Rensselaer Republican, Volume 12, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 August 1880 — SPEECH OF HON. J. COX, DELIVERED AT HAMILTON, OHIO, AUGUST 23. [ARTICLE]

SPEECH OF HON. J. COX, DELIVERED AT HAMILTON, OHIO, AUGUST 23.

Falfaw-citizen*— I *m here by appointment of fib* fitate central eommtttM to present to yoa Cb* roaae of toe Republican party. An advocate off aoy ooum M likely to be prejudiced in iu favor. and I shall not elatai to be no exception to the rule. I have tried, however, to form my own opinions la regard to public afltelrs. and have not eommohly bora thought to bo* • rtnd firfender of all my party’s measure* nor • Wlnd follower of the party lead*”*- The average party man would prob****? o 1 ro « ,hßt 1 >in Mo nearly aa dependent to be a good partisan; rad yet. fro** the organisation of the party to Be present, day, I have never seen an election to wbk-b.it did not appear to me desirable that it should result in a Republican anoceaa My ■awaaM would not always be those which would hove most weight with others, bot such as they sm, they were conclusive with ma and marked tte path of duty. f.dtksl parties must. in the nature of the ease, be made up of ettiarns who differ in regard to ensue matters, even of political policy, w hilst they agree tn others. It la one of the boasts of the Republican party that ft Um in it the great er number of people who dn their own thinking, rad who. for that reason, are apt to be indo pendent In their action. Of course, there must ba aaae eneh in the ranks of tbe Democratic party also, er there would be very little use in ttytagto reach them with argument. These Independent voter*., are no doabt numerous aaoagh to decide any election, if they should act together; and with parties so nearly equal in atmgth as they are tn the State of Ohio, it is safe to **/ that tbe balance of power is with To this class of persona I propose Bore parffiralariy to address myself, and shall purposely omit the templing work of aupealing to the entoneteuwn of those who are already strongly committed to our cause, for tbe sake of the quieter, bat salt seetns to toe equally imporant task of ■Mooning with those of both parties who are doubtful aa to tbe duty of a patriotic Mtiaen in tte present contest. toe are alxrat to elect a President of the United States, and by doing so shall dote rmtne tbe eha rec ter of tbe ex ecu tire adiniutalratiou of Motional affair* for tour years to come. toe are also to choose tbe m-mbers of the ■oom of Representatives in Cougreat, and so tn determine tte character of our National legislattoe for two year* to .onia. toe must *l*o select Important State and coon" to sMrsri to administer our local affairs. Barely nothingcun be more important than the Baterailnnticu of oar action in all three matters, assd nobody can deny that It is the imperati v e Baty of every American cititen to weigh fair ly aD the arguments that may bo offered him vkM may throw any light upon tala efforts to toaob a right dectaton. Tbe fall election* will head over tbe adminisWsttea sad legislation of tbe Nation to tbe Demooratie party, or will continue it tn the bands of toe Itapoblteans Let ua try to understand Just what thia mean* and what would come of the ano moult or tbe other. Tbe Republican party la in power in tbe Federal admdniatration, tbe Democratic In tbe Federal Kgiaiature. ▲ Republican President has been am obstacle in ths way of carrying out tbs Itomseretie sebrwies of lewielatton and es repealto somr things at least, and tbe general policy ed tbe goveimnem, under the lbws. I* that which ba>< been fixed by the RepuUlj. party to rwvpty j-ears of rafo. What has that policy beenl n won't take long to state it. First—Tire suppression of the great rebel’lon ffreond— The establishment of the constttntioiiH) daet'liH- that the Nuthm la indestructible and that m- State has the right to secede when dtao>*ttoßedsith the National laws. T-.ird—Tte abolition of slavery. Fhurtb—Tbe giving the right to vote to tbe freedtm n and their protection in tooir eivil rights; Fifth—The reeosuiilon of the anrredne** of obligation in a regard to tte N*t mint I debt. Sixth—A total and final refusal to rvcognize Southern war claim* of whatever form. Seventh—The reautuptiou of apeeie imyments. I before we may say that in all these things the nolicy of tbe Rrpunll-sn ptrty has been triumphnnt. and that what has been done can not be undone. A great historical period in tbs progrv** of the Nation and of tu*n baa hern brought nearly, if not quite, to its close, sod the result* are beyond tbe reach of counter-revolu-tion T>> quite finish tbe last measure which I have named, tbe reaamption of specie pay■teats, we have yet to drop the legal-t--ndi r quality of our treasury notes; but that ia only a Sttou «f a little time, for ft ia logically told in tbe steps already taken tn our Notional finance Tbe expiring at niggles of tbe woukl-ta Greenback party demonstrate