in + partnership—liberty was only a word standing for the equal rights of + robbers. + </p> + <p> + For many years we insisted that our fathers had founded a free Government, + that they were the lovers of liberty, believers in equal rights. We were + mistaken. The colonists did not believe in the freedom of to-day. Their + laws were filled with intolerance, with slavery and the infamous spirit of + caste. They persecuted and enslaved. Most of them were narrow, ignorant + and cruel. For the most part, their laws were more brutal than those of + the nations from which they came. They branded the forehead of + intelligence, bored with hot irons the tongue of truth. They persecuted + the good and enslaved the helpless. They were believers in pillories and + whipping-posts for honest, thoughtful men. + </p> + <p> + When their independence was secured they adopted a Constitution that + legalized slavery, and they passed laws making it the duty of free men to + prevent others from becoming free. They followed the example of kings and + nobles. They knew that monarchs had been interested in the slave trade, + and that the first English commander of a slave-ship divided his profits + with a queen. + </p> + <p> + They forgot all the splendid things they had said—the great + principles they had so proudly and eloquently announced. The sublime + truths faded from their hearts. The spirit of trade, the greed for office, + took possession of their souls. The lessons of history were forgotten. The + voices coming from all the wrecks of kingdoms, empires and republics on + the shores of the great river were unheeded and unheard. + </p> + <p> + If the foundation is not justice, the dome cannot be high enough, or + splendid enough, to save the temple. + </p> + <p> + But above everything in the minds of our fathers was the desire for union—to + create a Nation, to become a Power. + </p> + <p> + Our fathers compromised. + </p> + <p> + A compromise is a bargain in which each party defrauds the other, and + himself. + </p> + <p> + The compromise our fathers made was the coffin of honor and the cradle of + war. + </p> + <p> + A brazen falsehood and a timid truth are the parents of compromise. + </p> + <p> + But some—the greatest and the best—believed in liberty for + all. They repeated the splendid sayings of the Roman: "By the law of + nature all men are free;"—of the French King: "Men are born free and + equal;"—of the sublime Zeno: "All men are by nature equal, and + virtue alone establishes a difference between them." + </p> + <p> + In the year preceding the Declaration of Independence, a society for the + abolition of slavery was formed in Pennsylvania and its first President + was one of the wisest and greatest of men—Benjamin Franklin. A + society of the same character was established in New York in 1785; its + first President was John Jay—the second, Alexander Hamilton. + </p> + <p> + But in a few years these great men were forgotten. Parties rivaled each + other in the defence of wrong. Politicians cared only for place and power. + In the clamor of the heartless, the voice of the generous was lost. + Slavery became supreme. It dominated legislatures, courts and parties; it + rewarded the faithless and little; it degraded the honest and great. + </p> + <p> + And yet, through all these hateful years, thousands and thousands of noble + men and women denounced the degradation and the crime. Most of their names + are unknown. They have given a glory to obscurity. They have filled + oblivion with honor. + </p> + <p> + In the presence of death it has been the custom to speak of the + worthlessness, and the vanity, of life. I prefer to speak of its value, of + its importance, of its nobility and glory. + </p> + <p> + Life is not merely a floating shadow, a momentary spark, a dream that + vanishes. Nothing can be grander than a life filled with great and noble + thoughts—with brave and honest deeds. Such a life sheds light, and + the seeds of truth sown by great and loyal men bear fruit through all the + years to be. To have lived and labored and died for the right—nothing + can be sublimer. + </p> + <p> + History is but the merest outline of the exceptional—of a few great + crimes, calamities, wars, mistakes and dramatic virtues. A few mountain + peaks are touched, while all the valleys of human life, where countless + victories are won, where labor wrought with love—are left in the + eternal shadow. + </p> + <p> + But these peaks are not the foundation of nations. The forgotten words, + the unrecorded deeds, the unknown sacrifices, the heroism, the industry, + the patience, the love and labor of the nameless good and great have for + the most part founded, guided and defended States. The world has been + civilized by the unregarded poor, by the untitled nobles, by the uncrowned + kings who sleep in unknown graves mingled with the common dust. + </p> + <p> + They have thought and wrought, have borne the burdens of the world. The + pain and labor have been theirs—the glory has been given to the few. + </p> + <p> + The conflict came. The South unsheathed the sword. Then rose the embattled + North, and these men who sleep to-night beneath the flowers of half the + world, gave all for us. + </p> + <p> + They gave us a Nation—a republic without a slave—a republic + that is sovereign, and to whose will every citizen and every State must + bow. They gave us a Constitution for all—one that can be read + without shame and defended without dishonor. They freed the brain, the + lips and hands of men. + </p> + <p> + All that could be done by force was done. All that could be accomplished + by the adoption of constitutions was done. The rest is left to education—the + innumerable influences of civilization—to the development of the + intellect, to the cultivation of the heart and the imagination. + </p> + <p> + The past is now a hideous dream. + </p> + <p> + The present is filled with pride, with gratitude, and hope. + </p> + <p> + Liberty is the condition of real progress. The free man works for wife and + child—the slave toils from fear. Liberty gives leisure and leisure + refines, beautifies and ennobles. Slavery gives idleness and idleness + degrades, deforms and brutalizes. + </p> + <p> + Liberty and slavery—the right and wrong—the joy and grief—the + day and night—the glory and the gloom of all the years. + </p> + <p> + Liberty is the word that all the good have spoken. + </p> + <p> + It is the hope of every loving heart—the spark and flame in every + noble breast—the gem in every splendid soul—the many-colored + dream in every honest brain. + </p> + <p> + This word has filled the dungeon with its holy light,—has put the + halo round the martyr's head,—has raised the convict far above the + king, and clad even the scaffold with a glory that dimmed and darkened + every throne. + </p> + <p> + To the wise man, to the wise nation, the mistakes of the past are the + torches of the present. The war is over. The institution that caused it + has perished. The prejudices that fanned the flames are only ashes now. We + are one people. We will stand or fall together. At last, with clear eyes + we see that the triumph of right was a triumph for all. Together we reap + the fruits of the great victory. We are all conquerors. Around the graves + of the heroes—North and South, white and colored—together we + stand and with uncovered heads reverently thank the saviors of our native + land. + </p> + <p> + We are now far enough away from the conflict—from its hatreds, its + passions, its follies and its glories, to fairly and philosophically + examine the causes and in some measure at least to appreciate the results. + </p> + <p> + States and nations, like individuals, do as they must. Back of revolution, + of rebellion, of slavery and freedom, are the efficient causes. Knowing + this, we occupy that serene height from which it is possible to calmly + pronounce a judgment upon the past. + </p> + <p> + We know now that the seeds of our war were sown hundreds and thousands of + years ago—sown by the vicious and the just, by prince and peasant, + by king and slave, by all the virtues and by all the vices, by all the + victories and all the defeats, by all the labor and the love, the loss and + gain, by all the evil and the good, and by all the heroes of the world. + </p> + <p> + Of the great conflict we remember only its glory and its lessons. We + remember only the heroes who made the Republic the first of nations, and + who laid the foundation for the freedom of mankind. + </p> + <p> + This will be known as the century of freedom. Slowly the hosts of darkness + have been driven back. + </p> + <p> + In 1808 England and the United States united for the suppression of the + slave-trade. The Netherlands joined in this holy work in 1818. France lent + her aid in 1819 and Spain in 1820. In the same year the United States + declared the traffic to be piracy, and in 1825 the same law was enacted by + Great Britain. In 1826 Brazil agreed to suppress the traffic in human + flesh. In 1833 England abolished slavery in the West Indies, and in 1843 + in her East Indian possessions, giving liberty to more than twelve + millions of slaves. In 1846 Sweden abolished slavery, and in 1848 it was + abolished in the colonies of Denmark and France. In 1861 Alexander II., + Czar of all the Russias, emancipated the serfs, and on the first day of + January, 1863, the shackles fell from millions of the citizens of this + Republic. This was accomplished by the heroes we remember to-day—this, + in accordance with the Proclamation of Emancipation signed by Lincoln,—greatest + of our mighty dead—Lincoln the gentle and the just—and whose + name will be known and honored to "the last syllable of recorded time." + And this year, 1888, has been made blessed and memorable forever—in + the vast empire of Brazil there stands no slave. + </p> + <p> + Let us hope that when the next century looks from the sacred portals of + the East, its light will only fall upon the faces of the free. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * By request, Col. Ingersoll closed this address with his + "Vision of War," to which he added "A Vision of the + Future." This accounts for its repetition in this volume. +</pre> + <p> + The past rises before me like a dream. Again we are in the great struggle + for national life. We hear the sounds of preparation—the music of + boisterous drums—the silver voices of heroic bugles. We see + thousands of assemblages, and hear the appeals of orators. We see the pale + cheeks of women, and the flushed faces of men; and in those assemblages we + see all the dead whose dust we have covered with flowers. We lose sight of + them no more. We are with them when they enlist in the great army of + freedom. We see them part with those they love. Some are walking for the + last time in quiet, woody places, with the maidens they adore. We hear the + whisperings and the sweet vows of eternal love as they lingeringly part + forever. Others are bending over cradles, kissing babes that are asleep. + Some are receiving the blessings of old men. Some are parting with mothers + who hold them and press them to their hearts again and again, and say + nothing. Kisses and tears, tears and kisses—divine mingling of agony + and love! And some are talking with wives, and endeavoring with brave + words, spoken in the old tones, to drive from their hearts the awful fear. + We see them part. We see the wife standing in the door with the babe in + her arms—standing in the sunlight sobbing. At the turn of the road a + hand waves—she answers by holding high in her loving arms the child. + He is gone, and forever. + </p> + <p> + We see them all as they march proudly away under the flaunting flags, + keeping time to the grand, wild music of war—marching-down the + streets of the great cities—through the towns and across the + prairies—down to the fields of glory, to do and to die for the + eternal right. + </p> + <p> + We go with them, one and all. We are by their side on all the gory fields—in + all the hospitals of pain—on all the weary marches. We stand guard + with them in the wild storm and under the quiet stars. We are with them in + ravines running with blood—in the furrows of old fields. We are with + them between contending hosts, unable to move, wild with thirst, the life + ebbing slowly away among the withered leaves. We see them pierced by balls + and torn with shells, in the trenches, by forts, and in the whirlwind of + the charge, where men become iron, with nerves of steel. + </p> + <p> + We are with them in the prisons of hatred and famine; but human speech can + never tell what they endured. + </p> + <p> + We are at home when the news comes that they are dead. We see the maiden + in the shadow of her first sorrow. We see the silvered head of the old man + bowed with the last grief. + </p> + <p> + The past rises before us, and we see four millions of human beings + governed by the lash—we see them bound hand and foot—we hear + the strokes of cruel whips—we see the hounds tracking women through + tangled swamps. We see babes sold from the breasts of mothers. Cruelty + unspeakable! Outrage infinite! + </p> + <p> + Four million bodies in chains—four million souls in fetters. All the + sacred relations of wife, mother, father and child trampled beneath the + brutal feet of might. And all this was done under our own beautiful banner + of the free. + </p> + <p> + The past rises before us. We hear the roar and shriek of the bursting + shell. The broken fetters fall. These heroes died. We look. Instead of + slaves we see men and women and children. The wand of progress touches the + auction block, the slave pen, the whipping post, and we see homes and + firesides and school-houses and books, and where all was want and crime + and cruelty and fear, we see the faces of the free. + </p> + <p> + These heroes are dead. They died for liberty—they died for us. They + are at rest. They sleep in the land they made free, under the flag they + rendered stainless, under the solemn pines, the sad hemlocks, the tearful + willows, and the embracing vines. + </p> + <p> + They sleep beneath the shadows of the clouds, careless alike of sunshine + or of storm, each in the windowless Palace of Rest. Earth may run red with + other wars—they are at peace. In the midst of battle, in the roar of + conflict, they found the serenity of death. I have one sentiment for + soldiers living and dead: Cheers for the living; tears for the dead. + </p> + <p> + A vision of the future rises: + </p> + <p> + I see our country filled with happy homes, with firesides of content,—the + foremost land of all the earth. + </p> + <p> + I see a world where thrones have crumbled and where kings are dust. The + aristocracy of idleness has perished from the earth. + </p> + <p> + I see a world without a slave. Man at last is free. Nature's forces have + by Science been enslaved. Lightning and light, wind and wave, frost and + flame, and all the secret, subtle powers of earth and air are the tireless + toilers for the human race. + </p> + <p> + I see a world at peace, adorned with every form of art, with music's + myriad voices thrilled, while lips are rich with words of love and truth; + a world in which no exile sighs, no prisoner mourns; a world on which the + gibbet's shadow does not fall; a world where labor reaps its full reward, + where work and worth go hand in hand, where the poor girl trying to win + bread with the needle—the needle that has been called "the asp for + the breast of the poor,"—is not driven to the desperate choice of + crime or death, of suicide or shame. + </p> + <p> + I see a world without the beggar's outstretched palm, the miser's + heartless, stony stare, the piteous wail of want, the livid lips of lies, + the cruel eyes of scorn. + </p> + <p> + I see a race without disease of flesh or brain,—shapely and fair,—the + married harmony of form and function,—and, as I look, life + lengthens, joy deepens, love canopies the earth; and over all, in the + great dome, shines the eternal star of human hope. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link0016" id="link0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + RATIFICATION SPEECH. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Delivered at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, June + 29,1688. +</pre> + <p> + Harrison and Morton. + </p> + <p> + 1888. + </p> + <p> + FELLOW-CITIZENS, Ladies and Gentlemen—The speaker who is perfectly + candid, who tells his honest thought, not only honors himself, but + compliments his audience. It is only to the candid that man can afford to + absolutely open his heart. Most people, whenever a man is nominated for + the presidency, claim that they were for him from the very start—as + a rule, claim that they discovered him. They are so anxious to be with the + procession, so afraid of being left, that they insist that they got + exactly the man they wanted. + </p> + <p> + I will be frank enough with you to say that the convention did not + nominate my choice. I was for the nomination of General Gresham, believing + that, all things considered, he was the best and most available man—a + just judge, a soldier, a statesman. But there is something in the American + blood that bows to the will of the majority. There is that splendid fealty + and loyalty to the great principle upon which our Government rests; so + that when the convention reached its conclusion, every Republican was for + the nominee. There were good men from which to select this ticket. I made + my selection, and did the best I could to induce the convention to make + the same. Some people think, or say they think, that I made a mistake in + telling the name of the man whom I was for. But I always know whom I am + for, I always know what I am for, and I know the reasons why I am for the + thing or for the man. + </p> + <p> + And it never once occurred to me that we could get a man nominated, or + elected, and keep his name a secret. When I am for a man I like to stand + by him, even while others leave, no matter if at last I stand alone. I + believe in doing things above board, in the light, in the wide air. No + snake ever yet had a skin brilliant enough, no snake ever crawled through + the grass secretly enough, silently or cunningly enough, to excite my + admiration. My admiration is for the eagle, the monarch of the empyrean, + who, poised on outstretched pinions, challenges the gaze of all the world. + Take your position in the sunlight; tell your neighbors and your friends + what you are for, and give your reasons for your position; and if that is + a mistake, I expect to live making only mistakes. I do not like the secret + way, but the plain, open way; and I was for one man, not because I had + anything against the others, who were all noble, splendid men, worthy to + be Presidents of the United States. + </p> + <p> + Now, then, leaving that subject, two parties again confront each other. + With parties as with persons goes what we call character. They have built + up in the nation in which they live reputation, and the reputation of a + party should be taken into consideration as well as the reputation of a + man. What is this party? What has it done? What has it endeavored to do? + What are the ideas in its brain? What are the hopes, the emotions and the + loves in its heart? Does it wish to make the world grander and better and + freer? Has it a high ideal? Does it believe in sunrise, or does it keep + its back to the sacred east of eternal progress? These are the questions + that every American should ask. Every man should take pride in this great + Nation—America, with a star of glory in her forehead!