Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-09-16
sPEEcu oF eENERAL scHENCk.

MY FRIESDs-I thank you for your warm and
generous welcome, and wish that were able 10
Tespono to it more ably and nttingly' but II nave
lost my voice and strength, go that cannot DO JUS
tice to myself you, you must attribute II to the
fact that in my devotion TO the Union cause have
been talking to just such crowds as this every day.
and sometimes twice day, for the last six weeks
/ intend to discuss, in a plain way, the sub
iects which lie nearest our hearts. You are ONO
well as /, and though from separate parts oi
the State, are bound together by ties which
did not exist few years ago. Then
we we're united in common attachm.nt to the
Government and institutions Of the country. We
were eqna Iy attached TO the old nag, and equally
unable and unwilling to believe that should
ever have to defend it from traitors. Now we meet
with a new pride that when that flag had TO be de-
Tended and these institutions protected, none were
stronger, more determined, guided by honester or
truer hearts, than the sons Of Ohio lAPplause.
There has not been one rebel State which
has not felt the weight Of the arms of Ohio
eo!d!ers,-not a battlefield on which their
blood has not been shed, and shed freely. Ap-
plause1 No whisper Of comp amt has come from the
men VINO have borne the brunt OF the work lap
plause that has been left for men who remained az
home, looking out for party.
wish tonight to set before you the desire Of the
Union party Of this country. We love our dear
country and our Tag, our government and institu-
tions which came down from our ancestors and
which we hope to send down untouched to our chill
dren. 1t Is simple platform, as 1t Is our simple
duty to stand by our government aud Institutions
at all hazards, whatever come, TO the bitter end,
and put down this aceursed rebellion. lGreat and
prolonged applause. This is our first
great duty--ths Is the whole OF tho Uuion
platform.
But there Is a class of men who oppose the gov
ernment. They differ among themselves, SO that
We may bs excused for not knowing how 10 treat the
subject. Laughter. While We are for war to end
rebellion, the Copperheads, the bogus Democracy
are unable to say hat they are for or after lap
plausel Does one say he is for peace, war man
protests. Does some one claim TO be a Var Demo-
crat, VGllandigham asserts that he Is Tor peace
Even their ticket Is for peace at one end and war al
the other Mcclellan, in his letter of acceptance,
instead of roaring as Nick. BOttem the weaver did
~ Us TO fIighten the ladies, roars as gently as
a sucking dove, and still so that you can't tell
whether he is Tor peace or war lie declares, TO De
sure that the Union must be preserved at all has
ards But how? In these times Of strife and bat
tie we don't want theories and generallil9s1 but
practical measures. Lock at tins creed Does TINS
letter ofaccsptance present any practical measures
Mcclellan declares that if after all concilatory
measures are adopted the rebels still hold OUT the
responsibility will rest their heads. Well, sup
pose il will. Laughter But Wnat VIII ne 90 WIZ
them? He will not say. If they destroy the Union
all that follows is that they will be to blame for It.
l attack this letter, because when man comes
| before the country he mustn't expect immunity
because of few well sounding phrases, winch mean
| nothing. A few who want to be believed war
Democrats and friends OF the Government stl
support General Mcclellan separate from the party
But since the time Of old dog Tray, dogs and men
4
and laughter. 1t is idle for any man TO set hnsell
up as superior to his party platform or to tins lead
ais and managers of his party, and expect to rule
When he accepts his party nomination. he 5 judged
/ nv the character of the men who make up the par.
l ". Never mind who is elected President Dy tht
/ VsllandighamsY seymours and WOODS they VII
/ manage him who is TO manage the country.
i But let me ask you who would separate MeClelan
| from the peace party and from Pendleton? Why
IL he is to manage the party didn't he control then
in making their platform because oeo[se ., nc
CleIan expected 10 step upon the party PiatIortl
and be the nonihee of lhe party, and If he attemp
to modify, oft H. disguise OF conceal the real prn
ciples of the part IL is only because ne hopes 10 DC
guile few nor voters. The speaker forelbly com
/ 1arAd Mcclellan to the thimble-rigger at horse
race, declariu that the Democracy Of the present
day Is q thimuie-rigging concern. Bet your Pile OF
which end plea &c and you ara sure TO De deceived
What, then, is the creed OF the DemocruS party
In one respect it is as simple as our own We hgh
/ the rebelliOn-they hght Us. We stand up for the
oountry-they for their party. We have the rebel
i lion down our kuee its breast and our hands oI
its throat The Democracy don't care a bit about
bsping the erebellon-they only want to pull US OF
It's a triangular fight-the government against tn
/ rebels and the Democracy against the government
The Democracy claim that the war has bosn
| waaed four years aud has proven a failure. Thes'
| ara the very words of the Chicago platform. Nov
will confess that this is partly true The war ha
been waged four years, and, though not given Z
compromises, viii admit that half that time !
| has proven q failure x-.,o
| Yes The war did commence in the fall Of 1890
To be sure, elsewhere in their Democratic creed
they claim that Abe Lincoln, or, a. they elegantly
| phrase IT, this damned Abolition Government,
began the war. Do you believe that, my Copper
head friend over yonder1 No You dare not com
out openly and say 50, though in your own Groves
| in youF papers, in your speeches, you continual
| Nv assert H. Hostilities began when, eontraT
10 the provisions of the Constitution
| sieht States Withdrew from the Unlol
and banded themselves together as south
| ern Confederacy, elected Davis aad stepheni
President and Vice President, and inaugurate
Them. setting up government hostile and antagc
,jsti1 70 tbs ITnited States Of America. These al
acts Of direct, open, violent hostility In Januar
tbs troops Of the government OF South Caroln
seIzed on an the forts in Charleston harbor but ol
sumter held by our gallant Anderson and his dew
ted band. lAPplause-l The speaker then rehearst
list Of the aggressions Of the Confederate goverl
nent before the 4th Of March, 1851, including Il
CAPTURE Of Forts Pulaski, Morgan, Jackson, s
Philip Of Pensacola, Baton Rouge and Little Roc
the New Orleans mint and custom. house, the nril
"a the Star Of the West whsD bringing provisions