by their Brehletieas that lite practical sens* of tbe people has divided the question aud ia so well pleased with the existing prosperity which is based on . eshd value*. that no efforts to disturb it by unastiUug the currency will he tolerated. The leaders of tbe Democracy M-ent to make baste to meet u* here, end say they admit that • these thyigs are settled, and that it i» tec* use they are settledlbat ti e work of the Republl sea party is done, and tt should yield power and piarv to its opponent. Not quite so lest. If iou please! Tbe doing a great work well is eomto*»ly tbolight a reason for Hosting a political organization with a continuing lease or power, wet for turning it out. Tta sympathy artb tbe progress of tpe age and boninnity which could carry a greet organization tbrcgli so terrible a sirnggie as that of tbe final acts nf tbe Mtri-alsvery movement, even at tbe terrible eost of life and treasure, argues that rhe txaty of men who did it are callable of understanding their era. We may at least look to find among them tbe Intelligence mid the spirit to do what else tbe times and tbe country mav need. On tbe ether hand, tbe lack of sympathy with human progress and tbe after blindness to tbe Judgment of all christendom which could make M possible that another great organlsattoa, in free and enlightened States, should attempt to bqlsteqand maintain human slavery at tbe cost of rebellion, of war. of gigantic and lewg-endunng public debt, refusing to reeognlztoe Bi'gi-r of God «>r of fate, predicting success tor the wrong when it was in tbe act of coilapstog. and looking on with tbe gloomy face* of moaners when tbe right at last was victorious, whatever else it may argue, does not araue tbe Myteity to ootuprebend their era or to guide its But *e are told that thia is not the fair way te ■tale tbe ease; that both parties have changed ■new since the war, and that we should Judge by what they now are and profess rather than by tbe history of the past. I would not willingly take from this argument any force It ought to ■eve. T grant that in tbe myatevious organizatton of the haiuan mind it was possible that Bore and there a soldier tn tbe Union army in Md 3 votcl for Vallamligham for the gevernerahiteuf Ohio, de pool ■ lug bis beflet at the tail of »n ambwtanoe in tbe field, in a cartridge-box mads empty by tbe uae es the- ammunition asraluet that Csnfe<ieraey which had greeted Vallandlgham a* its true friend and speeded Maa on hie wgy to onr Northern border. I grant tout when th* war was over other Union sddtera under ths spell of old associations or of new waMtioM. went buck to tbe party they bad belonged to before the outbreak of tbe rebellion. 1 grant that tn lbs collision <>f tbe Repubi'can CwigreM with President Jebnson there were men who left us, who iiefore that time boo been able to <mr councils, like Dsoiittle of Wisconsin, er brave in ttoffeM. like Hancock. I grant that to IBB*, wtssw tbe country wm distorted with ■m Domingo setottiee *nd wm becoming Impattratfs* administrative reforms, we lest and asr oppowemte valued Trumbull and Swing and Julian ssd Pvluier. I will Mt stop to ask bow tor personal mwbltioM er peraoual dtsappotntwei> tn entered tote the motives of any of these tostiugulshea men or of others who went wttb toenrwr foHewed rtom; T will assume what I believe to bs true of soiue of them, that they toooght the OMfalneM of tbe Republican party was ended, end that they could act wit* our oppoMnta without abamioulng to>y nrinclpla watch they tod before profrreed. tost What came of KT Look at the way ia which toe three-quarters of a lolUlon votes of Ohio have been divided at Ute several eto-Uana since _ tbe War, and you will are at one* iksllhi par MBtaffe of etongr a from ope party te tbe other kna Meo the merret drop in the hueheC. Tbe great mesa of both psrUoa has remained tbs and has given to each its oharaeur and TM power es aaatmllatton 1b mm* BaaoM ia anantoua, and the bandlol of Ben who have

pubept tbotorkt tßFpsinasOT party by Joining it. have been absorbed tote i» gad have fast htentlty »ndlmilvM n *liU -'‘ffOj'“ pereeptlMy affsetemr tta potty or*3 • m<wt cases 1 to irre-taiMe smotegtou of a has earrted them awar. and they have J®”* 1 * prastbly to ttaato own •■nyi’*' prtaeiplM of tbe wortta t mean anytbiag. nreai.e which lay bene*th thepraetteal cwMmJ "J ibat party.and found expra-ato. i. JM wMteof , ths past twooty-fi*~’ yrsra. Trt during thM whole nertad thectrnggle* which culminated in the wrest rebrtndh are the only polKic*l event! which tbe stonrisn finds worthy of tbe name or worth r>* fains to record. KerryiK»dv knows that when the Repu»>llcan gorty wa« fnrmrC there was a rertMistrucfiew of the <bnirxr*tlc party also. The -fllivrr Gray" Whir* Joined the Democracy, and the "Free Boll" D* iu«ciwfs formed ■nitniortsnt part of the new RepitoHcan organisation. To pretend that there has since that Nine Mm any dlarlngwfshlng prin<-I|lrt» In