—and + every man should say, "I hope when I lie down in death I shall leave a + greater and grander country than when I was born." + </p> + <p> + This is the country of humanity. This is the Government of the poor. This + is where man has an even chance with his fellow-man. In this country the + poorest man holds in his hand at the day of election the same unit, the + same amount, of political power as the owner of a hundred millions. That + is the glory of the United States. + </p> + <p> + A few days ago our party met in convention. Now, let us see who we are. + Let us see what the Republican party is. Let us see what is the spirit + that animates this great and splendid organization. + </p> + <p> + And I want you to think one moment, just one moment: What was this country + when the first Republican President was elected? Under the law then, every + Northern man was a bloodhound, pledged to catch human beings, who, led by + the light of the Northern Star, were escaping to free soil. Remember that. + And remember, too, that when our first President was elected we found a + treasury empty, the United States without credit, the great Republic + unable to borrow money from day to day to pay its current expenses. + Remember that. Think of the glory and grandeur of the Republican party + that took the country with an empty exchequer, and then think of what the + Democratic party says to-day of the pain and anguish it has suffered + administering the Government with a surplus! + </p> + <p> + We must remember what the Republican party has done—what it has + accomplished for nationality, for liberty, for education and for the + civilization of our race. We must remember its courage in war, its honesty + in peace. Civil war tests to a certain degree the strength, the stability + and the patriotism of a country. After the war comes a greater strain. It + is a great thing to die for a cause, but it is a greater thing to live for + it. We must remember that the Republican party not only put down a + rebellion, not only created a debt of thousands and thousands of millions, + but that it had the industry and the intelligence to pay that debt, and to + give to the United States the best financial standing of any nation. + </p> + <p> + When this great party came together in Chicago what was the first thing + the convention did? What was the first idea in its mind? It was to honor + the memory of the greatest and grandest men the Republic has produced. The + first name that trembled upon the lips of the convention was that of + Abraham Lincoln—Abraham Lincoln, one of the greatest and grandest + men who ever lived, and, in my judgment, the greatest man that ever sat in + the presidential chair. And why the greatest? Because the kindest, because + he had more mercy and love in his heart than were in the heart of any + other President. And so the convention paid its tribute to the great + soldier, to the man who led, in company with others, the great army of + freedom to victory, until the old flag floated over every inch of American + soil and every foot of that territory was dedicated to the eternal freedom + of mankind. + </p> + <p> + And what next did this convention do? The next thing was to send fraternal + greetings to the Americans of Brazil. Why? Because Brazil had freed every + slave, and because that act left the New World, this hemisphere, without a + slave—left two continents dedicated to the freedom of man—so + that with that act of Brazil the New World, discovered only a few years + ago, takes the lead in the great march of human progress and liberty. That + is the second thing the convention did. Only a little while ago the + minister to this country from Brazil, acting under instructions from his + government, notified the President of the United States that this sublime + act had been accomplished—notified him that from the bodies of + millions of men the chains of slavery had fallen—an act great enough + to make the dull sky of half the world glow as though another morning had + risen upon another day. + </p> + <p> + And what did our President say? Was he filled with enthusiasm? Did his + heart beat quicker? Did the blood rush to his cheek? He simply said, as it + is reported, "that he hoped time would justify the wisdom of the measure." + It is precisely the same as though a man should quit a life of crime, as + though some gentleman in the burglar business should finally announce to + his friends: "I have made up my mind never to break into another house," + and the friend should reply: "I hope that time will justify the propriety + of that resolution." + </p> + <p> + That was the first thing, with regard to the condition of the world, that + came into the mind of the Republican convention. And why was that? Because + the Republican party has fought for liberty from the day of its birth to + the present moment. + </p> + <p> + And what was the next? The next resolution passed by the convention was, + "that we earnestly hope, we shall soon congratulate our fellow-citizens of + Irish birth upon the peaceful recovery of home rule in Ireland." + </p> + <p> + Wherever a human being wears a chain, there you will find the sympathy of + the Republican party. Wherever one languishes in a dungeon for having + raised the standard of revolt in favor of human freedom, there you will + find the sympathy of the Republican party. I believe in liberty for + Ireland, not because it is Ireland, but because they are human beings, and + I am for liberty, not as a prejudice, but as a principle. + </p> + <p> + The man rightfully in jail who wants to get out is a believer in liberty + as a prejudice; but when a man out of jail sees a man wrongfully in jail + and is willing to risk his life to give liberty to the man who ought to + have it, that is being in favor of liberty as a principle. So I am in + favor of liberty everywhere, all over the world, and wherever one man + tries to govern another simply because he has been born a lord or a duke + or a king, or wherever one governs another simply by brute force, I say + that that is oppression, and it is the business of Americans to do all + they can to give liberty to the oppressed everywhere. + </p> + <p> + Ireland should govern herself. Those who till the soil should own the + soil, or have an opportunity at least of becoming the owners. A few + landlords should not live in extravagance and luxury while those who toil + live on the leavings, on parings, on crumbs and crusts. The treatment of + Ireland by England has been one continuous crime. There is no meaner page + in history. + </p> + <p> + What is the next thing in this platform? And if there is anything in it + that anybody can object to, we will find it out to-night. The next thing + is the supremacy of the Nation.-Why, even the Democrats now believe in + that, and in their own platform are willing to commence that word with a + capital N. They tell us that they are in favor of an indissoluble Union—just + as I presume they always have been. But they now believe in a Union. So + does the Republican party. What else? The Republican party believes, not + in State Sovereignty, but in the preservation of all the rights reserved + to the States by the Constitution. + </p> + <p> + Let me show you the difference: For instance, you make a contract with + your neighbor who lives next door—equal partners—and at the + bottom of the contract you put the following addition: "If there is any + dispute as to the meaning of this contract, my neighbor shall settle it, + and any settlement he shall make shall be final." Is there any use of + talking about being equal partners any longer? Any use of your talking + about being a sovereign partner? So, the Constitution of the United States + says: "If any question arises between any State and the Federal Government + it shall be decided by a Federal Court." That is the end of what they call + State Sovereignty. + </p> + <p> + Think of a sovereign State that can make no treaty, that cannot levy war, + that cannot coin money. But we believe in maintaining the rights of the + States absolutely in their integrity, because we believe in local + self-government. We deny, however, that a State has any right to deprive a + citizen of his vote. We deny that the State has any right to violate the + Federal law, and we go further and we say that it is the duty of the + General Government to see to it that every citizen in every State shall + have the right to exercise all of his privileges as a citizen of the + United States—"the right of every lawful citizen," says our + platform, "native or foreign, white or black, to cast a free ballot." + </p> + <p> + Let me say one word about that. + </p> + <p> + The ballot is the king, the emperor, the ruler of America; it is the only + rightful sovereign of the Republic; and whoever refuses to count an honest + vote, or whoever casts a dishonest vote, is a traitor to the great + principle upon which our Government is founded. The man poisons, or + endeavors to poison, the springs of authority, the fountains of justice, + of rightful dominion and power; and until every citizen can cast his vote + everywhere in this land and have that vote counted, we are not a + republican people, we are not a civilized nation. The Republican party + will not have finished its mission until this country is civilized. That + is its business. It was born of a protest against barbarism. + </p> + <p> + The Republican party was the organized conscience of the United States. It + had the courage to stand by what it believed to be right. There is + something better even than success in this world; or in other words, there + is only one kind of success, and that is to be for the right. Then + whatever happens, you have succeeded. + </p> + <p> + Now, comes the next question. The Republican party not only wants to + protect every citizen in his liberty, in his right to vote, but it wants + to have that vote counted. And what else? + </p> + <p> + The next thing in this platform is protection for American labor. + </p> + <p> + I am going to tell you in a very brief way why I am in favor of + protection. First, I want this Republic substantially independent of the + rest of the world. You must remember that while people are civilized—some + of them—so that when they have a quarrel they leave it to the courts + to decide, nations still occupy the position of savages toward each other. + There is no national court to decide a question, consequently the question + is decided by the nations themselves, and you know what selfishness and + greed and power and the ideas of false glory will do and have done. So + that this Nation is not safe one moment from war. I want the Republic so + that it can live although at war with all the world. + </p> + <p> + We have every kind of climate that is worth having. Our country embraces + the marriage of the pine and palm; we have all there is of worth; it is + the finest soil in the world and the most ingenious people that ever + contrived to make the forces of nature do their work. I want this Nation + substantially independent, so that if every port were blockaded we would + be covered with prosperity as with a mantle. Then, too, the Nation that + cannot take care of itself in war is always at a disadvantage in peace. + That is one reason. Let me give you the next. + </p> + <p> + The next reason is that whoever raises raw material and sells it will be + eternally poor. There is no State in this Union where the farmer raises + wheat and sells it, that the farmer is not poor. Why? He only makes one + profit, and, as a rule, that is a loss. The farmer that raises corn does + better, because he can sell, not corn, but pork and beef and horses. In + other words, he can make the second or third profit, and those farmers get + rich. There is a vast difference between the labor necessary to raise raw + material and the labor necessary to make the fabrics used by civilized + men. Remember that; and if you are confined simply to raw material your + labor will be unskilled; unskilled labor will be cheap, the raw material + will be cheap, and the result is that your country will grow poorer and + poorer, while the country that buys your raw material, makes it into + fabrics and sells it back to you, will grow intelligent and rich. I want + you to remember this, because it lies at the foundation of this whole + subject. Most people who talk on this point bring forward column after + column of figures, and a man to understand it would have to be a walking + table of logarithms. I do not care to discuss it that way. I want to get + at the foundation principles, so that you can give a reason, as well as + myself, why you are in favor of protection. + </p> + <p> + Let us take another step. We will take a locomotive—a wonderful + thing—that horse of progress, with its flesh of iron and steel and + breath of flame—a wonderful thing. Let us see how it is made. Did + you ever think of the deft and cunning hands, of the wonderfully accurate + brains, that can make a thing like that? Did you ever think about it? How + much do you suppose the raw material lying in the earth was worth that was + changed into that locomotive? A locomotive that is worth, we will say, + twelve thousand dollars; how much was the raw material worth lying in the + earth, deposited there millions of years ago? Not as much as one dollar. + Let us, just for the sake of argument, say five dollars. What, then, has + labor added to the twelve thousand dollar locomotive? Eleven thousand nine + hundred and ninety-five dollars. Now, why? Because, just to the extent + that thought is mingled with labor, wages increase; just to the extent you + mix mind with muscle, you give value to labor; just to the extent that the + labor is skilled, deft, apt, just to that extent or in that proportion, is + the product valuable. Think about it. Raw material! There is a piece of + canvas five feet one way, three the other. Raw material would be to get a + man to whitewash it; that is raw material. Let a man of genius paint a + picture upon it; let him put in that picture the emotions of his heart, + the landscapes that have made poetry in his brain, the recollection of the + ones he loves, the prattle of children, a mother's tear, the sunshine of + her smile, and all the sweet and sacred memories of his life, and it is + worth five thousand dollars—ten thousand dollars. + </p> + <p> + Noise is raw material, but the great opera of "Tristan and Isolde" is the + result of skilled labor. There is the same difference between simple brute + strength and skilled labor that there is between noise and the symphonies + of Beethoven. I want you to get this in your minds. + </p> + <p> + Now, then, whoever sells raw material gives away the great profit. You + raise cotton and sell it; and just as long as the South does it and does + nothing more the South will be poor, the South will be ignorant, and it + will be solidly Democratic. + </p> + <p> + Now, do not imagine that I am saying anything against the Democratic + party. I believe the Democratic party is doing the best it can under the + circumstances. You know my philosophy makes me very charitable. You find + out all about a man, all about his ancestors, and you can account for his + vote always. Why? Because there are causes and effects in nature. There + are sometimes antecedents and subsequents that have no relation to each + other, but at the same time, all through the web and woof of events, you + find these causes and effects, and if you only look far enough, you will + know why a man does as he does. + </p> + <p> + I have nothing to say against the Democratic party. I want to talk against + ideas, not against people. I do not care anything about their candidates, + whether they are good, bad or indifferent. What, gentlemen, are your + ideas? What do you propose to do? What is your policy? That is what I want + to know, and I am willing to meet them upon the field of intellectual + combat. They are in possession; they are in the rifle pits of office; we + are in the open field, but we will plant our standard, the flag that we + love, without a stain, and under that banner, upon which so many dying men + have looked in the last hour when they thought of home and country—under + that flag we will carry the Democratic fortifications. + </p> + <p> + Another thing; we want to get at this business so that we will understand + what we are doing. I do not believe in protecting American industry for + the sake of the capitalist, or for the sake of any class, but for the sake + of the whole Nation. And if I did not believe that it was for the best + interests of the whole Nation I should be opposed to it. + </p> + <p> + Let us take this next step. Everybody, of course, cannot be a farmer. + Everybody cannot be a mechanic. All the people in the world cannot go at + one business. We must have a diversity of industry. I say, the greater + that diversity, the greater the development of brain in the country. We + then have what you might call a mental exchange; men are then pursuing + every possible direction in which the mind can go, and the brain is being + developed upon all sides; whereas, if you all simply cultivated the soil, + you would finally become stupid. If you all did only one business you + would become ignorant; but by pursuing all possible avocations that call + for taste, genius, calculation, discovery, ingenuity, invention—by + having all these industries open to the American people, we will be able + to raise great men and great women; and I am for protection, because it + will enable us to raise greater men and greater women. Not only because it + will make more money in less time, but because I would rather have greater + folks and less money. + </p> + <p> + One man of genius makes a continent sublime. Take all the men of wealth + from Scotland—who would know it? Wipe their names from the pages of + history, and who would miss them? Nobody. Blot out one name, Robert Burns, + and how dim and dark would be the star of Scotland. The great thing is to + raise great folks. That is what we want to do, and we want to diversify + all the industries and protect them all. How much? Simply enough to + prevent the foreign article from destroying the domestic. But they say, + then the manufacturers will form a trust and put the prices up. If we + depend upon the foreign manufacturers will they not form trusts? We can + depend on competition. What do the Democrats want to do? They want to do + away with the tariff, so as to do away with the surplus. They want to put + down the tariff to do away with the surplus. If you put down the tariff a + small per cent, so that the foreign article comes to America, instead of + decreasing, you will increase the surplus. Where you get a dollar now, you + will get five then. If you want to stop getting anything from imports, you + want to put the tariff higher, my friend. + </p> + <p> + Let every Democrat understand this, and let him also understand that I + feel and know that he has the same interest in this great country that I + have, and let me be frank enough and candid enough and honest enough to + say that I believe the Democratic party advocates the policy it does + because it believes it will be the best for the country. But we differ + upon a question of policy, and the only way to argue it is to keep cool. + If a man simply shouts for his side, or gets mad, he is a long way from + any intellectual improvement. + </p> + <p> + If I am wrong in this, I want to be set right. If it is not to the + interest of America that the shuttle shall keep flying, that wheels shall + keep turning, that cloth shall be woven, that the forges shall flame and + that the smoke shall rise from the numberless chimneys—if that is + not to the interest of America, I want to know it. But I believe that upon + the great cloud of smoke rising from the chimneys of the manufactories of + this country, every man who will think can see the bow of national + promise. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, but," they say, "you put the prices so high." Let me give you two or + three facts: Only a few years ago I know that we paid one hundred and + twenty-five dollars a ton for Bessemer steel. At that time the tariff was + twenty-eight dollars a ton, I believe. I am not much on figures. I + generally let them add it up, and I pay it and go on about my business. + With the tariff at twenty-eight dollars a ton, that being a sufficient + protection against Great Britain, the ingenuity of America went to work. + Capital had the courage to try the experiment, and the result was that, + instead of buying thousands and thousands and thousands and tens of + thousands and hundreds of thousands and millions of tons of steel from + Great Britain, we made it here in our own country, and it went down as low + as thirty dollars a ton. Under this "rascally protection" it went down to + one-fourth of what free trade England was selling it to us for. + </p> + <p> + And so I might go on all night with a thousand other articles; all I want + to show you is that we want these industries here, and we want them + protected just as long as they need protection. We want to rock the cradle + just as long as there is a child in it. When the child gets to be seven or + eight feet high, and wears number twelve boots, we will say: "Now you will + have to shift for yourself." What we want is not simply for the + capitalist, not simply for the workingmen, but for the whole country. + </p> + <p> + If there is any object worthy the attention of this or any other + government, it is the condition of the workingmen. What do they do? They + do all that is done. They are the Atlases upon whose mighty shoulders + rests the fabric of American civilization. The men of leisure are simply + the vines that run round this great sturdy oak of labor. If there is + anything noble enough, and splendid enough to claim the attention of a + nation, it is this question, and I hope the time will come when labor will + receive far more than it does to-day. I want you all to think of it—how + little, after all, the laboring man, even in America, receives. + </p> + <p> + [A voice: "Under protection."] + </p> + <p> + Yes, sir, even under protection. Take away that protection, and he is + instantly on a level with the European serf. And let me ask that good, + honest gentleman one question. If the laborer is better off in other + countries, why does not the American laborer emigrate to Europe? + </p> + <p> + There is no place in the wide world where, in my judgment, labor reaps its + true reward. There never has been. But I hope the time will come when the + American laborer will not only make a living for himself, for his wife and + children, but lay aside something to keep the roof above his head when the + winter of age may come. My sympathies are all with them, and I would + rather see thousands of... '' palaces of millionaires unroofed than to see + desolation in the cabins of the poor. I know that this world has been made + beautiful by those who have labored and those who have suffered. I know + that we owe to them the conveniences of life, and I have more + conveniences, I live a more luxurious life, than any monarch ever lived + one hundred years ago. I have more conveniences than any emperor could + have purchased with the revenue of his empire one hundred years ago. It is + worth something to live in this age of the world. + </p> + <p> + And what has made us such a great and splendid and progressive and + sensible people? + </p> + <p> + [A voice: "Free thought."] + </p> + <p> + Free thought, of course. Back of every invention is free thought. Why does + a man invent? Slavery never invents; freedom invents. A slave working for + his master tries to do the least work in the longest space of time, but a + free man, working for wife and children, tries to do the most work in the + shortest possible time. He is in love with what he is doing, consequently + his head and his hands go in partnership; muscle and brain unite, and the + result is that the head invents something to help the hands, and out of + the brain leaps an invention that makes a slave of the forces of nature—those + forces that have no backs to be whipped, those forces that shed no tears, + those forces that are destined to work forever for the happiness of the + human race. + </p> + <p> + Consequently I am for the protection of American labor, American genius, + American thought. I do not want to put our workingmen on a level with the + citizens of despotisms. Why do not the Democrats and others want the + Chinese to come here? Are they in favor of being protected? Why is it that + the Democrats and others object to penitentiary labor? I will tell you. + They say that a man in the penitentiary can produce cheaper. He has no + family to support, he has no children to look after; and they say, it is + hardly fair to make the father of a family and an honest man compete with + a criminal within the walls of a penitentiary. So they ask to be + protected. + </p> + <p> + What is the difference whether a man is in the penitentiary, or whether he + is in the despotism of some European state? "Ah, but," they say, "you let + the laborer of Europe come here himself." Yes, and I am in favor of it + always. Why? This world belongs to the human race. And when they come + here, in a little while they have our wants, and if they do not their + children do, and you will find the second generation of