New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-06-28
alFlJ Orleans Republican.
SPEECR OF CAPTAIN SHERIDAN.


sPEE0R OF CAPTAIN SHERIDAN.
We publish the speech of Captain George
A. Sheridan at the Grant ratification meet
ing in Lafayette Square Wednesday evening.
Governor Warmoth, on introducing Cap
tain George A. Sheridan, said:
FELLow- CITIZENS: Many years ago old
ireland gave son to Great Britain, whose
.-eloGuence ard whose patriotism has made
his name illustriOus. A few years ago q
descendant of Ireland gave America another
Sheridan. The former made splendid speech
es but could not fight; the latter made splen.
did fights, but could not speak. A have now
the pleasure of introducing to you a Sheri.
dan who can not only fight, but who can
make splendid speeohes-Captain George A.
Sheridan, of Carroll parish.
speech of CnptaIn Sheridan
FELLOw.C CITIZENS: | am afraid IRON the
introduction | have received that too much
may be expected from me. 1t is true bear
the same name as was borne long ago oy
one OF lrelands most siiustrious sons and
an later days by a gallant American soldier,
1t Is true that in the simple fact of max
ing notwithstanding nothing about the sub
iect matter I resemble the Sheridan of
old. | have been in battles also, but
should not like to say from that fact that
resemble Phil Sheridan very particularly.
haste when he was twenty miles from the
battlefield to get there. Now, like him |
have frequently been twenty miles from a
battle.is' l. but should not like to swear /
made haste to get there (Laughter.)
But il makes little difference to you
whetheE4 can speak or fight. What CON
Germs yiluia how j stand in relation to the
Republ8an party.
- / am n uever, heart and soul in the
Justice and a. th of the Republican party
ffa hsrn 70, frrl.N
for the purpose Of pledging our support TO
the nominees Of that party. We want to
send up voice from the Gulf that will as
sure the North Louisiana standsqsteadtast,
and will next November roll up majority
for Grant and Colfax beside which every
effort she has heretofore made in behalf
of Republicanism will seem nothing. We
want to assure the people of the North and
the Republican party that the black men of
this country, who owe to them their en-.
franchisement, turn as instinctiyely tc that
party for sustenance and life as the babe
seeks its mothers bosom, and that it is just
as impossible for them to affiliate with
Democracy as it is for the restless tides of
the ocean to slumber, or the seasons roll
backward This mighty gathering here to.
night, shouting forGrant and Colf9x, liberty
and equality, seems to me like dream.
ask myself, can this be possible? Is this
New Orleans, where few years ago thou
sands OF men who stand tonight. claiming
the proud title of American citizen passed
silently along these streets, the property Of
another. Can this be the city where treason
and rebellion held sway and ruled with a
hand of iron; the city where the American
mag was cursed and its defenders shot down
without mercy? The city where a single
word spoken for freedom was uttered only
at the risk of life.
Who has wrought such mighty changes
here; who has transformed this city from
place where liberty crOuched in byWays and
secret haunts into spot where she wake
worshiped and unca allenged in the noon.
day sun? Who has done more to bring the
blessed change about than Grant, who led
the armies of the republic in the field, and
Colfax, who marshaled the defenders of the
Constitution in the halls of Congress- What
name in all America could have been select
ed more worthy to be inscribed on
our banner as a leader than the
great chief whose motto was TO
t'muve Immediately upon the enemys
works, and what was better in Grants case,
he not only proposed to move but be did
move upon the enemy's works. What better
man can we have to lead us than he whose
banners never yet went down in defeat!
Whose efforts were ever crowned with the
prestige of viCtory-the man whose answer
TO traitors claiming the right to destroy our
government was heard in the thunder Of
gums that shook the continent? The man,
who when words failed to hold In check the
plans Of cOuspirators, advocated other and
sterner measures, marshaled million of
bayOnets, and at their cleaning points ex.
planned the logic of the Constitution as un.
derstood by the loyal North? (Enthuslas-
tic applause,)
General Grant stood by us in many tear
ful hour ofperil, and we by him. We stand
together now. We propose to continue our
relationship. And we are certain now as
then thSt victory viii crown our every
effort.
And what man in all America more Wor-
thy TO be associated with Grant In the com
ing COT test than Colfax, who on a different
field displayed a devotion to the Conatitu.
tiOn unsurpassed, who helped on every
measure looking TO the support Of cur
armies in the field and who since the war
has never faltered in his devotion TO and
support of every measure looking TO the re
admission of the Southern States upon the
broad principle of suffrage to loyal blacks
as we'll as loyal whites7 (Cheers.) s-
Il seems to nae almost unnecessary-al-
most sgaate Of werds-ta eHdeavor to
impress upon this assembly the necessity
Outstanding by the Republican party Its
success means to us soldiers of the army
who fought the struggle through TO the
bitter end, and have cast our lot here, safe
ity Of life and freedom Of speech Its defeat
Inuzzes our lips, and deprives US of security
for life and property, To the black men Of
this country Grants election means n0thfng
less than the utter and eternal overthrow o.
principles looking 70 their degvadation-4
(cbeers) -means churches, scho0lhouees
aud colieges-means the laboEer Is worthy
of bis hire, and shdll have courts 70 Bustain
his rights that grow not deal ard blind
whenever a black man or woman clailna
protection. (Applause.)
The triumph Of % Democracy means 10
black men. II not actual chains upon their
limbs at lesst an organized and determined
effort 10 crush out and destroy every hope
they haYe for education, every right taey
now euJoy AS freemen-it means, TO make
them pOwerless to show whether they can
be worthy of the high position of American
citizens bY depriviDg them of the only
means W the world BY which they can vin-
dicnic their manhood. 1850
hien tell me that AL this Question Of sui
4ragn ID an experiment that Is h0uRd TO fsiL
They ASK mes Do you expect niqfera cen
voter 'sWelLr / Cell them, - they have
voted three OF four times, and / have perfec.
1co1hdence that they win vote again, and
upts arights (IIauEhter and eheafs.l
They look AZ me aifh indignation aud
say You don't care anything about the
ni1Befst you carpet baggefs simply Nant b
rl1u hin into Ollce Nov, my friends, the
lect - Democracy don't care il you are nd,
den into o4lce; the only thing that troubles
item a They can't get on and ride too.
4LauGhtor.l ~ - lssI
AZ black man votes the Democratic
iieAel pc - Beailemhn 3 caisen. worthy
q me highest hQnsfs * the repablic, but Il
no voae4 hepupltHau tlake6 Be - what
nothing but WORTHLESS aniaraFH Laugh
tor.t III IS not tha3 1Aa hlssf 6eot'ie w
but THAI they dna't vote their 49, ii..nf
that's what's the Nlae With chem