the Demm-rw’ie Rirty.exeent the Bontbera doctrine of Brutes vhte which meant preservation and exteuafon es slavery, even at the cost of attempted tWunntnn and of retielbon. is to do little honor te the intelligence of the people. It ones boasted of being a h»iM-money party, bnt every child knows that its Nation* 1 convention* have found ttolr most aninon* ta«k tn selecting cnndldatcg who might not he too offensive io the *i<ecle resumntionlsta of the party, whilst they stxaiM catch the “Greenbnek" infiatlontaM. wh» appear te make their strong* at element In tbe West TTiere te hqt one Intelligible elue to tbe history of that psrtv store tto war. ami that te to recard tt astbe party of rhe “lost esnae,” seeking by every means it eonld devise to nullify as far aa possible Jbe reanttn of the great struggle, to seqnfesce to nothing which there might be any chance of contesting, and to stimulate leaction by every method that could be invented. Who-

ever will tabs tbe pains te examine the party votes to Congress, to aebedule tbe Mils introduced' and tbe measures proposed, and noie the party action thereon, will find that what I have said te not merely probably true—lt ia demonstration. Nor Is this Inconsistent with the fact that there have ton many men in the party who have not been pleased with Its general pohey and conduct. A minority within such an organlxatinn Will to dragged along, protesting to vain, prevented by habit or by »mbltl»n from breaking away, wh’lat the most aggressive element, which is osnslly the most extreme, will practically control everything. I have myself been told by members of Congress from Southern State* that they depp-catnl the Introduction of reactionary measures hr resolutions, but that once Introduc ed tliey were forced to vote for them, against their own indgment. because the extreme element at home was so strong end aggressive that they would lose all Influence and leadership If they did not go with the current. Does anybody who reads tbe newspapers need to be told that during the last session of Congress the whole policy of tbe more prudent Democrats was found iu their determination to avoid debate and avoid voting on political questional Buch a poticy is itself the plainest oonfrsulon that the party in the Northern States could not stand upon tbe record it would be sure to make whenever forced to a teat. Bnt I have sari, and I do nnt retract it, that the work of the Repuhllcan party cannot, be nndone. Why, then, will there be any danger in a Demoerutlc snccesal Because we don't want to spend four years in combating even tbe futile efforts that'wlll inevitably l>e made to do the Imp* seible; toe*use we don’t want tn prolong a contest that sb>-aid bays been ended long awn; tons use we really want peace and the opi»ortnnlty to settle tlis measures of finance, of taxation. of revenue, of administrative reform, that are now tbe important practical questions to to met. and we cannot get either until tbe Democratic party shall lie dissolved, or the character of its ruling element be totally changed. l.er ns now pass from generals to particulars, and inquire what would be tbe effect »f a Democratic sumcm thia foil Fhretaa to tbe Executive. " In regard to rhe executive duties proper, by tbe common consent of tbe whole people of both parties. President Hayes ha*done hi* wort hnneatlr and welL No scandals have attacked him or bis cabinet nffieera. That bis admlnistnatlon ha* been cleaß, respectable and upright no. nne can deny, even hie political enemies Ming bteindgra Would this important part nr the pul lte service !•» bettered by tbe election of the Denmcraita cendidatel I will not now sneak of the personal characteristics nf the eaiididatee. bnt nnly of the condition of things which would neecsaarilv follow a change of party sdm In tetra tlon. Under the present administration, with its acknowledged desire and puri-o*e to lm;>rn»e the eivil service, a gradual sifting es the material in the several departments has been going on. and trained satlMl|i»ilnill iMwkill"ordinates of good character and capacity will be found In every bureau. Of course tbe Inauguration nf a Democratic President mean* a general turning out of Republican* and anpmutitig of Democrats tn their place*. Even the quietest farmer In tbe country. living moat retired fiom all contact with public life, has learned to know what that mean*. The disgraceful ar rabble for the "spell*," which has l»een tbe most rotten spot in American politics. Is to to exltlbtted'in new virulence and loathsomeness. Scores of thousands of public officers innst be tiisplaeed to m.-ke room for th« “workern” and tbe dependents of “workers" tn the sncoeastnl party, none of whom emild have had ex peril'nr - * In the work to which tliey mey be api>oji<tvd. and aa to many ot whom tbe reason for tlielr api'Olntment will to snrh as will ’-rove their unfitness. 