Irishmen or + Germans or of any other nationality just as patriotic as the tenth + generation from the first immigrant. I want them to come. Then they get + our habits. + </p> + <p> + Who wants free trade? Only those who want us for their customers, who + would like to sell us everything that we use—England, Germany, all + those countries. And why? Because one American will buy more than one + thousand, yes, five thousand Asiatics. America consumes more to-day than + China and India, more than ten billion would of semi-civilized and + barbarous peoples. What do they buy—what does England sell? A little + powder, a little whiskey, cheap calico, some blankets—a few things + of that kind. What does the American purchase? Everything that civilized + man uses or that civilized man can want. + </p> + <p> + England wants this market. Give her free trade, and she will become the + most powerful, the richest nation that ever had her territories marked + upon the map of the world. And what do we become? Nobodies. Poor. + Invention will be lost, our minds will grow clumsy, the wondrous, deft + hand of the mechanic paralyzed—a great raw material producing + country—ignorant, poor, barbaric. I want the cotton that is raised + in this country to be spun here, to be woven into cloth. I want everything + that we use to be made by Americans. We can make the cloth, we can raise + the food to feed and to clothe this Nation, and the Nation is now only in + its infancy. + </p> + <p> + Somehow people do not understand this. They really think we are getting + filled up. Look at the map of this country. See the valley of the + Mississippi. Put your hand on it. Trace the rivers coming from the Rocky + Mountains and the Alleghanies, and sweeping down to the Gulf, and know + that in the valley of the Mississippi, with its wondrous tributaries, + there can live and there can be civilized and educated five hundred + millions of human beings. + </p> + <p> + Let us have some sense. I want to show you how far this goes beyond the + intellectual horizon of some people who hold office. For instance: We have + a tariff on lead, and by virtue of that tariff on lead nearly every silver + mine is worked in this country. Take the tariff from lead and there would + remain in the clutch of the rocks, of the quartz misers, for all time, + millions and millions of silver; but when that is put with lead, and lead + runs with silver, they can make enough on lead and silver to pay for the + mining, and the result is that millions and millions are added every year + to the wealth of the United States. + </p> + <p> + Let me tell you another thing: There is not a State in the Union but has + something it wants protected. And Louisiana—a Democratic State, and + will be just as long as Democrats count the votes—Louisiana has the + impudence to talk about free trade and yet it wants its sugar protected. + Kentucky says free trade, except hemp; and if anything needs protection it + is hemp. Missouri says hemp and lead. Colorado, lead and wool; and so you + can make the tour of the States and every one is for free trade with an + exception—that exception being to the advantage of that State, and + when you put the exceptions together you have protected the industries of + all the States. + </p> + <p> + Now, if the Democratic party is in favor of anything, it is in favor of + free trade. If President Clevelands message means anything it means free + trade. And why? Because it says to every man that gets protection: If you + will look about you, you will find that you pay for something else that is + protected more than you receive in benefits for what is protected of + yours; consequently the logic of that is free trade. They believe in it I + have no doubt. When the whole world is civilized, when men are everywhere + free, when they all have something like the same tastes and ambitions, + when they love their families and their children, when they want the same + kind of food and roofs above them—if that day shall ever come—the + world can afford to have its trade free, but do not put the labor of + America on a par with the labor of the Old World. + </p> + <p> + Now, about taxes—internal revenue. That was resorted to in time of + war. The Democratic party made it necessary. We had to tax everything to + beat back the Democratic hosts, North and South. Now, understand me. I + know that thousands and hundreds of thousands of individual Democrats were + for this country, and were as pure patriots as ever marched beneath the + flag. I know that—hundreds of thousands of them. I am speaking of + the party organization that staid at home and passed resolutions that + every time the Union forces won a victory the Constitution had been + violated. I understand that. Those taxes were put on in time of war, + because it was necessary. Direct taxation is always odious. A government + dislikes, to be represented among all the people by a tax gatherer, by an + official who visits homes carrying consternation and grief wherever he + goes. Everybody, from the most ancient times of which I have ever read, + until the present moment, dislikes a tax gatherer. I have never yet seen + in any cemetery a monument with this inscription: "Sacred to the memory of + the man who loved to pay his taxes." It is far better if we can collect + the needed revenue of this Government indirectly. But, they say, you must + not take the taxes off tobacco; you must not take the taxes off alcohol or + spirits or whiskey. Why? Because it is immoral to take off the taxes. Do + you believe that there was, on the average, any more drunkenness in this + country before the tax was put on than there is now? I do not. I believe + there is as much liquor drank to-day, per capita, as there ever was in the + United States. I will not blame the Democratic party. I do not care what + they drink. What they think is what I have to do with. I will be plain + with them, because I know lots of fellows in the Democratic party, and + that is the only bad thing about them—splendid fellows. And I know a + good many Republicans, and I am willing to take my oath that that is the + only good thing about them. So, let us all be fair. + </p> + <p> + I want the taxes taken from tobacco and whiskey; and why? Because it is a + war measure that should not be carried on in peace; and in the second + place, I do not want that system inaugurated in this country, unless there + is an absolute necessity for it, and the moment the necessity is gone, + stop it. + </p> + <p> + The moral side of this question? Only a couple of years ago, I think it + was, the Prohibitionists said that they wanted this tax taken from + alcohol. Why? Because as long as the Government licensed, as long as the + Government taxed and received sixty millions of dollars in revenue, just + so long the Government would make this business respectable, just so long + the Government would be in partnership with this liquor crime. That is + what they said then. Now we say take the tax off, and they say it is + immoral. Now, I have a little philosophy about this. I may be entirely + wrong, but I am going to give it to you. You never can make great men and + great women, by keeping them out of the way of temptation. You have to + educate them to withstand temptation. It is all nonsense to tie a man's + hands behind him and then praise him for not picking pockets. I believe + that temperance walks hand in hand with liberty. Just as life becomes + valuable, people take care of it. Just as life is great, and splendid and + noble, as long as the future is a kind of gallery filled with the ideal, + just so long will we take care of ourselves and avoid dissipation of every + kind. Do you know, I believe, as much as I believe that I am living, that + if the Mississippi itself were pure whiskey and its banks loaf sugar, and + all the flats covered with mint, and all the bushes grew teaspoons and + tumblers, there would not be any more drunkenness than there is now! + </p> + <p> + As long as you say to your neighbor "you must not" there is something in + that neighbor that says, "Well I will determine that for myself, and you + just say that again and I will take a drink if it kills me." There is no + moral question involved in it, except this: Let the burden of government + rest as lightly as possible upon the shoulders of the people, and let it + cause as little irritation as possible. Give liberty to the people. I am + willing that the women who wear silks, satins and diamonds; that the + gentlemen who smoke Havana cigars and drink champagne and Chateau Yquem; I + am perfectly willing that they shall pay my taxes and support this + Government, and I am willing that the man who does not do that, but is + willing to take the domestic article, should go tax free. + </p> + <p> + Temperance walks hand in hand with liberty. You recollect that little old + story about a couple of men who were having a discussion on this + prohibition question, and the man on the other side said to the + Prohibitionist: "How would you like to live in a community where every + body attended to his own business, where every body went to bed regularly + at night, got up regularly in the morning; where every man, woman and + child was usefully employed during the day; no backbiting, no drinking of + whiskey, no cigars, and where they all attended divine services on Sunday, + and where no profane language was used?" "Why," said he, "such a place + would be a paradise, or heaven; but there is no such place." "Oh," said + the other man, "every well regulated penitentiary is that way." So much + for the moral side of the question. + </p> + <p> + Another point that the Republican party calls the attention of the country + to is the use that has been made of the public land. Oh, say the + Democratic party, see what States, what empires have been given away by + the Republican party—and see what the Republican party did with it. + Road after road built to the great Pacific. Our country unified—the + two oceans, for all practical purposes, washing one shore. That is what it + did, and what else? It has given homes to millions of people in a + civilized land, where they can get all the conveniences of civilization. + And what else? Fifty million acres have been taken back by the Government. + How was this done? It was by virtue of the provisions put in the original + grants by the Republican party. + </p> + <p> + There is another thing to which the Republican party has called the + attention of the country, and that is the admission of new States where + there are people enough to form a State. Now, with a solid South, with the + assistance of a few Democrats from the North, comes a State, North Dakota, + with plenty of population, a magnificent State, filled with intelligence + and prosperity. It knocks at the door for admission, and what is the + question asked by this administration? Not "Have you the land, have you + the wealth, have you the men and women?" but "Are you Democratic or + Republican?" And being intelligent people, they answer: "We are + Republicans." And the solid South, assisted by the Democrats of the North, + says to that people: "The door is shut; we will not have you." Why? + "Because you would add two to the Republican majority in the Senate." Is + that the spirit in which a nation like this should be governed? When a + State asks for admission, no matter what the politics of its people may + be, I say, admit that State; put a star on the flag that will glitter for + her. + </p> + <p> + The next thing the Republican party says is, gold and silver shall both be + money. You cannot make every thing payable in gold—that would be + unfair to the poor man. You shall not make every thing payable in silver—that + would be unfair to the capitalist; but it shall be payable in gold and + silver. And why ought we to be in favor of silver? Because we are the + greatest silver producing nation in the world; and the value of a thing, + other things being equal, depends on its uses, and being used as money + adds to the value of silver. And why should we depreciate one of our own + products by saying that we will not take it as money? I believe in + bimetalism, gold and silver, and you cannot have too much of either or + both. No nation ever died of a surplus, and in all the national cemeteries + of the earth you will find no monument erected to a nation that died from + having too much silver. Give me all the silver I want and I am happy. + </p> + <p> + The Republican party has always been sound on finance. It always knew you + could not pay a promise with a promise. The Republican party always had + sense enough to know that money could not be created by word of mouth, + that you could not make it by a statute, or by passing resolutions in a + convention. It always knew that you had to dig it out of the ground by + good, honest work. The Republican party always knew that money is a + commodity, exchangeable for all other commodities, but a commodity just as + much as wheat or corn, and you can no more make money by law than you can + make wheat or corn by law. You can by law, make a promise that will to a + certain extent take the place of money until the promise is paid. It seems + to me that any man who can even understand the meaning of the word + democratic can understand that theory of money. + </p> + <p> + Another thing right in this platform. Free schools for the education of + all the children in the land. The Republican party believes in looking out + for the children. It knows that the a, b, c's are the breastworks of human + liberty. They know that every schoolhouse is an arsenal, a fort, where + missiles are made to hurl against the ignorance and prejudice of mankind; + so they are for the free school. + </p> + <p> + And what else? They are for reducing the postage one-half. Why? Simply for + the diffusion of intelligence. What effect will that have? It will make us + more and more one people. The oftener we communicate with each other the + more homogeneous we become. The more we study the same books and read the + same papers the more we swap ideas, the more we become true Americans, + with the same spirit in favor of liberty, progress and the happiness of + the human race. + </p> + <p> + What next? The Republican party says, let us build ships for America—for + American sailors. Let our fleets cover the seas, and let our men-of-war + protect the commerce of the Republic—not that we can wrong some weak + nation, but so that we can keep the world from doing wrong to us. This is + all. I have infinite contempt for civilized people who have guns carrying + balls weighing several hundred pounds, who go and fight poor, naked + savages that can only throw boomerangs and stones. + </p> + <p> + I hold such a nation in infinite contempt. + </p> + <p> + What else is in this platform? You have no idea of the number of things in + it till you look them over. It wants to cultivate friendly feelings with + all the governments in North, Central and South America, so that the great + continents can be one—instigated, moved, pervaded, inspired by the + same great thoughts. In other words, we want to civilize this continent + and the continent of South America. And what else? This great platform is + in favor of paying—not giving, but paying—pensions to every + man who suffered in the great war. What would we have said at the time? + What, if the North could have spoken, would it have said to the heroes of + Gettysburg on the third day? "Stand firm! We will empty the treasures of + the Nation at your feet." They had the courage and the heroism to keep the + hosts of rebellion back without that promise, and is there an American + to-day that can find it in his heart to begrudge one solitary dollar that + has found its way into the pocket of a maimed soldier, or into the hands + of his widow or his orphan? + </p> + <p> + What would we have offered to the sailors under Farragut on condition that + they would pass Forts St. Phillip and Jackson? What would we have offered + to the soldiers under Grant in the Wilderness? What to the followers of + Sherman and Sheridan? Do you know, I can hardly conceive of a spirit + contemptible enough—and I am not now alluding to the President of + the United States—I can hardly conceive of a spirit contemptible + enough to really desire to keep a maimed soldier from the bounty of this + Nation. It would be a disgrace and a dishonor if we allowed them to die in + poorhouses, to drop by life's highway and to see their children mourning + over their poor bodies, glorious with scars, maimed into immortality. I + may do a great many bad things before I die, but I give you my word that + so long as I live I will never vote for any President that vetoed a + pension bill unless upon its face it was clear that the man was not a + wounded soldier. + </p> + <p> + What next in this platform? For the protection of American homes. I am a + believer in the home. I have said, and I say again—the hearthstone + is the foundation of the great temple; the fireside is the altar where the + true American worships. I believe that the home, the family, is the unit + of good government, and I want to see the aegis of the great Republic over + millions of happy homes. + </p> + <p> + That is all there is in this world worth living for. Honor, place, fame, + glory, riches—they are ashes, smoke, dust, disappointment, unless + there is somebody in the world you love, somebody who loves you; unless + there is some place that you can call home, some place where you can feel + the arms of children around your neck, some place that is made absolutely + sacred by the love of others. + </p> + <p> + So I am for this platform. I am for the election of Harrison and Morton, + and although I did nothing toward having that ticket nominated, because, I + tell you, I was for Gresham, yet I will do as much toward electing the + candidates, within my power, as any man who did vote on the winning side. + </p> + <p> + We have a good ticket, a noble, gallant soldier at the head; that is + enough for me. He is in favor of liberty and progress. And you have for + Vice-President a man that you all know better than I do, but a good, + square, intelligent, generous man. That is enough for me. And these men + are standing on the best platform that was ever adopted by the Republican + party—a platform that stands for education, liberty, the free + ballot, American industry; for the American policy that has made us the + richest and greatest Nation of the globe. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link0017" id="link0017"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + REUNION ADDRESS. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * The Elmwood Reunion, participated in by six regiments, + came to a glorious close last evening. There were thousands + of people present. The city was gayly decorated with flags + and hunting, while pictures and busts of Col. Ingersoll were + in every show window. From early in the morning until noon, + delegations kept coming in, A special train arrived from + Peoria at 10.50 o'clock, bearing a large delegation of old + soldiers together with Col. Ingersoll and his daughter Maud. + He was met by the reception committee, and marched up the + street escorted by an army of veterans. When he arrived on + the west side of the public square, the lines were opened, + and he marched between, in review of his old friends and + comrades. The parade started as soon as it could be formed, + after the arrival of the special train. + + Col. Ingersoll was greeted by a salute of thirteen guns from + Peoria's historic cannon, as he was escorted to the grand + stand by Spencer's band and the Peoria Veterans. + + The reviewing stand was on the west side of the park. Here + the parade was seen by Col. Ingersoll and the other + distinguished guests, among whom were Congressmen Graff and + Prince, Mayor Day, Judges N. E. Worthington and I. C. + Pinkney, and the Hon. Clark E. Carr, who also made a speech + saying that the people cannot estimate the majesty of the + eloquence of Col. Robert G. Ingersoll, keeping alive the + flame of patriotism from 1860 to the present time. . + + The parade was an imposing one, there were fully two + thousand five hundred old veterans in line who passed In + review before Col. Ingersoll, each one doffing his hat as he + marched by. The most pleasing feature of the exercises of + the day was the representation of the Living Flag by one + hundred and fifty little girls of Elmwood, at ten o' clock + under the direction of Col. Lem. H. Wiley, of Peoria. The + flag was presented on a large Inclined amphitheatre at the + left of the grand stand, and was the finest thing ever + witnessed lu this part of the country. + + Following the presentation of the Living Flag, Chairman + Brown called the Reunion to order, and Col. Lem. H. Wiley, + National Bugler gave the assembly call. + + Following the assembly call a male chorus rendered a song, + "Ring O Bells." The song was composed for the occasion by + Mr. E. R. Brown and was as follows: + + "Welcome now that leader fearless, + Free of thought and grand of brain, + King of hearts and speaker peerless, + Hail our Ingersoll again." *** + + Then Chairman, E. R. Brown, took charge of the meeting and + introduced Col. Ingersoll as the greatest of living orators, + referring to the time that the Colonel declared, a quarter + of a century ago, in Rouse's Hall, Peoria, that from that + time forth there would be one free man in Illinois, and + expressing Indebtedness to him for what had been done since + for the freedom and happiness of mankind, by his mighty + brain, his great spirit and his gentle heart. + + He then spoke of Col. Ingersoll's residence in Peoria + county, paying an eloquent tribute to him, and concluded by + leading the distinguished gentleman to the front of the + stand. The appearance of Col. Ingersoll was a signal for a + mighty shout, which was heartily joined in by everybody + present, even the little girls composing the living flag, + cheering and waving their banners. + + It was fully ten minutes before the cheering had subsided, + and when Col. Ingersoll commenced to speak it was renewed + and he was forced to wait for several minutes more. When + quiet was restored, he opened his address, and for an hour + and a half he held the vast audience spell-bound with his + eloquence and wit. + + After Col. Ingersoll's speech the veterans crowded around + the stand to meet and grasp the hand of their comrade, and + the boys of the Eleventh Illinois Cavalry, his old regiment, + were especially profuse in their congratulations and thanks + for the splendid address he had delivered. His speeeh was + off-hand, only occasional reference being made to his short + notes. The Colonel then left the Park amid the yells of + delight of the old soldiers, every man of whom endeavored to + grasp his hand. + + In the afternoon the veterans assembled in Liberty Hall by + themselves, the room being filled. Col. Ingersoll appeared + and was greeted with such cheers as he had not received + during the entire day. He then said good-bye to his old + comrades.