The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-29
ETHAN ALLEN.

On friday evening" Dy Mr.. Etnan Alien, before an
audience Of ladies and gentlemen comprising some
Of our most eminent mercantile and professional
citizens. General Anthem presided and introduced
the orator OF the evening" who spoke substantially
as follows
shall take no step backward,n said Grant TO Sher-
man, when the latter gave it as his opinion that the
operations for an advance on Vicksburg. We are
told that Ulysses s. Grant is no orator. Why this Is
the most eloquent discourse OF the nineteenth CEN
SUBMITS OF yonder pyramids, forty centuries
look down upon YOU" This sentence is the
crowning victory, the Ansterltz Of Bona
step backward" meant the fan OF vicks-
burg, the surrender OF thirty thousand rebels,
the first setting OF the tide OF treason towards the
gulf OF despair the first bright hope in every loyal
heart OF the coming morning and the final day OF un-
conditional victory tApplause.l The expression
forward matter what befalls. In the contest now
wagng for political supremacy in the government
o pary 10 $" s heroc
lies forward. Its mission in the cause OF free gov
eminent demands that 1t should succeed. To be de-
dshonor a step towards compromise with the
enemies OF the republic. II not resulting In actual
THE ISSUES.
The two great parties OF the country, each with
its PLATFORM It's promises its history ana Its nominee
again arrayed against each other for the prize OF
political power. They have been arrayed for many
years. The main difference between 1854 and 1868 IL
that then they both used gunpowder to fire bullets and
now they both use gunp0wder to fire rockets. Then
the democratic party sn0t towards the North and the
republican party shot towards the South, and now
both shoot towards the skies, us II to demand the
verdict or heaven on their cause. Great applause)
The aniInus Of the TWO parties Is the same now as
then. They have only changed the means, not the
end. The republican party still, az always is strug
Cling for equal rights to al and q 1rmer and more
enduring nationality, and the democracy are con-
tending still for special rights for special Glass;
ifQnif N IN
national existence. What viii be the verdict Of the
people is the great and paramount question
WHEREIN THE DEMOCRACY ERRED ~ THEIR NOMI-
NATION.
The grand mistake Of the democratic party on
the 18th OF July last was, that In undertaking the
intelligence and morality OF the citizen it under
rated his loyalty TO his country. IL heard muir
murings against certain acts Of the republican
leaders, anu it understood this TO mean willing
ness on the part OF the people TO stand q decoc.
tion OF Benedict Arnold and Jefferson Davis little
diluted in the person Of Horatlo Seymour. That the
republican party has committed errors no one VIII
deny; to exact perfection Is 70 suppose the niIlen
mum to be at hand. II Is easy to find fault, and II is
easy for party az Tor an individual ior IL Is made
but OF all the errors OF the republican party hostility
TO its c0untrys flag IL not one OF its mistakes Had
the democratic party planted itself firmly on uncom
fidelity 70 country had 1t named for its
leader nominee whose record in support OF the
Union during the war was mt least unqucstionable,
even though not positively prominent, the result
might have been different. Changes are common
with people and they ike them and that they do
This land that holds the majority In check and every
idea sooner later, has It's day Of triumph, except
ing the ono aci OF inndeyto our national existence
which Is the unparuonable political sin which
VIII not be tolerated. II Ia by that Identical sin that
tho democratic party are now sinking, we trust, to
The issue In this canvass was made by our oppo-
nents when they invited unrepsntant rebels to par
ticipate IN their deliberations, and the issue as they
have presented IT, actually makes vote TOR Ulysses
=. Grant the true TEST ~ loyal citizenship. He who
has been with the republican party since Abraham
main with 1t proclaim himself heretofore TO
have been b0th knnve ana fool. vote for Ho-
with Hampton Forrest. semnes Beanreqard and the
other followers Of Jefferson Davis who to-day by
the daily breath they draw attest the magnanimily
and mercy OF the government. tApplause.l To vote
these men through Horatio seymour into political
favor and power now Is 10 90 what IT. were more
honest and wise to have done while the battle was
raging and before 40 many had died that they
should not rule. (Cries OF "Hear hearty II is true
that some members Of the democratic party are
perity, II they shal be sustained by the
people but the people know the party y
vain ~ ,Ta 81 r pTI tey w sn II %oM
made IN the storm win he forgotten In the sunshine
1t Ia moreover true that some OF those rebellious
spirits which now form the southern wing OF the
party are Jealous In their profess
sons OF devotion 10 the constitution, which
they so much fear the republican party
will violate; but the people remember, that
many Of these same men once swOre by the God
In heaven TO sustain and protect that same constu
and knowing that a "wlld goose never laid . tame
they prefer that the probationary term OF these
people should be extended before they are pro-
nounced sufficiently domesticated for political
power. The democratic party brings such fellows
Into the contest that the upright citizen who wishes
only the national good, the case is presented for
his decision, darcs not vote to change party
In power for fear OF changing our Institutions TAP
plause.n
GENERAL BLAIR.
Here let me, In Justice 10 gallant soldier, say
word IN regard TO General Frank l.. Blair the demo-
cractic nominee for the Vice Presidency. l cannot
agree with many Of my political associates In their de-
the sword OF one wing OF Sherman's army IN that
grand march 10 the sea. the sword which hewed It's
way to victory across the Continent and flashed like
a meteor through the southern sky; the hand which
held that sword belongs TO no dsloyal man. Great
That sword was welded b. General
Blair. Foury OF heroic service TO ire country in
the field and always at the 'front.', ever being found
where the bullets few thckest and aeath rained
fastest entitled General Blair to the lasting gratitude
Of patriotic citizens ami VIII secure for INN bril-
liant page in history. Qienewed applause.l We can
AFFORD to be just and admit this truth az 10 the deeds
or ilustlOus soldier But fortunately for the re-
publican party, and unfortunately Tor the democratic
party, tine contest rs not between General Grant and
General Blair, but between General Grant and man
Of very different history and characteristics.
RECONSTRUCTION.
To reconstruct the rebelious States was the next
great duty. "Peace hath her victories no less re-
nowncd than war; says the poet and 1t seems as II
our history Is 10 attest the truth OF the sentiment.
10 secure peace on an honorable and lasting ioun-
iaLion, with malice toward none but with charity
Tor ALL to guard the future that the nation eshall
AXE no step backward has been the labor or the
republican party since Il came conquerer from the
1eid It IL now trial before tie people and their
verdict win be an expression OF their confidence I'm
he republican professions. Tner platform gives
he issues now presented IN the brlefest and best
language az INSTRUMENTATION on The basis
u equal rights for all men shall be coIlsummated
ind carried out, and the national faith towards Its
,reditOrs shall be preserved
Let us briefly discuss the two propositions con-
aimed In this. The grayest question upon which an
appeal has taken 10 the Judgment Of the people
: That which concerns the acts and policy Of re-
publican Congress, In the various measures IL has
adopted In tins matter OF reconstruction. The facts
n the case are undisputed and familiar 10 all.
Taking up the question Of Jurisdiction, the speaker
proceeded In that connection To discuss
THE POLITICAL sTUTUs or Seeded srArB.
There can be no question that rs matters stood
before the rebellion, the federal government could
not ghtfuly have ntcrfered II has with the local
government OF certain States. Whatever authority
I has must therefore have sprung from some radical
,hange in the relation OF the parties occasioned by
he fact and Incidents OF secession The point to DO
then IL the legal effect Of an act OF
lion, or rather the political status or late rebel
state at the close OF the war.
The territorial divisions over which the federal in
xlsafS kuAx