1 care nnt what may lie the -ersoual wish or desire of tbe President; ine eh. ted head of sneh-a party, so long famishing In opposition, with no pretense of having any purpose to withstand the g. ncral "roiaiion iu office." could net resist the clamor of bls parly If lie would. He must be shallow Indeed who heliere* t list Jhe purl tv or tbe economy of tbe departmental administration will not suffer in such a process. On the other band tbe election of tto Republican cauuidate, both from tbe fact that it would not be a chrnge of j>arty administration and from the known sentiments of onr candidate, guarantees the. steady continuance in welldoing, and gives opi>ortiinlty for still more tlmrongh application of right principle to the qiieation of spi»ointniei>ts in tbe civil service. The Isiter result will be full of ho|io sad promise of true progress, tbe former would be a iwrtaiuty of ntter demoralisation. Until a President nf the United Plates can to electee ius>u a disttwupledge to an explicit, well defined and radical si stem of reform in the civil service. J, for one. hope to be spared from witnessing tbe shameful results of a change of party admiuistration in tne public offices. And what is ibe attitude of the Executive toward tbeSontlforn fit*test Exactly the same aa toward tbe Northern. IM same limits aa to Federal and local Jurisdiction have been observed, and nowhere has there been any discrimination made in tbe treatment of them. Having been reinstated in full fellowship In the Union, the constitution of the' United States provides that the same course of law should eviyywhere prevail, unless in any State an insurrection should break out agatbat tbe legsl State authorities too powerful for tbe

State government to put down. and then, on | call of the proper State officers, the President might interfere to suppress it. There are Republican* wbo think that this full restoration name too soon, but none deny that it baa come, and that it will stay. " Whatever progress may be made in those States will he made In accoraance with the oonstitntioh and "the laws, and not under any exceptional or unusunl exercise «f Federal authority. No honest Democrat can pretend that there Is anythin* here to n form. A Democratic President could only distribute tte offices to his own partirans. and here again there can te no legitimate aim but “the spoils." Let ns look next at what they conld accomplish in the legislative branch of tte govevument. For six yedra they have had a working majority Ju the House or Bepreaentatives, and for two years in the Senate They have, there, fore, had full opportunity to develop a National policy In acta of Congress passed and HibwiUed to the President for his afgnatnre. The great subjects of tte currency, tbe revenue, tbe civil service, have teen open to them, and they have been invited to enter tbem In a more practical way than by framing ambiguous rraolutions for a convention platform. They have denounced Republicans for keeping alive tbe “war issues," and by their own confession there waa no need rq spend iteir time on these. In regard to tbe three great subjects for legislative action, then—tn regard to which we all aduite that statesmanship has abundant room fa show practical wisdom, and where the new issues of pollnies are to be Iramed—wbat haw they dope te prove catiacity aa a party to direct tbe affairs of a great Nathmt In wbat have they given us an . advance upon the measures of former Republican Cnngreaaes! In absolutely nothing. As to the currency, they have coquetted between “flat money” and specie, inflation and re-MHiption.-and tt u only* few months since it waa doubtful whether they would not depose from hte cbalnnanshlp of tbe Senate finance -comniirtee their ablest man— Bayard— tecs use te stubbornly held to tte old Jacksonian notions of bard money. It Is easy to pass a convention resolution In favor of Uuneat money, since even Weaver, the Greenbacker. w<>ald not claim to te fnr dtahonrot money; but tt is auoiber thing to show ns bills passed m party measures by tneir majorities in ("oagress, to which an iatelUgrut uubUc may look for ths policy ti ey will auforce U they are ntrfisted with tte fall power in the g*vorßment they ask for. They can point ua te How ta It Mto tbe revenue! Have they sya t#n>atired.'and revtaed the tariff! Have-that paMbfia*taembofiytagibepdru-udstH unfftoj revenue afrtoUn accordaoM with promises by wtatok. they have tried to capture the reveaM