—Chicago Inter-ocean and Peoria papers, Sept. 6th, + 1896. +</pre> + <p> + Elmwood, Ills. + </p> + <p> + 1895. + </p> + <p> + LADIES and Gentlemen, Fellow-citizens, Old Friends and Comrades: + </p> + <p> + It gives me the greatest pleasure to meet again those with whom I became + acquainted in the morning of my life. It is now afternoon. The sun of life + is slowly sinking in the west, and, as the evening comes, nothing can be + more delightful than to see again the faces that I knew in youth. + </p> + <p> + When first I knew you the hair was brown; it is now white. The lines were + not quite so deep, and the eyes were not quite so dim. Mingled with this + pleasure is sadness,—sadness for those who have passed away—for + the dead. + </p> + <p> + And yet I am not sure that we ought to mourn for the dead. I do not know + which is better—life or death. It may be that death is the greatest + gift that ever came from nature's open hands. We do not know. + </p> + <p> + There is one thing of which I am certain, and that is, that if we could + live forever here, we would care nothing for each other. The fact that we + must die, the fact that the feast must end, brings our souls together, and + treads the weeds from out the paths between our hearts. + </p> + <p> + And so it may be, after all, that love is a little flower that grows on + the crumbling edge of the grave. So it may be, that were it not for death + there would be no love, and without love all life would be a curse. + </p> + <p> + I say it gives me great pleasure to meet you once again; great pleasure to + congratulate you on your good fortune—the good fortune of being a + citizen of the first and grandest republic ever established upon the face + of the earth. + </p> + <p> + That is a royal fortune. To be an heir of all the great and brave men of + this land, of all the good, loving and patient women; to be in possession + of the blessings that they have given, should make every healthy citizen + of the United States feel like a millionaire. + </p> + <p> + This, to-day, is the most prosperous country on the globe; and it is + something to be a citizen of this country. + </p> + <p> + It is well, too, whenever we meet, to draw attention to what has been done + by our ancestors. It is well to think of them and to thank them for all + their work, for all their courage, for all their toil. + </p> + <p> + Three hundred years ago our country was a vast wilderness, inhabited by a + few savages. Three hundred years ago—how short a time; hardly a tick + of the great clock of eternity—three hundred years; not a second in + the life even of this planet—three hundred years ago, a wilderness; + three hundred years ago, inhabited by a few savages; three hundred years + ago a few men in the Old World, dissatisfied, brave and adventurous, + trusted their lives to the sea and came to this land. + </p> + <p> + In 1776 there were only three millions of people all told. These men + settled on the shores of the sea. These men, by experience, learned to + govern themselves. These men, by experience, found that a man should be + respected in the proportion that he was useful. They found, by experience, + that titles were of no importance; that the real thing was the man, and + that the real things in the man were heart and brain. They found, by + experience, how to govern themselves, because there was nobody else here + when they came. The gentlemen who had been in the habit of governing their + fellow-men staid at home, and the men who had been in the habit of being + governed came here, and, consequently, they had to govern themselves. + </p> + <p> + And finally, educated by experience, by the rivers and forests, by the + grandeur and splendor of nature, they began to think that this continent + should not belong to any other; that it was great enough to count one, and + that they had the intelligence and manhood to lay the foundations of a + nation. + </p> + <p> + It would be impossible to pay too great and splendid a tribute to the + great and magnificent souls of that day. They saw the future. They saw + this country as it is now, and they endeavored to lay the foundation deep; + they endeavored to reach the bed-rock of human rights, the bed-rock of + justice. And thereupon they declared that all men were born equal; that + all the children of nature had at birth the same rights, and that all men + had the right to pursue the only good,—happiness. + </p> + <p> + And what did they say? They said that men should govern men; that the + power to govern should come from the consent of the governed, not from the + clouds, not from some winged phantom of the air, not from the aristocracy + of ether. They said that this power should come from men; that the men + living in this world should govern it, and that the gentlemen who were + dead should keep still. + </p> + <p> + They took another step, and said that church and state should forever be + divorced. That is no harm to real religion. It never was, because real + religion means the doing of justice; real religion means the giving to + others every right you claim for yourself; real religion consists in + duties of man to man, in feeding the hungry, in clothing the naked, in + defending the innocent, and in saying what you believe to be true. + </p> + <p> + Our fathers had enough sense to say that, and a man to do that in 1776 had + to be a pretty big fellow. It is not so much to say it now, because they + set the example; and, upon these principles of which I have spoken, they + fought the war of the Revolution. + </p> + <p> + At no time, probably, were the majority of our forefathers in favor of + independence, but enough of them were on the right side, and they finally + won a victory. And after the victory, those that had not been even in + favor of independence became, under the majority rule, more powerful than + the heroes of the Revolution. + </p> + <p> + Then it was that our fathers made a mistake. We have got to praise them + for what they did that was good, and we will mention what they did that + was wrong. + </p> + <p> + They forgot the principles for which they fought. They forgot the + sacredness of human liberty, and, in the name of freedom, they made a + mistake and put chains on the limbs of others. + </p> + <p> + That was their error; that was the poison that entered the American blood; + that was the corrupting influence that demoralized presidents and priests; + that was the influence that corrupted the United States of America. + </p> + <p> + That mistake, of course, had to be paid for, as all mistakes in nature + have to be paid for. And not only do you pay for your mistake itself, but + you pay at least ten per cent, compound interest. Whenever you do wrong, + and nobody finds it out, do not imagine you have gotten over it; you have + not. Nature knows it. + </p> + <p> + The consequences of every bad act are the invisible police that no prayers + can soften, and no gold can bribe. + </p> + <p> + Recollect that. Recollect, that for every bad act, there will be laid upon + your shoulder the arresting hand of the consequences; and it is precisely + the same with a nation as it is with an individual. You have got to pay + for all of your mistakes, and you have got to pay to the uttermost + farthing. That is the only forgiveness known in nature. Nature never + settles unless she can give a receipt in full. + </p> + <p> + I know a great many men differ with me, and have all sorts of bankruptcy + systems, but Nature is not built that way. + </p> + <p> + Finally, slavery took possession of the Government. Every man who wanted + an office had to be willing to step between a fugitive slave and his + liberty. + </p> + <p> + Slavery corrupted the courts, and made judges decide that the child born + in the State of Pennsylvania, whose mother had been a slave, could not be + free. + </p> + <p> + That was as infamous a decision as was ever rendered, and yet the people, + in the name of the law, did this thing, and the Supreme Court of the + United States did not know right from wrong. + </p> + <p> + These dignified gentlemen thought that labor could be paid by lashes on + the back—which was a kind of legal tender—and finally an + effort was made to subject the new territory—the Nation—to the + institution of slavery. + </p> + <p> + Then we had a war with Mexico, in which we got a good deal of glory and + one million square miles of land, but little honor. I will admit that we + got but little honor out of that war. That territory they wanted to give + to the slaveholder. + </p> + <p> + In 1803 we purchased from Napoleon the Great, one million square miles of + land, and then, in 1821, we bought Florida from Spain. So that, when the + war came, we had about three million square miles of new land. The object + was to subject all this territory to slavery. + </p> + <p> + The idea was to go on and sell the babes from their mothers until time + should be no more. The idea was to go on with the branding-iron and the + whip. The idea was to make it a crime to teach men, human beings, to read + and write; to make every Northern man believe that he was a bulldog, a + bloodhound to track down men and women, who, with the light of the North + Star in their eyes, were seeking the free soil of Great Britain. + </p> + <p> + Yes, in these times we had lots of mean folks. Let us remember that. + </p> + <p> + And all at once, under the forms of law, under the forms of our + Government, the greatest man under the flag was elected President. That + man was Abraham Lincoln. And then it was that those gentlemen of the South + said: "We will not be governed by the majority; we will be a law unto + ourselves." + </p> + <p> + And let me tell you here to-day—I am somewhat older than I used to + be; I have a little philosophy now that I had not at the nine o'clock in + the morning portion of my life—and I do not blame anybody. I do not + blame the South; I do not blame the Confederate soldier. + </p> + <p> + She—the South—was the fruit of conditions. She was born to + circumstances stronger than herself; and do you know, according to my + philosophy, (which is not quite orthodox), every man and woman in the + whole world are what conditions have made them. + </p> + <p> + So let us have some sense. The South said, "We will not submit; this is + not a nation, but a partnership of States." I am willing to go so far as + to admit that the South expressed the original idea of the Government. + </p> + <p> + But now the question was, to whom did the newly acquired property belong? + New States had been carved out of that territory; the soil of these States + had been purchased with the money of the Republic, and had the South the + right to take these States out of the Republic? That was the question. + </p> + <p> + The great West had another interest, and that was that no enemy, no other + nation, should control the mouth of the Mississippi. I regard the + Mississippi River as Nature's protest against secession. The old + Mississippi River says, and swears to it, that this country shall be one, + now and forever. + </p> + <p> + What was to be done? The South said, "We will never remain," and the North + said, "You shall not go." It was a little slow about saying it, it is + true. Some of the best Republicans in the North said, "Let it go." But the + second, sober thought of the great North said, "No, this is our country + and we are going to keep it on the map of the world." + </p> + <p> + And some who had been Democrats wheeled into line, and hundreds and + thousands said, "This is our country," and finally, when the Government + called for volunteers, hundreds and thousands came forward to offer their + services. Nothing more sublime was ever seen in the history of this world. + </p> + <p> + I congratulate you to-day that you live in a country that furnished the + greatest army that ever fought for human liberty in any country round the + world. I want you to know that. I want you to know that the North, East + and West furnished the greatest army that ever fought for human liberty. I + want you to know that Gen. Grant commanded more men, men fighting for the + right, not for conquest, than any other general who ever marshaled the + hosts of war. + </p> + <p> + Let us remember that, and let us be proud of it. The millions who poured + from the North for the defence of the flag—the story of their + heroism has been told to you again and again. I have told it myself many + times. It is known to every intelligent man and woman in the world. + Everybody knows how much we suffered. Everybody knows how we poured out + money like water; how we spent it like leaves of the forest. Everybody + knows how the brave blood was shed. Everybody knows the story of the + great, the heroic struggle, and everybody knows that at last victory came + to our side, and how the last sword of the Rebellion was handed to Gen. + Grant. There is no need to tell that story again. + </p> + <p> + But the question now, as we look back, is, was this country worth saving? + Was the blood shed in vain? Were the lives given for naught? That is the + question. + </p> + <p> + This country, according to my idea, is the one success of the world. Men + here have more to eat, more to wear, better houses, and, on the average, a + better education than those of any other nation now living, or any that + has passed away. + </p> + <p> + Was the country worth saving? + </p> + <p> + See what we have done in this country since 1860. We were not much of a + people then, to be honor bright about it. We were carrying, in the great + race of national life, the weight of slavery, and it poisoned us; it + paralyzed our best energies; it took from our politics the best minds; it + kept from the bench the greatest brains. + </p> + <p> + But what have we done since 1860, since we really became a free people, + since we came to our senses, since we have been willing to allow a man to + express his honest thoughts on every subject? + </p> + <p> + Do you know how much good we did? The war brought men together from every + part of the country and gave them an opportunity to compare their + foolishness. It gave them an opportunity to throw away their prejudices, + to find that a man who differed with them on every subject might be the + very best of fellows. That is what the war did. We have been broadening + ever since. + </p> + <p> + I sometimes have thought it did men good to make the trip to California in + 1849. As they went over the plains they dropped their prejudices on the + way. I think they did, and that's what killed the grass. + </p> + <p> + But to come back to my question, what have we done since 1860? + </p> + <p> + From 1860 to 1880, in spite of the waste of war, in spite of all the + property destroyed by flame, in spite of all the waste, our profits were + one billion three hundred and seventy-four million dollars. Think of it! + From 1860 to 1880! That is a vast sum. + </p> + <p> + From 1880 to 1890 our profits were two billion one hundred and thirty-nine + million dollars. + </p> + <p> + Men may talk against wealth as much as they please; they may talk about + money being the root of all evil, but there is little real happiness in + this world without some of it. It is very handy when staying at home and + it is almost indispensable when you travel abroad. Money is a good thing. + It makes others happy; it makes those happy whom you love, and if a man + can get a little together, when the night of death drops the curtain upon + him, he is satisfied that he has left a little to keep the wolf from the + door of those who, in life, were dear to him. Yes, money is a good thing, + especially since special providence has gone out of business. + </p> + <p> + I can see to-day something beyond the wildest dream of any patriot who + lived fifty years ago. The United States to-day is the richest nation on + the face of the earth. The old nations of the world, Egypt, India, Greece, + Rome, every one of them, when compared with this great Republic, must be + regarded as paupers. + </p> + <p> + How much do you suppose this Nation is worth to-day? I am talking about + land and cattle, products, manufactured articles and railways. Over + seventy thousand million dollars. Just think of it. + </p> + <p> + Take a thousand dollars and then take nine hundred and ninety-nine + thousand; so you will have one thousand piles of one thousand each. That + makes only a million, and yet the United States today is worth seventy + thousand millions. This is thirty-five percent, more than Great Britain is + worth. + </p> + <p> + We are a great Nation. We have got the land. This land was being made for + many millions of years. Its soil was being made by the great lakes and + rivers, and being brought down from the mountains for countless ages. + </p> + <p> + This continent was standing like a vast pan of milk, with the cream rising + for millions of years, and we were the chaps that got there when the + skimming commenced. + </p> + <p> + We are rich, and we ought to be rich. It is our own fault if we are not. + In every department of human endeavor, along every path and highway, the + progress of the Republic has been marvelous, beyond the power of language + to express. + </p> + <p> + Let me show you: In 1860 the horse-power of all the engines, the + locomotives and the steamboats that traversed the lakes and rivers—the + entire power—was three million five hundred thousand. In 1890 the + horse-power of engines and locomotives and steamboats was over seventeen + million. + </p> + <p> + Think of that and what it means! Think of the forces at work for the + benefit of the United States, the machines doing the work of thousands and + millions of men! + </p> + <p> + And remember that every engine that puffs is puffing for you; every road + that runs is running for you. I want you to know that the average man and + woman in the United States to-day has more of the conveniences of life + than kings and queens had one hundred years ago. + </p> + <p> + Yes, we are getting along. + </p> + <p> + In 1860 we used one billion eight hundred million dollars' worth of + products, of things manufactured and grown, and we sent to other countries + two hundred and fifty million dollars' worth. + </p> + <p> + In 1893 we used three billion eighty-nine million dollars' worth, and we + sent to other countries six hundred and fifty-four million dollars' worth. + </p> + <p> + You see, these vast sums are almost inconceivable. There is not a man + to-day with brains large enough to understand these figures; to understand + how many cars this money put upon the tracks, how much coal was devoured + by the locomotives, how many men plowed and worked in the fields, how many + sails were given to the wind, how many ships crossed the sea. + </p> + <p> + I tell you, there is no man able to think of the ships that were built, + the cars that were made, the mines that were opened, the trees that were + felled—no man has imagination enough to grasp the meaning of it all. + No man has any conception of the sea till he crosses it. I knew nothing of + how broad this country is until I went over it in a slow train. + </p> + <p> + Since 1860 the productive power of the United States has more than + trebled. + </p> + <p> + I like to talk about these things, because they mean good houses, carpets + on the floors, pictures on the walls, some books on the shelves. They mean + children going to school with their stomachs full of good food, prosperous + men and proud mothers. + </p> + <p> + All my life I have taken a much deeper interest in what men produce than + in what nature does. I would rather see the prairies, with the oats and + the wheat and the waving corn, and the schoolhouse, and hear the thrush + sing amid the happy homes of prosperous men and women—I would rather + see these things than any range of mountains in the world. Take it as you + will, a mountain is of no great value. + </p> + <p> + In 1860 our land was worth four billion five hundred million dollars; in + 1890 it was worth fourteen billion dollars. + </p> + <p> + In 1860 all the railroads in the United States were worth four hundred + million dollars, now they are worth a little less than ten thousand + million dollars. + </p> + <p> + I want you to understand what these figures mean. + </p> + <p> + For thirty years we spent, on an average, one million dollars a day in + building railroads.