The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-22


The speech of Mr. Motley before the Parker
Fraternity in Boston on Tuesday night was
reported in full yesterday by the HERALD.
Ii Ii the first political speech ever made by
the illustrious historian Of the Dutch repub-
lie and of the great Protestant struggle in
of certain copperhesd journals, Mr.. Motley is
no less thoroughly conversant with the history
Of his own country and government than with
that Of foreign nations As United States
Minister at Vienna he proved himself to be an
able diplomatist Occupied in the closet not
with elegant literary pursuits alone, but
chiefly with the most difficult problems Of
history, philosophy and practical statesman
ship, he is eminently well qualified to address
his fellow citizens on the live and palpitating
topics of the day. What man Of his superior
mental discipline and culture says is surely
entitled to respectful consideration.
His maiden political speech is "a lucid and
mastery exposition of his opinions in refer
ence to "the four questions for the people at
the Presidential election Whether the will
of the American people, constitutionally ex-
pressed, is the law of the land? Whether in
the United States all meu are endowed with
equal rights? Whetherit is just and reasona-
BILE to pay our debts or to repudiate them
Whether economy and constitutional purity OF
administration will, on the whole, be best Sc
cured by the election Of Mr.. Seymour or Of
General Grant?
Whatever difference may exist even among
members Of the republican party, as to some OF
the financial theories of Mr.. Motley, intelligent
men Of all parties must admire the lofty and
patriotic point of view from which his histori-
cal studies and his prolonged absence from the
heated aud noisy confusion Of actual political
conflict enable him calmly to survey the whole
field of observation.
Without entering into minute analysis Of
his speech it will suffice to say th..s Mr.. Motley
expresses his belief that the results of our late
civil war have incontrovertibly proved that the
United States are q nation, aud not merely a
something called q confederacy; a league Of
corporations; system which proved fatal to
the only great republic which has preceded
our own in modern timss--that Of the United
Netherlands He is not terrified by the bug
bear of q consolidated. centralized tyrannical
power, nor by that other bugbear Of negro su-
premacy. He insists upon the binding obliga-
tions Of the reconstruction laws and upon the
validity Of the public debt. In conclusion, he
lavishes all the resources Of his rich and forci-
BILE rhetoric upon an incompatible eulogy of
General Grant and Schuyler Colfax as candi-
dates for the highest offices within the gift Of
the American people.
In the course Of his speech Mr.. Motley pre-
sents vivid picture of Che contrast between
the horribly cruel reprisals which have fol-
lowed every European civil war and the ex-
traordnary lenity Of the United States gov
eminent towards the conquered rebels Of the
South. He INDUCES in no fanatical preju-
dices in favor Of universal suffrage. Indeed,
he is manifestly opposed to it, and is in favor
OF qualified suffrage-of IAN educational suf-
frage for the whole population, whatever may
be its colors." At the same time he doubts
whether, in present circumstances, any better
way Of protecting the freedman in his civil
rights can be found than by giving him the
vote" And he here repeats the somewhat
Jesuitcal maxim, ''the end justides the
means"
The part of Mr.. Motley's elaborate speech
which is likely to exert the most immediate
and the most widespread influence is his elo-
quent eulogy of General Grant as a candidate
for the Presidency. Il am, he exclaims, mo
hero worshpper, and it has always seemed to
me that the true hero of this most importan,
epoch in our history is the American people.
Whatever was greatest and best throughout
the war was done by the people. And it is
exactly because General Graut is q singular
embodiment Of many Of the most prominent
characteristics and best virtues of that people
that he seems the fittest man to be chosen our
Chief Magistrate Almost all the signs Of the
times foretoken that the American people will
enthusiastically endorse al the coming Presi-
Dental election the deliberate estimate which,
Mr.. Motley, 3 profound student Of human
nature as well as Of history, has set upon one
Of the greatest gener ais Of the age.
Affairs In Wall street.