ta lake a«• ptn sdvsuee of tie Republic*a le«But th* <*vij service reform, surety tbav mask bavarmbadted ewmutial wisdom in the pracilwhich Congress shuoM pass to carry iqfo effbet the sounding pledgee <ff ttae political plsif.-r ■> of 187 fi. Bereft • >ttbe amwlwmiff povrer, suffh rIng no siege from tbe hhedrs of appUcwnta for the four kcore th« wish nd places the*' rest na are at tbe disposal of the amrietahWitaßi their virtue untrtuiifrd by the present eifoWNftHdty to scatter salaries among tlreir frienus. how ea«y toemtaxty tbe true theory of **m srnnfne and thonmxb reform of the ctrtt er I The* (to use the wnntaiff their ptatfnrwHn a hill whtcli they couM pas*, and m test th* sincerity of ihb Republican President hv jmttfog n before him for Bia signature. They did no sneh thing. I retnetolwr that Carter narriahn proponed a MP tn retorts rhe olvli aervi e by giving atoohttelv to each Congressman all appohrtmenta to'office within btadtetrtet. and a quota of there to rhe departments, bnt rhe majority seemed to agree with the Republican miuo’lry in thinking It ww* only a Joke. No! Coming a second thne Into power in the Douse of Reprerwntatives In March, 1877. nnder a wMindfog. ptorlatwWtMin ar thrir National convention of theprere-dlng year; declaring that “expr leßee ptove* ttort efficient erummih-al conduct of the governmental bn-i----ness la not possiMe if tto civil aeriii e to subject to change at every eterthm. ton prire tongiit for atthrballot-tox.be • brief reward of pirty real, insfead of posts es honor naalgiwd for proved competeocv and brM for fidelity to th* public employ," they haveprtrvetrtbemeriCew utterly Incnpable of embody tog so fair a promise tn any pretense of perforumn ce. snd to their late eon* ventiou the captivating magirtloqnence of 1876 dwlndbri tirtlie single line I have before qpoted, ami even that te hidden away, aa it wet e—a mere tag to tto resolution on the “subordination

of the military to the civil poweri” Don't forget, follow-MtttoiMC that dnrinr the period Fve been speaking of! the, copgrrsaftmal majority, and tab mil re»pon*iMUty forit, haw been with them. D<mt forget, that they vehemently iHm-fafm bring the party of reaction with regmd to the war iseaea..a»4 M vetirmemfy profess to be tbeymriv of reform To “fdHfrt the things that Sl* hehlmLand to press forwnnl tn the mark" with wire legtaiation of a practical sort tn *ll three of the great fields which I have referred to, was tto nlertg- upon whiMi they carried Northern districts enongh io nmkh. with their sortd South, the majority They had nothing else to do. They denouiv ed the Repnbllcaii “bloody shirt” politics. Their platform was certainly clear and infelHgH>le. whether it was honest und sincere or not. What hindered them from the good work for which they had so ostentatiously and publicly strlpi>ed theinselvcsf Nothing,' Their failure prove* bevoud denial that thelrparty is made up of elements utterly tncoberenrand at war tn rrsiiect to every-ono «f the greut «ni Jeets of practical legislation. Tltev are not united to regard to any dociritte on the currency, the revenue or tto eivil service. The pretense of it 1a a shorn. The follnre to act upon tbe important subjects of generallegfslulton does not end with those I hgve named. Among the mutter* of gravest interest to tbe wbote country 1« the question of counting the electoral vote for President. F-ur yearn ago we were distinctly threatened with an hi-urrectlon, and rhe four.of an outbreak by the armed interference of an organised mob was need In an effort to coerce a Senate into allowing a Democratic House of Representatives to dictate the counting in of Bamuri J. THd- n. Fortunptely we escaped vtolence. torn ns* some members <>f tbe D> mocratle majority could not be held to the reckless and revolutionary pur pose* of the party. Th* matter was submitted to the electotai conmlMou and lawfully deeided. and rhe Domocnith) party basspent much of tta time ever sin e In denonnetngthe commis-

sion, tiecanso It did not decide to favor of that party's candidates, I won’t stop now io discuss the merits of ttmt conrreversy; tt dcrerves a full evening's argument by Itself. I tncotfou.lt to call attention to the fact that they have allowed the whole four years to pass without any legislation on the snh}e< t. and we srf how to another presidential canvass without any provision <<f law fined >o solve the dlffii-ultb-s or avoid , tbe dangers of the last contoat. The queatioc ia one which ought tn to settled by law—late enact- d by to* vote of both bouses of Congresv ana approved hv the President Tn say that one house of Congress shall determine it alone, by resoliitinn, te to advocate usurpation; The coutn-verey te as to the relative powers and dntifes of the Vlcrepreoßtent. ele- ted by the N»- - tlon m a whole, and those of the RepreaentMthre* nf Hie-*e versl df-frtet* *n«t the Pension* of rhea veral States. T%e, eons’ttntiou has rar* fully ex- lnded Omgreea fpmi --boosing a President, until It te pinta that the people have tailed to elect, then, as a last resort, the House of Representatives clHx-se* It needs no an-umrnt to show that, if the Rouse could, l-w it* own resolution, enforce a rale which wotrfd give tt a vet>> upon the election by the people, it Would tocome the practical dictator of every presidential election. The precedents of a time of ftngrant war do not apvh-1»» times of piece. We •dionlil have a law adapt*' l to -permanent, prtte ileal use. Tn look for Jndh-fnl impartiality in' the derisions of a peri Isa n majority of tbe ffoiyie. ia. unfortunately, to court the most humiliating disappoltitn.mt Look at tbe actl-n of the Hous* 1n contested election eases. Bee how rarely rite vote is anything but a strict party one; espectolly when majorities are small, and every member counts. I s»v-it with a foil sense of the grave tmixirtanoe of