—I want you to think what that means. All that + money had to be dug out of the ground. It had to be made by raising + something or manufacturing something. We did not get it by writing essays + on finance, or discussing the silver question. It had to be made with the + ax, the plow, the reaper, the mower; in every form of industry; all to + produce these splendid results. + </p> + <p> + We have railroads enough now to make seven tracks around the great globe, + and enough left for side tracks. That is what we have done here, in what + the European nations are pleased to call "the new world." + </p> + <p> + I am telling you these things because you may not know them, and I did not + know them myself until a few days ago. I am anxious to give away + information, for it is only by giving it away that you can keep it. When + you have told it, you remember it. It is with information as it is with + liberty, the only way to be dead sure of it is to give it to other people. + </p> + <p> + In 1860 the houses in the United States, the cabins on the frontier, the + buildings in the cities, were worth six thousand million dollars. Now they + are worth over twenty-two thousand million dollars. To talk about figures + like these is enough to make a man dizzy. + </p> + <p> + In 1860 our animals of all kinds, including the Illinois deer—commonly + called swine—the oxen and horses, and all others, were worth about + one thousand million dollars; now they are worth about four thousand + million dollars. + </p> + <p> + Are we not getting rich? Our national debt today is nothing. It is like a + man who owes a cent and has a dollar. + </p> + <p> + Since 1860 we have been industrious. We have created two million five + hundred thousand new farms. Since 1860 we have done a good deal of + plowing; there have been a good many tired legs. I have been that way + myself. Since 1860 we have put in cultivation two hundred million acres of + land. Illinois, the best State in the Union, has thirty-five million acres + of land, and yet, since 1860, we have put in cultivation enough land to + make six States of the size of Illinois. That will give you some idea of + the quantity of work we have done. I will admit I have not done much of it + myself, but I am proud of it. + </p> + <p> + In 1860 we had four million five hundred and sixty-five thousand farmers + in this country, whose land and implements were worth over sixteen + thousand million dollars. The farmers of this country, on an average, are + worth five thousand dollars, and the peasants of the Old World, who + cultivate the soil, are not worth, on an average, ten dollars beyond the + wants of the moment. The farmers of our country produce, on an average, + about one million four hundred thousand dollars' worth of stuff a day. + </p> + <p> + What else? Have we in other directions kept pace with our physical + development? Have we developed the mind? Have we endeavored to develop the + brain? Have we endeavored to civilize the heart? I think we have. + </p> + <p> + We spend more for schools per head than any nation in the world. And the + common school is the breath of life. + </p> + <p> + Great Britain spends one dollar and thirty cents per head on the common + schools; France spends eighty cents; Austria, thirty cents; Germany, fifty + cents; Italy, twenty-five cents, and the United States over two dollars + and fifty cents. + </p> + <p> + I tell you the schoolhouse is the fortress of liberty. Every schoolhouse + is an arsenal, filled with weapons and ammunition to destroy the monsters + of ignorance and fear. + </p> + <p> + As I have said ten thousand times, the school-house is my cathedral. The + teacher is my preacher. + </p> + <p> + Eighty-seven per cent, of all the people of the United States, over ten + years of age, can read and write. There is no parallel for this in the + history of the wide world. + </p> + <p> + Over forty-two millions of educated citizens, to whom are opened all the + treasures of literature! + </p> + <p> + Forty-two millions of people, able to read and write! I say, there is no + parallel for this. The nations of antiquity were very ignorant when + compared with this great Republic of ours. There is no other nation in the + world that can show a record like ours. We ought to be proud of it. We + ought to build more schools, and build them better. Our teachers ought to + be paid more, and everything ought to be taught in the public school that + is worth knowing. + </p> + <p> + I believe that the children of the Republic, no matter whether their + fathers are rich or poor, ought to be allowed to drink at the fountain of + education, and it does not cost more to teach everything in the free + schools than it does teaching reading and writing and ciphering. + </p> + <p> + Have we kept up in other ways? The post office tells a wonderful story. In + Switzerland, going through the post office in each year, are letters, + etc., in the proportion of seventy-four to each inhabitant. In England the + number is sixty; in Germany, fifty-three; in France, thirty-nine; in + Austria, twenty-four; in Italy, sixteen, and in the United States, our own + home, one hundred and ten. Think of it. In Italy only twenty-five cents + paid per head for the support of the public schools and only sixteen + letters. And this is the place where God's agent lives. I would rather + have one good schoolmaster than two such agents. + </p> + <p> + There is another thing. A great deal has been said, from time to time, + about the workingman. I have as much sympathy with the workingman as + anybody on the earth—who does not work. There has always been a + desire in this world to let somebody else do the work, nearly everybody + having the modesty to stand back whenever there is anything to be done. In + savage countries they make the women do the work, so that the weak people + have always the bulk of the burdens. In civilized communities the poor are + the ones, of course, that work, and probably they are never fully paid. It + is pretty hard for a manufacturer to tell how much he can pay until he + sells the stuff which he manufactures. Every man who manufactures is not + rich. I know plenty of poor corporations; I know tramp railroads that have + not a dollar. And you will find some of them as anarchistic as you will + find their men. What a man can pay, depends upon how much he can get for + what he has produced. What the farmer can pay his help depends upon the + price he receives for his stock, his corn and his wheat. + </p> + <p> + But wages in this country are getting better day by day. We are getting a + little nearer to being civilized day by day, and when I want to make up my + mind on a subject I try to get a broad view of it, and not decide it on + one case. + </p> + <p> + In 1860 the average wages of the workingman were, per year, two hundred + and eighty-nine dollars. In 1890 the average was four hundred and + eighty-five. Thus the average has almost doubled in thirty years. The + necessaries of life are far cheaper than they were in 1860. Now, to my + mind, that is a hopeful sign. And when I am asked how can the dispute + between employer and employee be settled, I answer, it will be settled + when both parties become civilized. + </p> + <p> + It takes a long time to educate a man up to the point where he does not + want something for nothing. Yet, when a man is civilized, he does not. + </p> + <p> + He wants for a thing just what it is worth; he wants to give labor its + legitimate reward, and when he has something to sell he never wants more + than it is worth. I do not claim to be civilized myself; but all these + questions between capital and labor will be settled by civilization. + </p> + <p> + We are to-day accumulating wealth at the rate of more than seven million + dollars a day. Is not this perfectly splendid? + </p> + <p> + And in the midst of prosperity let us never forget the men who helped to + save our country, the men whose heroism gave us the prosperity we now + enjoy. + </p> + <p> + We have one-seventh of the good land of this world. You see there is a + great deal of poor land in the world. I know the first time I went to + California, I went to the Sink of the Humboldt, and what a forsaken look + it had. There was nothing there but mines of brimstone. On the train, + going over, there was a fellow who got into a dispute with a minister + about the first chapter of Genesis. And when they got along to the Sink of + the Humboldt the fellow says to the minister: + </p> + <p> + "Do you tell me that God made the world in six days, and then rested on + the seventh?" + </p> + <p> + He said, "I do." + </p> + <p> + "Well," said the fellow, "don't you think he could have put in another day + here to devilish good advantage?" + </p> + <p> + But, as I have said, we have got about one-seventh of the good land of the + world. I often hear people say that we have too many folks here; that we + ought to stop immigration; that we have no more room. The people who say + this know nothing of their country. They are ignorant of their native + land. I tell you that the valley of the Mississippi and the valleys of its + tributaries can support a population of five hundred millions of men, + women, and children. Don't talk of our being overpopulated; we have only + just started. + </p> + <p> + Here, in this land of ours, five hundred million men and women and + children can be supported and educated without trouble. We can afford to + double two or three times more. But what have we got to do? We have got to + educate them when they come. That is to say, we have got to educate their + children, and in a few generations we will have them splendid American + citizens, proud of the Republic. + </p> + <p> + We have no more patriotic men under the flag than the men who came from + other lands, the hundreds and thousands of those who fought to preserve + this country. And I think just as much of them as I would if they had been + born on American soil. What matters it where a man was born? It is what is + inside of him you have to look at—what kind of a heart he has, and + what kind of a head. I do not care where he was born; I simply ask, Is he + a man? Is he willing to give to others what he claims for himself? That is + the supreme test. + </p> + <p> + Now, I have got a hobby. I do not suppose any of you have heard of it. I + think the greatest thing for a country is for all of its citizens to have + a home. I think it is around the fireside of home that the virtues grow, + including patriotism. We want homes. + </p> + <p> + Until a few years ago it was the custom to put men in prison for debt. The + authorities threw a man into jail when he owed something which he could + not pay, and by throwing him into jail they deprived him of an opportunity + to earn what would pay it. After a little time they got sense enough to + know that they could not collect a debt in this way, and that it was + better to give him his freedom and allow him to earn something, if he + could. Therefore, imprisonment for debt was done away with. + </p> + <p> + At another time, when a man owed anything, if he was a carpenter, a + blacksmith or a shoemaker, and not able to pay it, they took his tools, on + a writ of sale and execution, and thus incapacitated him so that he could + do nothing. Finally they got sense enough to abolish that law, to leave + the mechanic his tools and the farmer his plows, horses and wagons, and + after this, debts were paid better than ever they were before. + </p> + <p> + Then we thought of protecting the home-builder, and we said: "We will have + a homestead exemption. We will put a roof over wife and child, which shall + be exempt from execution and sale," and so we preserved hundreds of + thousands and millions of homes, while debts were paid just as well as + ever they were paid before. + </p> + <p> + Now, I want to take a step further. I want, the rich people of this + country to support it. I want the people who are well off to pay the + taxes. I want the law to exempt a homestead of a certain value, say from + two thousand dollars to two thousand five hundred, and to exempt it, not + only from sale on judgment and execution, but to exempt it from taxes of + all sorts and kinds. I want to keep the roof over the heads of children + when the man himself is gone. I want that homestead to belong not only to + the man, but to wife and children. I would like to live to see a roof over + the heads of all the families of the Republic. I tell you, it does a man + good to have a home. You are in partnership with nature when you plant a + hill of corn. When you set out a tree you have a new interest in this + world. When you own a little tract of land you feel as if you and the + earth were partners. All these things dignify human nature. + </p> + <p> + Bad as I am, I have another hobby. There are thousands and thousands of + criminals in our country. I told you a little while ago I did not blame + the South, because of the conditions which prevailed in the South. The + people of the South did as they must. I am the same about the criminal. He + does as he must. + </p> + <p> + If you want to stop crime you must treat it properly. The conditions of + society must not be such as to produce criminals. + </p> + <p> + When a man steals and is sent to the penitentiary he ought to be sent + there to be reformed and not to be brutalized; to be made a better man, + not to be robbed. + </p> + <p> + I am in favor, when you put a man in the penitentiary, of making him work, + and I am in favor of paying him what his work is worth, so that in five + years, when he leaves the prison cell, he will have from two hundred + dollars to three hundred dollars as a breastwork between him and + temptation, and something for a foundation upon which to build a nobler + life. + </p> + <p> + Now he is turned out and before long he is driven back. Nobody will employ + him, nobody will take him, and, the night following the day of his release + he is without a roof over his head and goes back to his old ways. I would + allow him to change his name, to go to another State with a few hundred + dollars in his pocket and begin the world again. + </p> + <p> + We must recollect that it is the misfortune of a man to become a criminal. + </p> + <p> + I have hobbies and plenty of them. + </p> + <p> + I want to see five hundred millions of people living here in peace. If we + want them to live in peace, we must develop the brain, civilize the heart, + and above all things, must not forget education. Nothing should be taught + in the school that somebody does not know. + </p> + <p> + When I look about me to-day, when I think of the advance of my country, + then I think of the work that has been done. + </p> + <p> + Think of the millions who crossed the mysterious sea, of the thousands and + thousands of ships with their brave prows towards the West. + </p> + <p> + Think of the little settlements on the shores of the ocean, on the banks + of rivers, on the edges of forests. + </p> + <p> + Think of the countless conflicts with savages—of the midnight + attacks—of the cabin floors wet with the blood of dead fathers, + mothers and babes. + </p> + <p> + Think of the winters of want, of the days of toil, of the nights of fear, + of the hunger and hope. + </p> + <p> + Think of the courage, the sufferings and hardships. + </p> + <p> + Think of the homesickness, the disease and death. + </p> + <p> + Think of the labor; of the millions and millions of trees that were + felled, while the aisles of the great forests were filled with the echoes + of the ax; of the many millions of miles of furrows turned by the plow; of + the millions of miles of fences built; of the countless logs changed to + lumber by the saw—of the millions of huts, cabins and houses. + </p> + <p> + Think of the work. Listen, and you will hear the hum of wheels, the wheels + with which our mothers spun the flax and wool. Listen, and you will hear + the looms and flying shuttles with which they wove the cloth. + </p> + <p> + Think of the thousands still pressing toward the West, of the roads they + made, of the bridges they built; of the homes, where the sunlight fell, + where the bees hummed, the birds sang and the children laughed; of the + little towns with mill and shop, with inn and schoolhouse; of the old + stages, of the crack of the whips and the drivers' horns; of the canals + they dug. + </p> + <p> + Think of the many thousands still pressing toward the West, passing over + the Alleghanies to the shores of the Ohio and the great lakes—still + onward to the Mississippi—the Missouri. + </p> + <p> + See the endless processions of covered wagons drawn by horses, by oxen,—men + and boys and girls on foot, mothers and babes inside. See the glimmering + camp fires at night; see the thousands up with the sun and away, leaving + the perfume of coffee on the morning air, and sometimes leaving the + new-made grave of wife or child. Listen, and you will hear the cry of + "Gold!" and you will see many thousands crossing the great plains, + climbing the mountains and pressing on to the Pacific. + </p> + <p> + Think of the toil, the courage it has taken to possess this land! + </p> + <p> + Think of the ore that was dug, the furnaces that lit the nights with + flame; of the factories and mills by the rushing streams. + </p> + <p> + Think of the inventions that went hand in hand with the work; of the + flails that were changed to threshers; of the sickles that became cradles, + and the cradles that were changed to reapers and headers—of the + wooden plows that became iron and steel; of the spinning wheel that became + the jennie, and the old looms transformed to machines that almost think—of + the steamboats that traversed the rivers, making the towns that were far + apart neighbors and friends; of the stages that became cars, of the horses + changed to locomotives with breath of flame, and the roads of dust and mud + to highways of steel, of the rivers spanned and the mountains tunneled. + </p> + <p> + Think of the inventions, the improvements that changed the hut to the + cabin, the cabin to the house, the house to the palace, the earthen floors + and bare walls to carpets and pictures—that changed famine to feast—toil + to happy labor and poverty to wealth. + </p> + <p> + Think of the cost. + </p> + <p> + Think of the separation of families—of boys and girls leaving the + old home—taking with them the blessings and kisses of fathers and + mothers. Think of the homesickness, of the tears shed by the mothers left + by the daughters gone. Think of the millions of brave men deformed by + labor now sleeping in their honored graves. + </p> + <p> + Think of all that has been wrought, endured and accomplished for our good, + and let us remember with gratitude, with love and tears the brave men, the + patient loving women who subdued this land for us. + </p> + <p> + Then think of the heroes who served this country; who gave us this + glorious present and hope of a still more glorious future; think of the + men who really made us free, who secured the blessings of liberty, not + only to us, but to billions yet unborn. + </p> + <p> + This country will be covered with happy homes and free men and free women. + </p> + <p> + To-day we remember the heroic dead, those whose blood reddens the paths + and highways of honor; those who died upon the field, in the charge, in + prison-pens, or in famine's clutch; those who gave their lives that + liberty should not perish from the earth. And to-day we remember the great + leaders who have passed to the realm of silence, to the land of shadow. + Thomas, the rock of Chickamauga, self-poised, firm, brave, faithful; + Sherman, the reckless, the daring, the prudent and the victorious; + Sheridan, a soldier fit to have stood by Julius Cæsar and to have + uttered the words of command; and Grant, the silent, the invincible, the + unconquered; and rising above them all, Lincoln, the wise, the patient, + the merciful, the grandest figure in the Western world. We remember them + all today and hundreds of thousands who are not mentioned, but who are + equally worthy, hundreds of thousands of privates, deserving of equal + honor with the plumed leaders of the host. + </p> + <p> + And what shall I say to you, survivors of the death-filled days? To you, + my comrades, to you whom I have known in the great days, in the time when + the heart beat fast and the blood flowed strong; in the days of high hope—what + shall I say? All I can say is that my heart goes out to you, one and all. + To you who bared your bosoms to the storms of war; to you who left loved + ones to die, if need be, for the sacred cause. May you live long in the + land you helped to save; may the winter of your age be as green as spring, + as full of blossoms as summer, as generous as autumn, and may you, + surrounded by plenty, with your wives at your sides and your grandchildren + on your knees, live long. And when at last the fires of life burn low; + when you enter the deepening dusk of the last of many, many happy days; + when your brave hearts beat weak and slow, may the memory of your splendid + deeds; deeds that freed your fellow-men; deeds that kept your country on + the map of the world; deeds that kept the flag of the Republic in the air—may + the memory of these deeds fill your souls with peace and perfect joy. Let + it console you to know that you are not to be forgotten. Centuries hence + your story will be told in art and song, and upon your honored graves + flowers will be lovingly laid by millions' of men and women now unborn. + </p> + <p> + Again expressing the joy that I feel in having met you, and again saying + farewell to one and all, and wishing you all the blessings of life, I bid + you goodbye.* + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * At the last reunion of the Eleventh Illinois Cavalry, the + Colonel's old regiment, and the soldiers of Peoria county, + which Mr. Ingersoll attended, a little incident happened + which let us into the inner circle of his life. The meeting + was held at Elmwood. While the soldier were passing in + review the citizens and young people filled all the seats in + the park and crowded around the speaker's stand, so as to + occupy all available space. When the soldiers had finished + their parade and returned to the park, they found it + impossible to get near the speaker. Of course we were all + disappointed, but were forced to stand on the outskirts of + the vast throng. + + As soon as he ceased speaking, Mr. Ingersoll said to a + soldier that he would like to meet his comrades in the hall + at a certain hour in the afternoon. The word spread quickly, + and at the appointed hour the hall was crowded with + soldiers. The guard stationed at tue door was ordered to let + none but soldiers pass into the hall. Some of the comrades, + however, brought their wives. The guards, true to their + orders, refused to let the ladies pass. Just as Mr. + Ingersoll was ready to speak, word came to him that some of + the comrades' wives were outside and wanted permission to + pass the guard. The hall was full, but Mr. Ingersoll + requested all comrades whose wives were within reach to go + and get them. When his order had been complied with even + standing room was at a premium. When Mr. Ingersoll arose to + speak to that great assemblage of white-haired veterans and + their aged companions his voice was unusually tender, and the + wave of emotion that passed through the hall cannot be told + in words. Tears and cheers blended as Mr. Ingersoll arose + and began his speech with the statement that all present + were nearing the setting sun of life, and in all probability + that was the last opportunity many of them would have of + taking each other by the hand. + + In this half-hour impromptu speech the great-hearted man, + Robert G. Ingersoll, was seen at his best. It was not a + clash of opinions over party or creed, but it was a meeting + of hearts and communion together In the holy of holies of + human life. The address was a series of word-pictures that + still hang on the walls of memory. The speaker, in his most + sympathetic mood, drew a picture of the service of the G. A. + R., of the women of the republic, and then paid a beautiful + tribute to home and invoked the kindest and greatest + influence to guard his comrades and their companions during + the remainder of life's journey. + + We got very close to the man that day, where we could see + the heart of Mr. Ingersoll. I have often wished that a + reporter could have been present to preserve the address. + Imagine four beautiful word-paintings entitled, "The Service + of the G. A. R.," "The Influence of Noble Womanhood," "The + Sacredness of Home," and "The Pilgrimage of Life." Imagine + these word-paintings as drawn by Mr. Ingersoll under the + most favorable circumstances, and you have an idea of that + address. Mr. Ingersoll the Agnostic is a very different man + from Mr. Ingersoll the man and patriot. I cannot share the + doubts of this Agnostic. I cannot help admiring the man and + patriot.