The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-01
POLICY And JUSTICE IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Lecture by Hon. George s. Bout
we'll, before the Social, Civil,
and Statistical Associa-
tion of Philadelphia.

ING TELEGRAPHA
Last evening u large audience assembled in
National Hall, TO inaugurate series Of lectures
to be delivered this season, under the auspices
of the Social, Civil, and Statistical Association.
The entertainment was opened by the singing
of ballad by the Black Swan, with piano
accompaniment, after which Hon. Mr.. Bout
we'll was introduced by Colonel William B.
Thomas, in the following appropriate remarks:-
speech of Colonel william II. Thomas.
Fellow Citizens The country has just passed
which has tried the integrity of men, Of the pri-
vale citizen, and of the politician, and of the states
man. During that time multtudes nave been true
to the principles, true TO their country. But it IS
amentable to acknowledge that few at least of
been unequal to that occasion. Among t1ose who
have been true TO principle, who have been
true to humanity and justice and liberty and to
Truth, Is the eminent gentleman whom / have the
honor this evening TO Introduce to you.
AS member of the House OF Representatives
of the United States, he has always been found
equal to the est emergency always true to the
people, always true TO the Union opposed to every
thing that was calculated to effect unjdstly the
union OF these States.
Lecture of Hon. George S. Boutwell,.
Ladies and Gentlemen I'll am to speak tonight
OF the policy and justice of public affairs By topic
is not enobling, and my plan OF treating 1t will be
By justice in public affairs mean that rule of
right or equity which men easily comprehend, and
ton with actual facts And, certainly, by policy do
not the thine but rather, that course of
conduct often pursued in obedience to the purposes
and designs OF men, regardless OF the right or the
wrong of the actions they adopt
propose, IN the first place. to call your attention
TO some well known historical facts and to the con-
sequences OF certain departures from the line OF
justice in public AFFAIRS and tnen to apply as well
as ] may be able, the lesson which these events
teach IN reference to the reconstruction of this
Government.
policy of civil authority and no eminent departure
from 1t, under any circumstance, gets the Suspicion
friend of integrity declared that 'tt was impossible
to form lasting power upon II justice and treach-
cry" These" says he, 'maY succeed tor months,
and for while offer a lourishing appearance, but
time soon reveals their weaknesses, and they fail
@ THa 0d aTt h the as m heG t
and principles OF all our actions should be just and
In proceeding in the discussion of the subject
which have assigned to myself 1t Will necessarily
happen tnat snail SPEAK freely t ol the course pur
clally by the person who now holds the office or
Presldent-not tor the purpose OF immediately in.
fuenclng public conduct but for the purpose of
holding up for your gaze land, assfar as may be
able to the observation of your iellow-cltizens and
of the country at large the conduct OF the man who
furnishes, IN his political public and official career,
the most eminent aud the most lamentabie depar-
ture from the principles OF justice IN his official
believe, and therefore do not hesitate to de-
clare, my belief that since the overthrow of the
Stuarts in England, no man has been called to the
administration OF the affairs OF great State so
! utterly and entirely destitute OF those personal
Qualities which must enter into every just admins
/ tIaton of the Government, as the man who, since
April, 1865, has presided over the AFFAIRS Of this
country. And arraign him here and everywhere
so long as 1 believe him guilty to the extent DO
believe him guilty, lecause know as well as can
know in reference to the future, that there can be
no peace to this country that there be resto
ration to social order in the Rebel States, or there
security for capital for business no general pros.
perity until the government OF this country Is put
! into the hands OF a man who enjoys the confidence
In modern times, one of the most eminent de.
partures from the rule of right in public affairs
that conspiracy OF the Continental States OF Europe
by which Poland was partltoned off, and ceased to
exist as an independent State; and from the date of
that act until now, every native OF Poland has been
wherever he found resting place in Europe, the
enemy OF every Government that participated in
that act OF Injustice and concentrated there too and
has become the wiling agent and emissary OF every
conspiracy which contemplated the overthrow Of
those GoveInments and thus 1t is that four of hose
States from that day until now, have been paying
the penalty OF that act OF injustice.
In iater times the course of Austria and
Russia in reference to Hungary, and now that
Austria has been degraded from her high pos tion
in Europe we are able to see that the chief cause
OF her downfall was due TO the crcumsta that by
her policy IN Hungary she had alienated twelve
millions of people from their support to the empire
And now we have good reason to believe that
Prussia, engaged IN further movements tor the an
neXation of the German States 10 the great central
empire of Europe, is Influenced largely in her move
OF Hungarians ale hostile to the Austrian Empire
And thus is Austria, in the loss of German States
just penalty for her injustice towards Hungary and
England to-day with her rebellion in Ireland, with
dissatisfaction in Canada with hundreds of thou
sauds OF natives OF Ireland in the United States ready
to engage In any moyemenC calculated to d'smembel
the British Empire is pay ing the penalty of her IN
justice 10 Ire and
Ireland, in 1850, containing population OF eight
millions, which has, in these fifteen years, re
duced to six millloDs and England to-day is engaged
in movements Tor the suppression OF a rebellion in
Ireland, and all the power OF the British empire i
unable TO restore ireland to that condition in which
she was twenty years ago, or develop her, ill there
is change OF policy
resources OF gold IRON, and other minerals anC
water-power sufficient to turn the entire machinery
OF Great Britain she has fisheries which the Lon
doa Times has declared TO be equal 10 the uniteC
fisheries OF all England, Wales, and Scotland, and
yet her population yearly dImin she's, ali in conse
quence Of the injustice Of the British Government
towards the people,
Mr. Bright, IN his speech at Dublin said :-"Tha
two things were necessary for the paclfcauOn O
Ireland First the abolition Of the Established
Church; secondly, the purchase of the large LANDED
esIates and the distribution OF them by sale amOnl
the people there" These two measures If adopted
with reference to I'D they the least tina
can be required Tor the pacIRcation of IrelandtenC
10 the destIucil0n of the aristOcTatic part of th
British Government, and, therefore 1t IS not al
improbable event IN the future. But when II mal
be accomplished wOu q be claiming the eye OF pro
phecy which only Mr.. Seward possesses. tLaugh
terD Perhaps twenty-five years will pass before h
most offensive Government will be overthrown
through the influence OF the concessions which tn
British Goyerhm ment viii be Obliged TO make to tn
We saw again the course Of Great Britain in reie
renee to another fact When the eleven State
ORGANIZED themselves into Conie ederacy, called
the British Government early in the month of May
: within about thirty days after the first blood wa
shed in the city OF baltimore, recognized thes
eleven Tebe lions States, IN the interest o. slave.y
ihat ~ as power having the right to make wal
Anp consequent upon that recoenitlon, they ais
recognlxed The right OF the Rebel c0reaifs upon th
r1oF M vaQa