wbat I utter. tbst the moat shocking d'sregard of !he obligation t* act in accordance with tte low of the land Is witnessed ta nearly every election case acted upon in Congress. The cynichl question attributed to obi Thad. Stevens, in a ea»e where bo'h contestants were shewn to have seted fraudulently, notorionxly Indicates the role nf Metlon, vlx: "Which ta yonr d—d soeundrel, and w'-irh fa onra!" Among the lefrumstowsrd which I look with hope whenever tte dissolution of the Demoeratlc party sball perndf tbe people of the country Io think of something else than the danger bf ‘bftr reactionary ixdtcv. is that of putting tte di ririon of contested election ch sea in the hands of -onrts fff Justice outside tte .Jl-gislatfre. aa onr English consina have done. nnt I metin to refer to this at i r> sent only for ,ti»e askottfiiMdiitit-g my ifrfoark abont the neeea»Byof»l»« to determine tbe method of proceeding in cm t< ate of the e'ectoral vote, and the criminal fottv of leaving the door open,for renewlng'tl-e dangerous wrangling which followed tlie lust presidential ehetton.' Thia further preps of tneou petence and disregard of the pnbllc ix-nce tbe Democratic party bus given ns And what ba* been tte other legislative work of the p»st four years, besides the ordinary n ntlne! They have consumed lunch time in efforts to reduce the army telow the nnmterg absolutely necessary for tbe safety us tbe frontier, going so far that tl eir own party itieniltera from Texas nnd tl e Wratern Btab-s am I Territories had to opixtse them, and nothing came of it but loss of time.

They have undertaken to repeal laws wbleh provide for the enndnet and sui-crvision of Notional election* by Jia tlewsl officer*. Tn tbese debHtes they ba ve gone an far Mtn deny the right of tbe National government to legislate as to tbe method* nf bolding elections for membera of Cnnrreii*. They have denied that tntimktation nnd fraud at Federal election* were crime* sMlnai the “peace and dirnltv of tbe United Rfates" which could te violated. Thev have instated that ibe several States alone bare tbe entire control over election* to Congress as well aa otters. All this tlw-y have done tn tte face of tte language of the constitution, which declares a* to the regulation* tor such elections wM<-b tte State* mav prescribe, that “(’ouvreea may at any time by law moke or alter such regulation*." , when they have found themselves stopped by the presidential veto In tlita work es removing the fast support for the freedom find the publicity of election* la the Booth, they have undertaken to nullify the laws they could mH repeal by refusing approprtHtioea of tbe money necessary to enfoM-e them. The laws. unrapea>*d, were aa binding up»u tbem a* upon me or you They bed ibe same right to say there ahonla te no executive officer* in Washington, and no Judges la tte National court*, by refusing to appropriate money, tq sustain them, aa t* do a* I* regard to mHrahaJ* and supervisors of elections under existing A ad what *"■ the oeeasslty far ibis extraordinary, if not revolutionary, melbtxl of pnx-ediirel Had tliey not succeeded tn getting the tissue bsjtot* into tliebollmbexesf Had they not succeeded In using such persuasive means that B< publican* had practiSatly erased ta vole in all, or nearly aIL the fates lately Jn rebelßan! Had ttey not found a method of ruarautfring that tbe Demwratie niaJpritlM should be rarely returned at any figures itey drairad! a* witness the recent 75< 000 niHjorMy ta Alabamfi. Wlieu these facts were ▼** It net tbe merest wantonnes* of agfTMrio*, must they not have been sfa« -lately "spoiling for a finbi" when they nuide It the Mrion* work of a eeMleu to ru* a till against the-laws nnder which they had had sn signal and sweeping a aeries of triumphs at tte "cmrot?’ ifnot at the poll-1 The red rag which ; Breve te (mad news the Democratic bull waa tbe aembtanM in the statutes of an assertion m tbe part of t>* Nation Wnvlgbia in regard ta eh-ctione. wkfafr are given by tte _teen ibnrattreaoC-aU W w«M,weMU,JK>|u»them to net. Tbe ebaßce for akick at the Federal ecnnilnuoa i» ta* BMM at fltote aev-