—The Rev. Frank McAlpine, Peoria Star, August 1, + 1895. +</pre> + <p> + <a name="link0018" id="link0018"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE CHICAGO AND NEW YORK GOLD SPEECH. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * "This world will see but one Ingersoll." + + Such was the terse, laconic, yet potent utterance that came + spontaneously from a celebrated statesman whose head is now + pillowed in the dust of death, as he stood in the lobby of + the old Burnet House in Cincinnati after the famous + Republican Convention in that city in 1876, at which Colonel + Robert G. Ingersoll made that powerful speech nominating + Blaine for the Presidency, one which is read and reread to- + day, and will be read in the future, as an example of the + highest art of the platform. + + That same sentiment in thought, emotion or vocal expression + emanated from upward of twenty thousand citizens last night + who heard the eloquent and magic Ingersoll in the great + tent stretched near the corner of Sacramento avenue and Lake + street as he expounded the living gospel of true + Republicanism. + + The old warhorse, silvered by long years of faithful service + to his country, aroused the same all-pervading enthusiasm as + he did in the campaigns of Grant and Hayes and Garfield. + + He has lost not one whit, not one iota of his striking + physical presence, his profound reasoning, his convincing + logic, his rollicking wit, grandiloquence—in fine, all the + graces of the orator of old, reenforced by increased + patriotism and the ardor of the call to battle for his + country, are still his in the fullest measure. + + Ingersoll in his powerful speech at Cincinnati, spoke in + behalf of a friend; last night he plead for his country. In + 1876 he eulogized a man; last night, twenty years afterward, + he upheld the principles of democratic government. Such was + the difference in his theme; the logic, the eloquence of his + utterances was the more profound In the same ratio. + + He came to the ground floor of human existence and talked as + man to man. His patriotism, be it religion, sentiment, or + that lofty spirit inseparable from man's soul, is his life. + Last night he sought to inspire those who heard him with the + same loyalty, and he succeeded. + + Those passionate outbursts of eloquence, the wit that fairly + scintillated, the logic as Inexorable as heaven's decrees, + his rich rhetoric and immutable facts driven straight to his + hearers with the strength of bullets, aroused applause that + came as spontaneous as sunlight. + + Now eliciting laughter, now silence, now cheers, the great + orator, with the singular charm of presence, manner and + voice, swayed his immense audience at his own volition. + Packed with potency was every sentence, each word a living + thing, and with them he flayed financial heresy, laid bare + the dire results of free trade, and exposed the dangers of + Populism. + + It was an immense audience that greeted him. The huge tent + was packed from center-pole to circumference, and thousands + went away because they could not gain entrance. The houses + in the vicinity were beautifully illuminated decorated. + + The Chairman, Wm. P. McCabe, in a brief but forcible speech, + presented Colonel Ingersoll to the vast audience. As the old + veteran of rebellion days arose from his seat, one + prolonged, tremendous cheer broke forth from the twenty + thousand throats. And it was fully fifteen minutes before + the great orator could begin to deliver his address. + + In his introductory speech Mr. McCabe said: + + "Friends and Fellow-Citizens: I have no set speech to make + to-night. My duty Is to introduce to you one whose big heart + and big brain is filled with love and patriotic care for the + things that concern the country he fought for and loved so + well. I now have the honor of introducing to you Hon. Robert + G. Ingersoll."—The Intrr-Ocean, Chicago, 111., October 9th, + 1895. +</pre> + <p> + 1896. + </p> + <p> + LADIES and Gentlemen: This is our country. + </p> + <p> + The legally expressed will of the majority is the supreme law of the land. + We are responsible for what our Government does. We cannot excuse + ourselves because of the act of some king, or the opinions of nobles. We + are the kings. We are the nobles. We are the aristocracy of America, and + when our Government does right we are honored, and when our Government + does wrong the brand of shame is on the American brow. + </p> + <p> + Again we are on the field of battle, where thought contends with thought, + the field of battle where facts are bullets and arguments are swords. + </p> + <p> + To-day there is in the United States a vast congress consisting of the + people, and in that congress every man has a voice, and it is the duty of + every man to inquire into all questions presented, to the end that he may + vote as a man and as a patriot should. + </p> + <p> + No American should be dominated by prejudice. No man standing under our + flag should follow after the fife and drum of a party. He should say to + himself: "I am a free man, and I will discharge the obligations of an + American citizen with all the intelligence I possess." + </p> + <p> + I love this country because the people are free; and if they are not free + it is their own fault. + </p> + <p> + To-night I am not going to appeal to your prejudices, if you have any. I + am going to talk to the sense that you have. I am going to address myself + to your brain and to your heart. I want nothing of you except that you + will preserve the institutions of the Republic; that you will maintain her + honor unstained. That is all I ask. + </p> + <p> + I admit that all the parties who disagree with me are honest. Large masses + of mankind are always honest, the leader not always, but the mass of + people do what they believe to be right. Consequently there is no argument + in abuse, nothing calculated to convince in calumny. To be kind, to be + candid, is far nobler, far better, and far more American. We live in a + Democracy, and we admit that every other human being has the same right to + think, the same right to express his thought, the same right to vote that + we have, and I want every one who hears me to vote in exact accord with + his sense, to cast his vote in accordance with his conscience. I want + every one to do the best he can for the great Republic, and no matter how + he votes, if he is honest, I shall find no fault. + </p> + <p> + But the great thing is to understand what you are going to do; the great + thing is to use the little sense that we have. In most of us the capital + is small, and it ought to be turned often. We ought to pay attention, we + ought to listen to what is said and then think, think for ourselves. + </p> + <p> + Several questions have been presented to the American people for their + solution, and I propose to speak a little about those questions, and I do + not want you to pretend to agree with me. I want no applause unless you + honestly believe I am right. + </p> + <p> + Three great questions are presented: First, as to money; second, as to the + tariff, and third, whether this Government has the right of self-defence. + Whether this is a Government of law, or whether there shall be an appeal + from the Supreme Court to a mob. These are the three questions to be + answered next Tuesday by the American people. + </p> + <p> + First, let us take up this money question. Thousands and thousands of + speeches have been made on the subject. Pamphlets thick as the leaves of + autumn have been scattered from one end of the Republic to the other, all + about money, as if it were an exceedingly metaphysical question, as though + there were something magical about it. + </p> + <p> + What is money? Money is a product of nature. Money is a part of nature. + Money is something that man cannot create. All the legislatures and + congresses of the world cannot by any possibility create one dollar, any + more than they could suspend the attraction of gravitation or hurl a new + constellation into the concave sky. Money is not made. It has to be found. + It is dug from the crevices of rocks, washed from the sands of streams, + from the gravel of ancient valleys; but it is not made. It cannot be + created. Money is something that does not have to be redeemed. Money is + the redeemer. And yet we have a man running for the presidency on three + platforms with two Vice-Presidents, who says that money is the creature of + law. It may be that law sometimes is the creature of money, but money was + never the creature of law. + </p> + <p> + A nation can no more create money by law than it can create corn and wheat + and barley by law, and the promise to pay money is no nearer money than a + warehouse receipt is grain, or a bill of fare is a dinner. If you can make + money by law, why should any nation be poor? + </p> + <p> + The supply of law is practically unlimited. Suppose one hundred people + should settle on an island, form a government, elect a legislature. They + would have the power to make law, and if law can make money, if money is + the creature of law, why should not these one hundred people on the island + be as wealthy as Great Britain? What is to hinder? And yet we are told + that money is the creature of law. In the financial world that is as + absurd as perpetual motion in mechanics; it is as absurd as the fountain + of eternal youth, the philosopher's stone, or the transmutation of metals. + </p> + <p> + What is a dollar? People imagine that a piece of paper with pictures on + it, with signatures, is money. The greenback is not money—never was; + never will be. It is a promise to pay money; not money. The note of the + nation is no nearer money than the note of an individual. A bank note is + not money. It is a promise to pay money; that is all. + </p> + <p> + Well, what is a dollar? In the civilized world it is twenty-three grains + and twenty-two one hundredths of pure gold. That is a dollar. Well, cannot + we make dollars out of silver? Yes, I admit it, but in order to make a + silver dollar you have got to put a dollars worth of silver in the silver + dollar, and you have to put as much silver in it as you can buy for + twenty-three grains and twenty-two one-hundredths' of a grain of pure + gold. It takes a dollar's worth of silver to make a dollar. It takes a + dollar's worth of paper to make a paper dollar. It takes a dollar's worth + of iron to make an iron dollar; and there is no way of making a dollar + without the value. + </p> + <p> + And let me tell you another thing. You do not add to the value of gold by + coining it any more than you add to the value of wheat by measuring it; + any more than you add to the value of coal by weighing it. Why do you coin + gold? Because every man cannot take a chemist's outfit with him. He cannot + carry a crucible and retort, scales and acids, and so the Government coins + it, simply to certify how much gold there is in the piece. + </p> + <p> + Ah, but, says this same gentleman, what gives our money—our silver—its + value? It is because it is a legal tender, he says. Nonsense; nonsense. + Gold was not given value by being made a legal tender, but being valuable + it was made a legal tender. And gold gets no value to-day from being a + legal tender. I not only say that, but I will prove it; and I will not + only prove it, but I will demonstrate it. Take a twenty dollar gold piece, + hammer it out of shape, mar the Goddess of Liberty, pound out the United + States of America and batter the eagle, and after you get it pounded how + much is it worth? + </p> + <p> + It is worth exactly twenty dollars. Is it a legal tender? No. Has its + value been changed? No. Take a silver dollar. It is a legal tender; now + pound it into a cube, and how much is it worth? A little less than fifty + cents. What gives it the value of a dollar? The fact that it is a legal + tender? No; but the promise of the Government to keep it on an equality + with gold. I will not only say this, but I will demonstrate it. I do not + ask you to take my word; just use the sense you have. + </p> + <p> + The Mexican silver dollar has a little more silver in it than one of our + dollars, and the Mexican silver dollar is a legal tender in Mexico. If + there is any magic about legal tender it ought to work as well in Mexico + as in the United States. I take an American silver dollar and I go to + Mexico. I buy a dinner for a dollar and I give to the Mexican the American + dollar and he gives me a Mexican dollar in change. Yet both of the dollars + are legal tender. Why is it that the Mexican dollar is worth only fifty + cents? Because the Mexican Government has not agreed to keep it equal with + gold; that is all, that is all. + </p> + <p> + We want the money of the civilized world, and I will tell you now that in + the procession of nations every silver nation lags behind—every one. + There is not a silver nation on the globe where decent wages are paid for + human labor—not one. The American laborer gets ten times as much + here in gold as a laborer gets in China in silver, twenty times as much as + a laborer does in India, four times as much as a laborer gets in Russia; + and yet we are told that the man who will "follow England" with the gold + standard lacks patriotism and manhood. What then shall we say of the man + that follows China, that follows India in the silver standard? + </p> + <p> + Does that require patriotism? + </p> + <p> + It certainly requires self-denial. + </p> + <p> + And yet these gentlemen say that our money is too good. They might as well + say the air is too pure; they might as well say the soil is too rich. How + can money be too good? Mr. Bryan says that it is so good, people hoard it; + and let me tell him they always will. Mr. Bryan wants money so poor that + everybody will be anxious to spend it. He wants money so poor that the + rich will not have it. Then he thinks the poor can get it. We are willing + to toil for good money. Good money means the comforts and luxuries of + life. Real money is always good. Paper promises and silver substitutes may + be poor; words and pictures may be cheap and may fade to worthlessness—but + gold shines on. + </p> + <p> + In Chicago, many years ago, there was an old colored man at the Grand + Pacific. I met him one morning, and he looked very sad, and I said to him, + "Uncle, what is the matter?" "Well," he said, "my wife ran away last + night. Pretty good looking woman; a good deal younger than I am; but she + has run off." And he says: "Colonel, I want to give you my idea about + marriage. If a man wants to marry a woman and have a good time, and be + satisfied and secure in his mind, he wants to marry some woman that no + other man on God's earth would have." + </p> + <p> + That is the kind of money these gentlemen want in the United States. Cheap + money. Do you know that the words cheap money are a contradiction in + terms? Cheap money is always discounted when people find out that it is + cheap. We want good money, and I do not care how much we get. But we want + good money. Men are willing to toil for good money; willing to work in the + mines; willing to work in the heat and glare of the furnace; willing to go + to the top of the mast on the wild sea; willing to work in tenements; + women are willing to sew with their eyes filled with tears for the sake of + good money. And if anything is to be paid in good money, labor is that + thing. If any man is entitled to pure gold, it is the man who labors. Let + the big fellows take cheap money. Let the men living next the soil be paid + in gold. But I want the money of this country as good as that of any other + country. + </p> + <p> + When our money is below par we feel below par. I want our money, no matter + how it is payable, to have the gold behind it. That is the money I want in + the United States. + </p> + <p> + I want to teach the people of the world that a Democracy is honest. I want + to teach the people of the world that America is not only capable of + self-government, but that it has the self-denial, the courage, the honor, + to pay its debts to the last farthing. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Bryan tells the farmers who are in debt that they want cheap money. + What for? To pay their debts. And he thinks that is a compliment to the + tillers of the soil. The statement is an insult to the farmers, and the + farmers of Maine and Vermont have answered him. + </p> + <p> + And if the farmers of those States with their soil can be honest, I think + a farmer in Illinois has no excuse for being a rascal. I regard the + farmers as honest men, and when the sun shines and the rains fall and the + frosts wait, they will pay their debts. They are good men, and I want to + tell you to-night that all the stories that have been told about farmers + being Populists are not true. + </p> + <p> + You will find the Populists in the towns, in the great cities, in the + villages. All the failures, no matter for what reason, are on the + Populist's side. They want to get rich by law. They are tired of work. + </p> + <p> + And yet Mr. Bryan says vote for cheap money so that you can pay your debts + in fifty cent dollars. Will an honest man do it? + </p> + <p> + Suppose a man has borrowed a thousand bushels of wheat of his neighbor, of + sixty pounds to the bushel, and then Congress should pass a law making + thirty pounds of wheat a bushel. Would that farmer pay his debt with five + hundred bushels and consider himself an honest man? + </p> + <p> + Mr. Bryan says, "Vote for cheap money to pay your debts," and thereupon + the creditor says, "What is to become of me?" Mr. Bryan says, "We will + make it one dollar and twenty-nine cents an ounce, and make it of the + ratio of sixteen to one, make it as good as gold." And thereupon the poor + debtor says, "How is that going to help me?" And in nearly all the + speeches that this man has made he has taken the two positions, first, + that we want cheap money to pay debts, and second, that the money would be + just as good as gold for creditors. + </p> + <p> + Now, the question is: Can Congress make fifty cents' worth of silver worth + one dollar? That is the question, and if Congress can, then I oppose the + scheme on account of its extravagance. What is the use of wasting all that + silver? Think about it. If Congress can make fifty cents' worth of silver + worth a dollar by law, why can it not make one cent's worth of silver + worth a dollar by law. Let us save the silver and use it for forks and + spoons. The supply even of silver is limited—the supply of law is + inexhaustible. Do not waste silver, use more law. You cannot fix values by + law any more than you can make cooler summers by shortening thermometers. + </p> + <p> + There is another trouble. If Congress, by the free coinage of silver, can + double its value, why should we allow an Englishman with a million + dollars' worth of silver bullion at the market price, to bring it to + America, have it coined free of charge, and make it exactly double the + value? Why should we put a million dollars in his pocket? That is too + generous. Why not buy the silver from him in the open market and let the + Government make the million dollars? Nothing is more absurd; nothing is + more idiotic. I admit that Mr. Bryan is honest. I admit it. If he were not + honest his intellectual pride would not allow him to make these + statements. + </p> + <p> + Well, another thing says our friend, "Gold has been cornered"; and + thousands of people believe it. + </p> + <p> + You have no idea of the credulity of some folks. I say that it has not + been cornered, and I will not only prove it, I will demonstrate it. + Whenever the Stock Exchange or some of the members have a corner on + stocks, that stock goes up, and if it does not, that corner bursts. + Whenever gentlemen in Chicago get up a corner on wheat in the Produce + Exchange, wheat goes up or the corner bursts. And yet they tell me there + has been a corner in gold for all these years, yet since 1873 to the + present time the rate of interest has steadily gone down. + </p> + <p> + If there had been a corner the rate of interest would have steadily + advanced. There is a demonstration. But let me ask, for my own + information, if they corner gold what will prevent their cornering silver? + Or are you going to have it so poor that it will not be worth cornering? + </p> + <p> + Then they say another thing, and that is that the demonetization of silver + is responsible for all the hardships we have endured, for all the + bankruptcy, for all the panics. That is not true, and I will not only + prove it, but I will demonstrate it. The poison of demonetization entered + the American veins, as they tell us, in 1873, and has been busy in its + hellish work from that time to this; and yet, nineteen years after we were + vaccinated, 1892, was the most prosperous year ever known by this + Republic. All the wheels turning, all the furnaces aflame, work at good + wages, everybody prosperous. How, Mr. Bryanite, how do you account for + that? Just be honest a minute and think about it. + </p> + <p> + Then there is another thing. In 1816 Great Britain demonetized silver, and + that wretched old government has had nothing but gold from that day to + this as a standard. And to show you the frightful results of that + demonetization, that government does not own now above one-third of the + globe, and all the winds are busy floating her flags. There is a + demonstration. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Bryan tells us that free coinage will bring silver 16 to 1. What is + the use of stopping there? Why not make it 1 to 1? Why not make it equal + with gold and be done with it? And why should it stop at exactly one + dollar and twenty-nine cents? I do not know. I am not well acquainted with + all the facts that enter into the question of value, but why should it + stop at exactly one dollar and twenty-nine cents? I do not know. And I + guess if he were cross-examined along toward the close of the trial he + would admit that he did not know. + </p> + <p> + And yet this statesman calls this silver the money of our fathers. Well, + let us see. Our fathers did some good things. In 1792 they made gold and + silver the standards, and at a ratio of 15 to 1. But where you have two + metals and endeavor to make a double standard it is very hard to keep them + even. They vary, and, as old Dogberry says, "An two men ride of a horse, + one must ride behind." They made the ratio 15 to 1, and who did it? Thomas + Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton. Jefferson, the greatest man, with one + exception, that ever sat in the presidential chair. With one exception. [A + voice: "Who was that?"] Abraham Lincoln. Alexander Hamilton, with more + executive ability than any other man that ever stood under the flag. And + how did they fix the ratio? They found the commercial value in the market; + that is how they did it. And they went on and issued American dollars 15 + to 1; and in 1806, when Jefferson was President, the coinage was stopped. + Why? There was too much silver in the dollars, and people instead of + passing them around put them aside and sold them to the silversmiths. + </p> + <p> + Then in 1834 the ratios changed; not quite sixteen to one. That was based + again on the commercial value, and instead of sixteen to one they went + into the thousands in decimals. It was not quite sixteen to one. They + wanted to fix it absolutely on the commercial value. Then a few more + dollars were coined; and our fathers coined of these sacred dollars up to + 1873, eight millions, and seven millions had been melted. + </p> + <p> + In 1853 the gold standard was in fact adopted, and, as I have told you, + from 1792 to 1873 only eight millions of silver had been coined. + </p> + <p> + What have the "enemies of silver" done since that time? Under the act of + 1878 we have coined over four hundred and thirty millions of these blessed + dollars. We bought four million ounces of silver in the open market every + month, and in spite of the vast purchases silver continued to go down. We + are coining about two millions a month now, and silver is still going + down. Even the expectation of the election of Bryan cannot add the tenth + of one per cent, to the value of silver bullion. It is going down day by + day. + </p> + <p> + But what I want to say to-night is, if you want silver money, measure it + by the gold standard. + </p> + <p> + I wish every one here would read the speech of Senator Sherman, delivered + at Columbus a little while ago, in which he gives the history of American + coinage, and every man who will read it will find that silver was not + demonetized in 1873. You will find that it was demonetized in 1853, and if + he will read back he will find that the apostles of silver now were in + favor of the gold standard in 1873. Senator Jones of Nevada in 1873 voted + for the law of 1873. He said from his seat in the Senate, that God had + made gold the standard. He said that gold was the mother of civilization. + Whether he has heard from God since or not I do not know. But now he is on + the other side. Senator Stewart of Nevada was there at the time; he voted + for the act of 1873, and said that gold was the only standard. He has + changed his mind. So they have said of me that I used to talk another way, + and they have published little portions of speeches, without publishing + all that was said. I want to tell you to-night that I have never changed + on the money question. + </p> + <p> + On many subjects I have changed. I am very glad to feel that I have grown + a little in the last forty or fifty years. And a man should allow himself + to grow, to bud and blossom and bear new fruit, and not be satisfied with + the rotten apples under the tree. + </p> + <p> + But on the money question I have not changed. Sixteen years ago in this + city at Cooper Union, in 1880, in discussing this precise question, I said + that I wanted gold and silver and paper; that I wanted the paper issued by + the General Government, and back of every paper dollar I wanted a gold + dollar or a silver dollar worth a dollar in gold. I said then, "I want + that silver dollar worth a dollar in gold if you have to make it four feet + in diameter." I said then, "I want our paper so perfectly secure that when + the savage in Central Africa looks upon a Government bill of the United + States his eyes will gleam as though he looked at shining gold." I said + then, "I want every paper dollar of the Union to be able to hold up its + hand and swear, 'I know that my Redeemer liveth.'" I said then, "The + Republic cannot afford to debase money; cannot afford to be a clipper of + coin; an honest nation, honest money; for nations as well as individuals, + honesty is the best policy everywhere and forever." I have not changed on + that subject. As I told a gentleman the other day, "I am more for silver + than you are because I want twice as much of it in a dollar as you do." + </p> + <p> + Ah, but they say, "free coinage would bring prosperity." I do not believe + it, and I will tell you why. Elect Bryan, come to the silver standard, and + what would happen? We have in the United States about six hundred million + dollars in gold. Every dollar would instantly go out of circulation. Why? + No man will use the best money when he can use cheaper. Remember that. No + carpenter will use mahogany when his contract allows pine. Gold will go + out of circulation, and what next would happen? All the greenbacks would + fall to fifty cents on the dollar. The only reason they are worth a dollar + now is because the Government has agreed to pay them in gold. When you + come to a silver basis they fall to fifty cents. What next? All the + national bank notes would be cut square in two. Why? Because they are + secured by United States bonds, and when we come to a silver basis, United + States bonds would be paid in silver, fifty cents on the dollar. And what + else would happen? What else? These sacred silver dollars would instantly + become fifty cent pieces, because they would no longer be redeemable in + gold; because the Government would no longer be under obligation to keep + them on a parity with gold. And how much currency and specie would that + leave for us in the United States? In value three hundred and fifty + million dollars. That is five dollars per capita. We have twenty dollars + per capita now, and yet they want to go to five dollars for the purpose of + producing prosperous times! + </p> + <p> + What else would happen? Every human being living on an income would lose + just one-half. Every soldiers' pension would be cut in two. Every human + being who has a credit in the savings bank would lose just one-half. All + the life insurance companies would pay just one-half. All the fire + insurance companies would pay just one-half, and leave you the ashes for + the balance. That is what they call prosperity. + </p> + <p> + And what else? The Republic would be dishonored. The believers in monarchy—in + the divine right of kings—the aristocracies of the Old World—would + say, "Democracy is a failure, freedom is a fraud, and liberty is a liar;" + and we would be compelled to admit the truth. No; we want good, honest + money. We want money that will be good when we are dead. We want money + that will keep the wolf from the door, no matter what Congress does. We + want money that no law can create; that is what we want. There was a time + when Rome was mistress of the world, and there was a time when the arch of + the empire fell, and the empire was buried in the dust of oblivion; and + before those days the Roman people coined gold, and one of those coins is + as good to-night as when Julius Cæsar rode at the head of his + legions. That is the money we want. We want money that is honest. + </p> + <p> + But Mr. Bryan hates the bondholders. Who are the bondholders? Let us be + honest; let us have some sense. When this Government was in the flame of + civil war it was compelled to sell bonds, and everybody who bought a bond + bought it because he believed the great Republic would triumph at last. + Every man who bought a bond was our friend, and every bond that he + purchased added to the chances of our success. They were our friends, and + I respect them all. Most of them are dead, and the bonds they bought have + been sold and resold maybe hundreds of times, and the men who have them + now paid a hundred and twenty in gold, and why should they not be paid in + gold? Can any human being think of any reason? And yet Mr. Bryan says that + the debt is so great that it cannot be paid in gold. How much is the + Republic worth? Let me tell you? This Republic to-day—its lands in + cultivation, its houses, railways, canals, and money—is worth + seventy thousand million dollars. And what do we owe? One billion five + hundred million dollars, and what is the condition of the country? It is + the condition of a man who has seventy dollars and owes one dollar and a + half. This is the richest country on the globe. Have we any excuse for + being thieves? Have we any excuse for failing to pay the debt? No, sir; + no, sir. Mr. Bryan hates the bondholders of the railways. Why? I do not + know. What did those wretches do? They furnished the money to build the + one hundred and eighty thousand miles of railway in the United States; + that is what they did. + </p> + <p> + They paid the money that threw up the road-bed, that shoveled the gravel; + they paid the men that turned the ore into steel and put it in form for + use; they paid the men that cut down the trees and made the ties, that + manufactured the locomotives and the cars. That is what they did. No + wonder that a presidential failure hates them. + </p> + <p> + So this man hates bankers. Now, what is a banker? Here is a little town of + five thousand people, and some of them have a little money. They do not + want to keep it in the house because some Bryan man might find it; I mean + if it were silver. So one citizen buys a safe and rents a room and tells + all the people, "You deposit the overplus with me to hold it subject to + your order upon your orders signed as checks;" and so they do, and in a + little while he finds that he has on hand continually about one hundred + thousand dollars more than is called for, and thereupon he loans it to the + fellow who started the livery stable and to the chap that opened the + grocery and to the fellow with the store, and he makes this idle money + work for the good and prosperity of that town. And that is all he does. + And these bankers now, if Mr. Bryan becomes President, can pay the + depositors in fifty cent dollars; and yet they are such rascally wretches + that they say, "We prefer to pay back gold." You can see how mean they + are. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Bryan hates the rich. Would he like to be rich? He hates the + bondholders. Would he like to have a million? He hates the successful man. + Does he want to be a failure? If he does, let him wait until the third day + of November. We want honest money because we are honest people; and there + never was any real prosperity for a nation or an individual without + honesty, without integrity, and it is our duty to preserve the reputation + of the great Republic. + </p> + <p> + Better be an honest bankrupt than a rich thief. Poverty can hold in its + hand the jewel, honor—a jewel that outshines all other gems. A + thousand times better be poor and noble than rich and fraudulent. + </p> + <p> + Then there is another question—the question of the tariff. I admit + that there are a great many arguments in favor of free trade, but I assert + that all the facts are the other way. I want American people as far as + possible to manufacture everything that Americans use. + </p> + <p> + The more industries we have the more we will develop the American brain, + and the best crop you can raise in every country is a crop of good men and + good women—of intelligent people. And another thing, I want to keep + this market for ourselves. A nation that sells raw material will grow + ignorant and poor; a nation that manufactures will grow intelligent and + rich. It only takes muscle to dig ore. It takes mind to manufacture a + locomotive, and only that labor is profitable that is mixed with thought. + Muscle must be in partnership with brain. I am in favor of keeping this + market for ourselves, and yet some people say: "Give us the market of the + world." Well, why don't you take it? There is no export duty on anything. + You can get things out of this country cheaper than from any other country + in the world. Iron is as cheap here in the ground, so are coal and stone, + as any place on earth. The timber is as cheap in the forest. Why don't you + make things and sell them in Central Africa, in China and Japan? Why don't + you do it? I will tell you why. It is because labor is too high; that is + all. Almost the entire value is labor. You make a ton of steel rails worth + twenty-five dollars; the ore in the ground is worth only a few cents, the + coal in the earth only a few cents, the lime in the cliff only a few cents—altogether + not one dollar and fifty cents; but the ton is worth twenty-five dollars; + twenty-three dollars and fifty cents labor! That is the trouble. The + steamship is worth five hundred thousand dollars, but the raw material is + not worth ten thousand dollars. The rest is labor. Why is labor higher + here than in Europe? Protection. And why do these gentlemen ask for the + trade of the world? Why do they ask for free trade? Because they want + cheaper labor. That is all; cheaper labor. The markets of the world! We + want our own markets. I would rather have the market of Illinois than all + of China with her four hundred millions. I would rather have the market of + one good county in New York than all of Mexico. What do they want in + Mexico? A little red calico, a few sombreros and some spurs. They make + their own liquor and they live on red pepper and beans. What do you want + of their markets? We want to keep our own. In other words, we want to + pursue the policy that has given us prosperity in the past. We tried a + little bit of free trade in 1892 when we were all prosperous. I said then: + "If Grover Cleveland is elected it will cost the people five hundred + million dollars." I am no prophet, nor the son of a prophet, nor a + profitable son, but I placed the figure too low. His election has cost a + thousand million dollars. There is an old song, "You Put the Wrong Man off + at Buffalo;" we took the wrong man on at Buffalo. We tried just a little + of it, not much. We tried the Wilson bill—a bill, according to Mr. + Cleveland, born of perfidy and dishonor—a bill that he was not quite + foolish enough to sign and not brave enough to veto. We tried it and we + are tired of it, and if experience is a teacher the American people know a + little more than they did. We want to do our own work, and we want to + mingle our thought with our labor. We are the most inventive of all the + peoples. We sustain the same relation to invention that the ancient Greeks + did to sculpture. We want to develop the brain; we want to cultivate the + imagination, and we want to cover our land with happy homes. A thing is + worth sometimes the thought that is in it, sometimes the genius. Here is a + man buys a little piece of linen for twenty-five cents, he buys a few + paints for fifteen cents, and a few brushes, and he paints a picture; just + a little one; a picture, maybe, of a cottage with a dear old woman, white + hair, serene forehead and satisfied eyes; at the corner a few hollyhocks + in bloom—may be a tree in blossom, and as you listen you seem to + hear the songs of birds—the hum of bees, and your childhood all + comes back to you as you look. You feel the dewy grass beneath your bare + feet once again, and you go back in your mind until the dear old woman on + the porch is once more young and fair. There is a soul there. Genius has + done its work. And the little picture is worth five, ten, may be fifty + thousand dollars. All the result of labor and genius. + </p> + <p> + And another thing we want is to produce great men and great women here in + our own country; then again we want business. Talk about charity, talk + about the few dollars that fall unconsciously from the hand of wealth, + talk about your poorhouses and your sewing societies and your poor little + efforts in the missionary line in the worst part of your town! Ah, there + is no charity like business. Business gives work to labor's countless + hands; business wipes the tears from the eyes of widows and orphans; + business dimples with joy the cheek of sorrow; business puts a roof above + the heads of the homeless; business covers the land with happy homes. + </p> + <p> + We do not want any populistic philanthropy. We want no fiat philosophy. We + want no silver swindles. We want business. Wind and wave are our servants; + let them work. Steam and electricity are our slaves; let them toil. Let + all the wheels whirl; let all the shuttles fly. Fill the air with the + echoes of hammer and saw. Fill the furnace with flame; the moulds with + liquid iron. Let them glow. + </p> + <p> + Build homes and palaces of trade. Plow the fields, reap the waving grain. + Create all things that man can use. Business will feed the hungry, clothe + the naked, educate the ignorant, enrich the world with art—fill the + air with song. Give us Protection and Prosperity. Do not cheat us with + free trade dreams. Do not deceive us with debased coin. Give us good money—the + life blood of business—and let it flow through the veins and + arteries of commerce. + </p> + <p> + And let me tell you to-night the smoke arising from the factories' great + plants forms the only cloud on which has ever been seen the glittering bow + of American promise. We want work, and I tell you to-night that my + sympathies are with the men who work, with the women who weep. I know that + labor is the Atlas on whose shoulders rests the great superstructure of + civilization and the great dome of science adorned with all there is of + art. Labor is the great oak, labor is the great column, and labor, with + its deft and cunning hands, has created the countless things of art and + beauty. I want to see labor paid. I want to see capital civilized until it + will be willing to give labor its share, and I want labor intelligent + enough to settle all these questions in the high court of reason. And let + me tell the workingman to-night: You will never help your self by + destroying your employer. You have work to sell. Somebody has to buy it, + if it is bought, and somebody has to buy it that has the money. Who is + going to manufacture something that will not sell. Nobody is going into + the manufacturing business through philanthropy, and unless your employer + makes a profit, the mill will be shut down and you will be out of work. + The interest of the employer and the employed should be one. Whenever the + employers of the continent are successful, then the workingman is better + paid, and you know it. I have some hope in the future for the workingman. + I know what it is to work. I do not think my natural disposition runs in + that direction, but I know what it is to work, and I have worked with all + my might at one dollar and a half a week. I did the work of a man for + fifty cents a day, and I was not sorry for it. In the horizon of my future + burned and gleamed the perpetual star of hope. I said to myself: I live in + a free country, and I have a chance; I live in a free country, and I have + as much liberty as any other man beneath the flag, and I have enjoyed it. + </p> + <p> + Something has been done for labor. Only a few years ago a man worked + fifteen or sixteen hours a day, but the hours have been reduced to at + least ten and are on the way to still further reduction. And while the + hours have been decreased the wages have as certainly been increased. In + forty years—in less—the wages of American workingmen have + doubled. A little while ago you received an average of two hundred and + eighty-five dollars a year; now you receive an average of more than four + hundred and ninety dollars; there is the difference. So it seems to me + that the star of hope is still in the sky for every workingman. Then there + is another thing: every workingman in this country can take his little boy + on his knee and say, "John, all the avenues to distinction, wealth, and + glory are open to you. There is the free school; take your chances with + the rest." And it seems to me that that thought ought to sweeten every + drop of sweat that trickles down the honest brow of toil. + </p> + <p> + So let us have protection! How much? Enough, so that our income at least + will equal our outgo. That is a good way to keep house. I am tired of + depression and deficit. I do not like to see a President pawning bonds to + raise money to pay his own salary. I do not like to see the great Republic + at the mercy of anybody, so let us stand by protection. + </p> + <p> + There is another trouble. The gentleman now running for the presidency—a + tireless talker—oh, if he had a brain equal to his vocal chords, + what a man! And yet when I read his speeches it seems to me as though he + stood on his head and thought with his feet. This man is endeavoring to + excite class against class, to excite the poor against the rich. Let me + tell you something. We have no classes in the United States. There are no + permanent classes here. The millionaire may be a mendicant, the mendicant + may be a millionaire. The man now working for the millionaire may employ + that millionaire's sons to work for him. There is a chance for us all. + Sometimes a numskull is born in the mansion, and a genius rises from the + gutter. Old Mother Nature has a queer way of taking care of her children. + You cannot tell. You cannot tell. Here we have a free open field of + competition, and if a man passes me in the race I say: "Good luck. Get + ahead of me if you can, you are welcome." + </p> + <p> + And why should I hate the rich? Why should I make my heart a den of + writhing, hissing snakes of envy? Get rich. I do not care. I am glad I + live in a country where somebody can get rich. It is a spur in the flank + of ambition. Let them get rich. I have known good men that were quite + rich, and I have known some mean men who were in straitened circumstances. + So I have known as good men as ever breathed the air, who were poor. We + must respect the man; what is inside, not what is outside. + </p> + <p> + That is why I like this country. That is why I do not want it dishonored. + I want no class feeling. The citizens of America should be friends. Where + capital is just and labor intelligent, happiness dwells. Fortunate that + country where the rich are extravagant and the poor economical. Miserable + that country where the rich are economical and the poor are extravagant. A + rich spendthrift is a blessing. A rich miser is a curse. Extravagance is a + splendid form of charity. Let the rich spend, let them build, let them + give work to their fellow-men, and I will find no fault with their wealth, + provided they obtained it honestly. + </p> + <p> + There was an old fellow by the name of Socrates. He happened to be + civilized, living in a barbarous time, and he was tried for his life. And + in his speech in which he defended himself is a paragraph that ought to + remain in the memory of the human race forever. + </p> + <p> + He said to those judges, "During my life I have not sought ambition, + wealth. I have not sought to adorn my body, but I have endeavored to adorn + my soul with the jewels of patience and justice, and above all, with the + love of liberty." Such a man rises above all wealth. + </p> + <p> + Why should we envy the rich? Why envy a man who has no earthly needs? Why + envy a man that carries a hundred canes? Why envy a man who has that which + he cannot use? I know a great many rich men and I have read about a great + many others, and I do not envy them. They are no happier than I am. You + see, after all, few rich men own their property. The property owns them. + It gets them up early in the morning. It will not let them sleep; it makes + them suspect their friends. Sometimes they think their children would like + to attend a first-class funeral. Why should we envy the rich? They have + fear; we have hope. They are on the top of the ladder; we are close to the + ground. They are afraid of falling, and we hope to rise. + </p> + <p> + Why should we envy the rich? They never drank any colder water than I + have. They never ate any lighter biscuits or any better corn bread. They + never drank any better Illinois wine, or felt better after drinking it, + than I have; than you have. They never saw any more glorious sunsets with + the great palaces of amethyst and gold, and they never saw the heavens + thicker with constellations; they never read better poetry. They know no + more about the ecstasies of love than we do. They never got any more + pleasure out of courting than I did. Why should we envy the rich? I know + as much about the ecstasies of love of wife and child and friends as they. + They never had any better weather in June than I have, or you have. They + can buy splendid pictures. I can look at them. And who owns a great + picture or a great statue? The man who bought it? Possibly, and possibly + not. The man who really owns it, is the man who understands it, that + appreciates it, the man into whose heart its beauty and genius come, the + man who is ennobled and refined and glorified by it. + </p> + <p> + They have never heard any better music than I have. + </p> + <p> + When the great notes, winged like eagles, soar to the great dome of sound, + I have felt just as good as though I had a hundred million dollars. + </p> + <p> + Do not try to divide this country into classes. The rich man that + endeavors to help his fellow-man deserves the honor and respect of the + great Republic. I have nothing against the man that got rich in the free + and open field of competition. Where they combine to rob their fellow-men, + then I want the laws enforced. That is all. Let them play fair and they + are welcome to all they get. + </p> + <p> + And why should we hate the successful? Why? We cannot all be first. The + race is a vast procession; a great many hundred millions are back of the + center, and in front there is only one human being; that is all. Shall we + wait for the other fellows to catch up? Shall the procession stop? I say, + help the fallen, assist the weak, help the poor, bind up the wounds, but + do not stop the procession. + </p> + <p> + Why should we envy the successful? Why should we hate them? And why should + we array class against class? It is all wrong. For instance, here is a + young man, and he is industrious. He is in love with a girl around the + corner. She is in his brain all day—in his heart all night, and + while he is working he is thinking. He gets a little ahead, they get + married. He is an honest man, he gets credit, and the first thing you know + he has a good business of his own and he gets rich; educates his children, + and his old age is filled with content and love. Good! His companions bask + in the sunshine of idleness. They have wasted their time, wasted their + wages in dissipation, and when the winter of life comes, when the snow + falls on the barren fields of the wasted days, then shivering with cold, + pinched with hunger, they curse the man who has succeeded. Thereupon they + all vote for Bryan. + </p> + <p> + Then there is another question, and that is whether the Government has a + right to protect itself? And that is whether the employees of railways + shall have a right to stop the trains, a right to prevent interstate + commerce, a right to burn bridges and shoot engineers? Has the United + States the right to protect commerce between the States? I say, yes. + </p> + <p> + It is the duty of the President to lay the mailed hand of the Republic + upon the mob. We want no mobs in this country. This is a Government of the + people and by the people, a Government of law, and these laws should be + interpreted by the courts in judicial calm. We have a supreme tribunal. + Undoubtedly it has made some bad decisions, but it has made a vast number + of good ones. The judges do the best they can. Of course they are not like + Mr. Bryan, infallible. But they are doing the best they can, and when they + make a decision that is wrong it will be attacked by reason, it will be + attacked by argument, and in time it will be reversed, but I do not + believe in attacking it with a torch or by a mob. I hate the mob spirit. + Civilized men obey the law. Civilized men believe in order. Civilized men + believe that a man that makes property by industry and economy has the + right to keep it. Civilized men believe that that man has the right to use + it as he desires, and they will judge of his character by the manner in + which he uses it. If he endeavors to assist his fellow-man he will have + the respect and admiration of his fellow-men. But we want a Government of + law. We do not want labor questions settled by violence and blood. + </p> + <p> + I want to civilize the capitalist so that he will be willing to give what + labor is worth. I want to educate the workingman so that he will be + willing to receive what labor is worth. I want to civilize them both to + that degree that they can settle all their disputes in the high court of + reason. + </p> + <p> + But when you tell me that they can stop the commerce of the Nation, then + you preach the gospel of the bludgeon, the gospel of torch and bomb. I do + not believe in that religion. I believe in a religion of kindness, reason + and law. The law is the supreme will of the supreme people, and we must + obey it or we go back to savagery and black night. I stand by the courts. + I stand by the President who endeavors to preserve the peace. I am against + mobs; I am against lynchings, and I believe it is the duty of the Federal + Government to protect all of its citizens at home and abroad; and I want a + Government powerful enough to say to the Governor of any State where they + are murdering American citizens without process of law—I want the + Federal Government to say to the Governor of that State: "Stop; stop + shedding the blood of American citizens. And if you cannot stop it, we + can." I believe in a Government that will protect the lowest, the poorest + and weakest as promptly as the mightiest and strongest. That is my + Government. This old doctrine of State Sovereignty perished in the flame + of civil war, and I tell you to-night that that infamous lie was + surrendered to Grant with Lee's sword at Appomattox. + </p> + <p> + I believe in a strong Government, not in a Government that can make money, + but in a strong Government. + </p> + <p> + Oh, I forgot to ask the question, "If the Government can make money why + should it collect taxes?" + </p> + <p> + Let us be honest. Here is a poor man with a little yoke of cattle, + cultivating forty acres of stony ground, working like a slave in the heat + of summer, in the cold blasts of winter, and the Government makes him pay + ten dollars taxes, when, according to these gentlemen, it could issue a + one hundred thousand dollar bill in a second. Issue the bill and give the + fellow with the cattle a rest. Is it possible for the mind to conceive + anything more absurd than that the Government can create money? + </p> + <p> + Now, the next question is, or the next thing is, you have to choose + between men. Shall Mr. Bryan be the next President or shall McKinley + occupy that chair? Who is Mr. Bryan? He is not a tried man. If he had the + capacity to reason, if he had logic, if he could spread the wings of + imagination, if there were in his heart the divine flower called pity, he + might be an orator, but lacking all these, he is as he is. + </p> + <p> + When Major McKinley was fighting under the flag, Bryan was in his mother's + arms, and judging from his speeches he ought to be there still. What is + he? He is a Populist. He voted for General Weaver. + </p> + <p> + Only a little while ago he denied being a Democrat. His mind is filled + with vagaries. A fiat money man. His brain is an insane asylum without a + keeper. + </p> + <p> + Imagine that man President. Whom would he call about him? Upon whom would + he rely? Probably for Secretary of State he would choose Ignatius Donnelly + of Minnesota; for Secretary of the Interior, Henry George; for Secretary + of War, Tillman with his pitchforks; for Postmaster-General, Peffer of + Kansas. Once somebody said: "If you believe in fiat money, why don't you + believe in fiat hay, and you can make enough hay out of Peffer's whiskers + to feed all the cattle in the country." For Secretary of the Treasury, + Coin Harvey. For Secretary of the Navy, Coxey, and then he could keep off + the grass. And then would come the millennium. The great cryptogram and + the Bacon cipher; the single tax, State saloons, fiat money, free silver, + destruction of banks and credit, bondholders and creditors mobbed, courts + closed, debts repudiated and the rest of the folks made rich by law. + </p> + <p> + And suppose Bryan should die, and then think, think of Thomas Watson + sitting in the chair of Abraham Lincoln. That is enough to give a patriot + political nightmare. + </p> + <p> + If McKinley dies there is an honest capable man to take his place. A man + who believes in business, in prosperity. A man who knows what money is. A + man who would never permit the laying of a land warrant on a cloud. A man + of good sense, a man of level head. A man that loves his country, a man + that will protect its honor. + </p> + <p> + And is McKinley a tried man? Honest, candid, level-headed, putting on no + airs, saying not what he thinks somebody else thinks, but what he thinks, + and saying it in his own honest, forcible way. He has made hundreds of + speeches during this campaign, not to people whom he ran after, but to + people who came to see him. Not from the tail end of cars, but from the + doorstep of his home, and every speech has been calculated to make votes. + Every speech has increased the respect of the American people for him, + every one. He has never slopped over. Four years ago I read a speech made + by him at Cleveland, on the tariff. I tell you to-night that he is the + best posted man on the tariff under the flag. I tell you that he knows the + road to prosperity. I read that speech. It had foundation, proportion, + dome, and he handled his facts as skillfully as Caesar marshaled his hosts + on the fields of war, and ever since I read it I have had profound respect + for the intelligence and statesmanship of William McKinley. + </p> + <p> + He will call about him the best, the wisest, and the most patriotic men, + and his cabinet will respect the highest and loftiest interests and + aspirations of the American people. + </p> + <p> + Then you have to make another choice. You have to choose between parties, + between the new Democratic and the old Republican. And I want to tell you + the new Democratic is worse than the old, and that is a good deal for me + to say. In 1861 hundreds and hundreds of thousands of Democrats thought + more of country than of party. Hundreds and hundreds of thousands + shouldered their muskets, rushed to the rescue of the Republic, and + sustained the administration of Abraham Lincoln. With their help the + Rebellion was crushed, and now hundreds and hundreds of thousands of + Democrats will hold country above party and will join with the Republicans + in saving the honor, the reputation, of the United States; and I want to + say to all the National Democrats who feel that they cannot vote for + Bryan, I want to say to you, vote for McKinley. This is no war for blank + cartridges. Your gun makes as much noise, but it does not do as much + execution. + </p> + <p> + If you vote for Palmer it is not to elect him, it is simply to defeat + Bryan, and the sure way to defeat Bryan is to vote for McKinley. You have + to choose between parties. The new Democratic party, with its allies, the + Populists and Socialists and Free Silverites, represents the follies, the + mistakes, and the absurdities of a thousand years. They are in favor of + everything that cannot be done. Whatever is, is wrong. They think + creditors are swindlers, and debtors who refuse to pay their debts are + honest men. Good money is bad and poor money is good. A promise is better + than a performance. They desire to abolish facts, punish success, and + reward failure. They are worse than the old. And yet I want to be honest. + I am like the old Dutchman who made a speech in Arkansas. He said: "Ladies + and Gentlemen, I must tell you the truth. There are good and bad in all + parties except the Democratic party, and in the Democratic party there are + bad and worse." The new Democratic party, a party that believes in + repudiation, a party that would put the stain of dishonesty on every + American brow and that would make this Government subject to the mob. + </p> + <p> + You have to make your choice. I have made mine. I go with the party that + is traveling my way. + </p> + <p> + I do not pretend to belong to anything or that anything belongs to me. + When a party goes my way I go with that party and I stick to it as long as + it is traveling my road. And let me tell you something. The history of the + Republican party is the glory of the United States. The Republican party + has the enthusiasm of youth and the wisdom of old age. The Republican + party has the genius of administration. The Republican party knows the + wants of the people. The Republican party kept this country on the map of + the world and kept our flag in the air. The Republican party made our + country free, and that one fact fills all the heavens with light. The + Republican party is the pioneer of progress; the grandest organization + that has ever existed among men. The Republican party is the conscience of + the nineteenth century. I am proud to belong to it. Vote the Republican + ticket and you will be happy here, and if there is another life you will + be happy there. + </p> + <p> + I had an old friend down in Woodford County, Charley Mulidore. He won a + coffin on Lincoln's election. He took it home and every birthday he called + in his friends. They had a little game of "sixty-six" on the coffin lid. + When the game was over they opened the coffin and took out the things to + eat and drink and had a festival, and the minister in the little town, + hearing of it, was scandalized, and he went to Charley Mulidore and he + said: "Mr. Mulidore, how can you make light of such awful things?" "What + things?" "Why," he said, "Mr. Mulidore, what did you do with that coffin? + In a little while you die, and then you come to the day of judgment." + "Well, Mr. Preacher, when I come to that day of judgment they will say, + 'What is your name?' I will tell them, 'Charley Mulidore.' And they will + say, 'Mr. Mulidore, are you a Christian?' 'No, sir, I was a Republican, + and the coffin I got out of this morning I won on Abraham Lincoln's + election.' And then they will say, 'Walk in, Mr. Mulidore, walk in, walk + in; here is your halo and there is your harp.'" + </p> + <p> + If you want to live in good company vote the Republican ticket. Vote for + Black for Governor of the State of New York—a man in favor of + protection and honest money; a man that believes in the preservation of + the honor of the Nation. Vote for members of Congress that are true to the + great principles of the Republican party. Vote for every Republican + candidate from the lowest to the highest. This is a year when we mean + business. Vote, as I tell you, the Republican ticket if you want good + company. + </p> + <p> + If you want to do some good to your fellow-men, if you want to say when + you die—when the curtain falls—when the music of the orchestra + grows dim—when the lights fade; if you want to live so at that time + you can say "the world is better because I lived," vote the Republican + ticket in 1896. Vote with the party of Lincoln—greatest of our + mighty dead; Lincoln the Merciful. Vote with the party of Grant, the + greatest soldier of his century; a man worthy to have been matched against + Cæsar for the mastery of the world; as great a general as ever + planted on the field of war the torn and tattered flag of victory. Vote + with the party of Sherman and Sheridan and Thomas. But the time would fail + me to repeat even the names of the philosophers, the philanthropists, the + thinkers, the orators, the statesmen, and the soldiers who made the + Republican party glorious forever. + </p> + <p> + We love our country; dear to us for its reputation throughout the world. + We love our country for her credit in all the marts of the world. We love + our country, because under her flag we are free. It is our duty to hand + down the American institutions to our children unstained, unimpaired. It + is our duty to preserve them for ourselves, for our children, and for + their fair children yet to be. + </p> + <p> + This is the last speech that I shall make in this campaign, and to-night + there comes upon me the spirit of prophecy. On November 4th you will find + that by the largest majorities in our history, William McKinley has been + elected President of the United States.* + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * The final rally of the McKinley League for the present + campaign, was held last night in Carnegie Music Hall, ana + the orator chosen to present the doctrines of the + Republican party was Robert G. Ingersoll. The meeting will + remain notable for the high character of the audience. The + great hall was filled to its utmost capacity. It was crowded + from the rear of the stage to the last row of seats in the + deep gallery. + + The boxes were occupied by brilliantly attired women, and + hundreds of other women vied with the sterner sex In the + applause that greeted the numerous telling points of the + speaker. The audience was a very fashionable and exclusive + one, for admission was only to be had by ticket, and tickets + were hard to get. + + On the stage a great company of men and women were gathered, + and over them waved rich masses of color, the American + colors, of course, predominating in the display Flags hung + from all the gallery rails, and the whole scheme of + decoration was consistent and beautiful. At 8.80 o'clock Mr. + John E. Milholland appeared upon the stage followed by Col. + Ingersoll. + + Without any delay Mr. Milholland was presented as the + chairman of the meeting. He spoke briefly of the purpose of + the party and then said; "There is no Intelligent audience + under the flag or in any civilized country to whom it would + be necessary for me to introduce Robert G. Ingersoll." And + the cheers with which the audience greeted the orator proved + the truth of his words. + + Col. Ingersoll rose impressively and advanced to the front + of the stage, from which the speaker's desk had been removed + in order to allow him full opportunity to indulge in his + habit of walking to and fro as he talked. He was greeted + with tremendous applause; the men cheered him and the women + waved their handkerchiefs and fans for several minutes. + + He was able to secure instant command of his audience, and + while the applause was wildest, he waved his hand, and the + gesture was followed by a silence that was oppressive. Still + the speaker waited. He did not intend to waste any of his + ammunition. Then, convinced that every eye was centred upon + him, he spoke, declaring "This is our country." The assembly + was his from that instant. He followed it up with a summary + of the issues of the campaign. They were "money, the tariff, + and whether this Government has the right of self-defence." + As he said later on in his address, the Colonel has changed + in a good many things, but he has not changed his politics, + and he has not altered one whit in his masterful command of + forceful sayings.—New York Tribune, October 80th, 1896. +</pre> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Note:—This was Col. Ingersoll's last political address. +</pre> + <div style="height: 6em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + <table summary="" border="3" cellpadding="4"> + <tbody> + <tr> + <td> + <big><big><a + href="http://www.gutenberg.org/files/38813/38813-h/38813-h.htm"> + TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR ALL 12 EBOOKS IN THIS SET</a></big></big> + </td> + <td></td> + </tr> + </tbody> + </table> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. +9 (of 12), by Robert G. 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