Ptbq, under a doubtful te tmpUcatkm of i*»w--r but they found ttoir reffttlatloM tor felr cnngreesiunal electlouq,. wen when Article V contained -th* power, expressed in shnidc** aM plalnrat Thurltab words! Tt won not a queoilon of searing mure Democrat* from Southern foateX They bad tbem OHt TMrq era* apd could to no prarttrsl question left except that of frering ttoir method* of srcnrtng these resoli* trowi all toteMgeet and uWlctal olioervation* amt criticisms. It was for t bls they raWed Their forces after each veto, and j-rolonred tbe coxiest almost tn tbe rinse << the st-saton. With this I Instrarion nfrqelr theory of tto rrlailnna nf ito Htatoffi the Nstkrn. and of tbe maimer ta which they gave it supreme ImpwrtiHiee. cnniwrtna it, too. with the history of tile arm* debate of wblrii it I* a part, remtau from the re*-olnti-ma of *9B tbeonvli theaiilHßearinu of 1831. and the retolllnaof IMH.i* Hn-tv anv room for «h-nbt ttmt tbe only m-ttoq and' really patent 'prim-hto in the party—the only bond of ntdott which is strongenoogh to rally them tea party c“x«est—tto only dtoingniwMng character* Ixtiea which an impartial otaerver can find tn their organtaation, is sytapatßy with" the lost can set Y-«,thetr National convention 0f'1876 de* ’stared th*t **refiffim ta iwveaoarV. and ean never ‘to effected bar by m>«kln» It tto emtroffing lasee oft he irt-thma,” ml hv 'hat pretense beguHwi vtWer* enongh tn make the cnngres-donal majority, wbleh ha* Illustrated*ite n»u-partta*n pat rim f*m to ffite Bffimer we have oxen. Tto cohelnafou my mind has reached from nil this ta, that tto cowtfnnsnee nf the nrganfration of tto Demnerutie party Me been tto one great obstacle to all trne progrvea-and reform. Had-it dissolved long ago there would have been less distrust of Boni Bern politicians, because the danger of reaction and mischief, which Is the great oanae of distrust, weald have been removed. Ilia also piaii: as need to that, in tbe some cane. IM Issues rclstfog to tbe grear ptacrieal swhj- ets of legislation tmd<ndmmtatratlon would have made a near division nf party line*, wholly outaide of qnnstiona gn-wtor ontof the war. The “ ryformk” wmilte have been taken up ia ‘earnest, and aome-nf them st least would unve Men finnllx acoom)dished. I sincerely betters, as I have abvadv sni-l. that the grext nisjority of tbe people from whom progressive movement* may be expected are In the Repnlilicun party. TUe history of a quarter of a century proves it. Only remove the fears of reaction which they feel, and which the carver of the Democratic party shows are so well founded, and these progressive men will make haste to grapple with tto next important questions of the time. Th* h. at seenritv for eoonmpltahtar this tain' the final <>v art I wow of the party which has .“learned nothing and forgotten nothing.*' It* success, by continuing the menace of reaction a>t<l tli« eflbrtn tn carry out theoriha at War with ' ll true nationality, will make the tear laetie* atlH the questions of tbe day, and put off still furttier the rime for-whteh I, with most of you, long, when onr election contest* wilt to over question* abmiiaUay separated from the memory of civil strife. I have given yon; fellow-cttleens, a mere onrIlne of the situation, hat it is one which ta drawn from the indtapnhihie tact* of onr political hi*-t<-ry. contra«-ttag the resrr't* of electing a Demos attv nia|ortt.v t<> < ongress, with the promise* and i»rofi-*»tons of that. |n»rty, npoti whtt-D it came into t owsr. It would eaary me entirely l-eyon-it he limit* of a single add res* If I should attempt to IU no the details of the sketch, and for the pnrp-se f have in mtnd it could hardly be more conclusive.

1 Tbe propo-ltlon, which I think te abundantly "established, I* that re five Hng and Independent men of both parties should see that the- end of 'sectional strife and the turning of politleui activity to other qnewthma can only to secured -by the disorganization of tbs DeiiwM-r-ttc pnrty. The piata duty of all such independent voters seem* tome to be to throw tbe wetffht of tbe*r iriflomce and tlndr votve- so henrtHy Into the Rrnnldtranr scats ths* the present canvass mav end the matter, and that the party which sxlktn only m tto rerrwriitaHw of reaction, antt liven only by methods of three amt frabd wffiti-h make ttoMUotdon a mere Instrwncwt of fktabbo<xi, stisii never again appear M an orguuttotton m National poittic*. we aboil have parthw after ttot time, butt beywill he divided upon eoomnnlo questions, ami the Nutton will rent hawn tbe great struggle which has filled s quarter of h een nry. Tbe candidmre of th* rival p*Tries are- both of them men who would embody ta practical administration tbe vhitrawer and nradeueira of the or*antantlona which support tteom. In tbe case nf General Hancock, the mere tact that be hue been an nominated, snd would Woo elec cd, nentrallxe* every ctoim for support that could to based on.hi* fidelity to the conntry during the war. The plain question is, would he cheat ‘the party that nominated him. nr would he conduct the admtalsrrat on io accordance wit lilts real spirit and character! Aa the cl hitcter and tendencies of such a party, shown Iu Its conduct. *re stronger tiian resolution* pureed In convention tn cateh vote*, so they will he stronger than any personal wishes or desire* of tbe rtudidale, araiimiuff there lobe what you will.

I do not tealfate to apply tbe same principle to General Garfield, and to say that lie, too. will represent the etaructer and the tendencies of ti e Repuldtran partv. and faeoept the te-t that will te fonud in examining tlie history of tlie l>*rty -rod rhe evidence of its spirit in contrast with rtat o' tte opponent. But I ahonM hardly satisfv my own feeling* or my sense of right if I did not say a word more in r- gnrd to onr Republican candidate. The staple of the camiwilgn, with a large portion of th* Denwx-ratic press, <-onsi*taln |>ers<>nsi attacks upon th»-lntegri<y mid honesty of hla public character. Tbe detailed answer to nil snoh crit Io sin ba* teen put in easily accessible form for all who chose to read tt, and I have neither time w-r the need to go Into It. I profess rather to ta < personal witness to the i-haracter and abilities of the man. and to speak from knowledge given by a lifetime nf pcivomd as-o<-latlon and frft ndahip. In 1859 we entered the Ob'o Beust* t -ret her from adjoining counties of the. Western Reserve; we occupied adjoining desks'; we lodge-l Ht the same house; we ate at the same table. The lutituacv of our rmith baa coutinned through »ur_rt|H-nihg age without s Jar. IT constant. and uninterrupted acqu>‘h>taace is worth anything, then I have tbe rlglH to sjo-Hk with authority tn regard to a man ‘Whom I liuve known thoroughly and long. Frank, open-hearted, full of exutaran' life and vigor, be lias fulfilled in an extraordinary manner the promise nnd the ambition of hislxivhood, not only to play a dfatinautabed part In Uta country’-* affair*, bnt to te worthy to do tt hy purity of purpose and honesty of character, as well ashy the discipline of mind and ili>- intellectual tarnishing which could te attained through tbe wort diligent afat systematic use of hta great strength of liody and of bruin. His grasp of aflWra fas* always teen that of a statesman, without narrowness or pettiness. His wide knowledge of the history of the world, and the progress of free governments fa it, baa given him a broad faith in repnlillcati ipstitutlona, and a solid trnst in the self-government of an lutalligent people. Nearty twenty year* of lending part in the legistatlot of the country has made him thorouglJy familiar with tta politics and tfa uiililic men. If |-en*onal qualities acquired . knowledge and great experience are or any value In rulers. General Garfield la fitted aa few uien are to assume the re-qn-n«bilttle« rtf the presidency, and to te something more than the representative of his party, to be its worthy lender. If bis military career Was not 'so long or so prominent ** that of his opponent, it was abundantly sufficient to prove bis capacity for that sort of service to tbe country; and hlreadlueM as a volunteer soldier to stake his life upon tteprinciples which as a legialatoe he had advocated. The nomination of Hancock by the Democratic party was,the repetition of wbat has made Ap>eri<-an politics at om-e tte amusement ami the amazement of intelligent observers of other co> ’ «TieA. A candidate is selected, mHUecsnse be 1 * • diatlDnUated himself aa a statesman, but because be has not; not Jtectfuse he, ba* helped to form the opinions of bis party, and has led In, the great debate* when public mraaurea »-re lost or non, bnt beenm-e te boa not; ■ot because hisown convietlmi* are pronounced and known, so that the people may Judge of bis fitness to gukle affair*, but liecanae tliey are unknown, and may be declared to be “all things to all men” without danger of exposure. A.wo>e*«ionai soldier i», Dominated In a time nf ;>eace, not to do thtaza which be fa sqppoaed to te expert in, but those pf which b< ha.-, on experience ami for which te has m-ver pfieliared biinself. Tbe Iqw poIUh-al cunning t<> drag a net.alx»ut mea of dfac*.plant vl*wound conflicting pnr;>o*e«. ami when tteir vuf<* bare been cast Iqt theta nudont at their leisure liew ttey bare teen made use of to carry out pur ixtaes they uem-r tafauded, , t Wbetter ute look thru to its method of chooetng a randhlata or to its btatery and principlM. Hie Denio* ratio party show* the sain* insincerity., tte same hollowness, the same lark of every thing which could deserve the canfldrue* and support Of the people. Examine it care I Idly, fellow .cilizeu*, and I bHtave that a* in bt tltaM tte ciiizaas of ■ great republic, in-stingUlvi-ly felt ihst their own safety outed only he secured far tte Inflexible d'-tcrßi&WtiW ttat •eurtbtae fall," «o yotifffil_to cunyincta e.w_. of tjjjo republ |c mH tba bupqs ol prvcriMitlerotidjipauanequaihr deter that tbe Deuwcratic party