New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-11
THE POLITICAL SITUATION.
SPEECH OF Mr.. BLAINE ON THE RESULTS /
OF GRANTS ELECTION

have resulted in victory to the EepuDledhP"ty ''o
far the most memorable and momeh'ouS III '"0 us 80
our country The issues nj stake each uuo ""'u Uoo
rapder the contest on either side hercer the Serdctn
each instance moro decisive and significant tpau o'
attended yous struggles for the eontroi OF the
~ Government In the first victory OF 1860 aaSerypro
pacanaIsn, received its fatal bowhe american pe3ps
decidng that at all hazards the further spreau VI
human servitude into iree teillVf6 s"Uur d no
inns I 49, fhe necessity OF entirely abOsng the nst
tnons whose existence had been merely checked ny the
pS non tbe nont OF continuing or disseminating the
bloody contest which up to that time had RACED with IN
pyEnerty The vote OF the people demanded the proseeu
non az the war until the rebellion shOud be suppressed
,hToTont the length ana BREADTH Of the and Had the
verdict then rendered been enforced in the Cabinet
"a faithfully as IL tho field, the PresidCn-
uaa ~ tbe issues which actually entered into it.
Bat the unexpected and unprecedented cOurse Of the
nn and me manifold attacks on Onr national Character
ord credit by the Democratic party, rendered the We
serve the fruits Of great triumph as the victory
OF 1861 TO secure the prosecution Of the
fu conclusion Aud now that victory, complete and IN
in the beat OF the canvass gradually cooling il may
not unproabo take hasty glance at the ground
We have passed over ana 10 MAKE Dllel SUNNI tod
the points that have been solemnly adJuuloatJJu
ana e ejcrtion Of GeE Grant to the Presidency.
Aud first: The union OF the States has been
sense and with a force that were never before cnuno
ated when the question was involved 90 NOT mean 10
necessarly led TO n srparation Of the States though
t1r o., 81 ,ys,i,g f,cts of great significance that
ig6t We'll Justify saeh an Inference aud such fear But
what H. that the TRIUMPH OF the DehIoeta'lS
parry und The Rebel Read, and the formal installing OF
That element IN supreme Executive control would have
DESTROYED The true aim ana SP oil te @ nS a me-
pcrncous theories would have reduced IN 1850 20 the
% %Ss the Lost Cause" would have reCained para
disc Of State Rights, aud ITS privilege OF ruthlessy
eipics and priceless guarantees Of our Constitution
Gen Grants election has averted this great evll-not
De- rersTsd hereafter Nth doubtful issue in the end but
with victory that removes it from the list OF questions
of 1858 is the last IN which lately rebeous section
veu IL n could he wholly controlled by Rebels will have
sn6cient power in the electoral vote of the country to
the object either of hope or OF fear on the part OF
nation. The tendency has been in that direction ever
since Mr.. Calhouns famous theory OF an sqei,
by the admission OF California IN 1850
ing that date with startling rapidy, even without
the intervention Of and the approaching census OF
viewed as one compact power will no longer have SUN
Client strength to offer temptation TO the Democratic
party OF the North to sacrifice its loyalty aud its pride
Tor the profit Of an alliance with them Inc wlthdraWa
give to the loyal inhabitants, who clear majority in
each Que OF them the power OF governing them IN the
spirit that has been their bane aud their
destruction VIII be expelled ale ana broad broad
And effect Of this result the Northern Democratic
party IN will be TO enforce in the end abandon
nent Of The disloya attitude by which IL has lost its
encient prestige aud renown Inc southern Rebels ana
profit FROM their persistent may ma mntIs
1cSmbeTed Of the ot2er may atone at leisure for the
joint tho dscreditable partnership This pros
Offenders heralds the dawn Of that day when Presden
tiai elections will DO contested and decided without
ZION OF the Union There few voters now living in
campaign N which tho fate OF the Union was not in,
oyed either IN me anG threats Of PScal mSc9n
zcns That day has now passed We have heard the
Hast OF that alarm in 1868 The Union was actually saved
4, Con. Grants in the field The menace OF |
10, destruction ceases with his victory at the polls
The Reconstruction laws Of Congress have been vindca
and sustained by Gen. Grants election The state
and he Sa OF pe Loyal Suffrage Without regard
to color will be accepted as the permanent rule
throughout the entire Union This result certain to DO
achieved either through the ameloraton Of prejudice
safes OF Dy ie iPib act M ne e
alike Thedeeison in favor Of the Reconstruction
must bring peace to the Southland with peace VIII come
those states seeing the hopeless folly OF longer resisting
the mandate of the Nation will aequesce in the decision,
table Aud with this acceptance will begin the real
prosperity of that section in which property viii then be
secure Investments inviting ana ana Tenuneratve labor
In demand and amply pad Inc oer yer minds aH even
as a question Of practical craftsmanship, it is
too late to discuss negro suffrage, for, hav-
Between originally Withholding franchise from large
OF people and annulng IL after IL has been
Cede1. wise men a vast difference difference
literally quite as great may be- as that been peaceful
Jnstce which uuderies IT, il demOnstraby mpractc-
able to withhold suffrage from the Southern negroes now
that they have exercised it. without involving conse,
quences which would destroy all security for life and
property ia that section for generations TO come Negro
suffrage being then of necessity conceded as one OF the
essentials OF reconstruction the only remaining source OF
discomfort te exclusion Of small minority of white
from the polls by OF dislOyay Aud here the
eva lies in the dsoyalty and not In the exclusions and
know am safe in saying that the exclusion will be
moved quite as rapidly Us the disoyslty disappears And
the dSOyal white OF the South shOuld DO quite con
tea s4cy g9 Whole roar as o s hone e s
patriotic conduct of the class and the sOfenng
OF unreasonable prejudice toward the other, will enable
American people hold the centennial celebration
n independence with citizen OF the Republic dis
franchised and with the sublime declaration that all
men are created equal" accepted and realized the
Lundredth anniversary OF its majestic uerance. g. The
election OF Gen Grant settled financial question
do not that has adjusted the details even
fOreshsdowed the particular measures by which the pub
lie debt 10 be provided for and its prompt payment
surcd. l only mean that the American people have de-
hberstely, soemnly, and emphatcaly recorded their
decision In favor Of honest discharge Of their public
obligations and against all the forms Of evasion aud de
lusOn tenptingy set forth In Democratic platforms.
They have declared against the policy OF wildly Initiating,
depreciang and running their currency ia order pre-
msurely pay OF any portion Of the Government bonds,
tightening the public burdens by reducing the interest
the nstiona, debt as promptly and a. rapidly as Il may
OF reputation, open covert, threatened suspect
tSniSS the public honor staiiess Nay, they have gone
step further the question OF paying the public debt
sprt OF the contract s no longer to be made subject
OF controversy OF doubt IN the American Congress
Henceforth DO well TO remember that proud ex-
ample furnished in the Parliamentary history of Great
Britain, where lust preceding the event battle OF Blen
suggested by OF the Commons he was answered BY
the most bsnt man Of that day In these eloquent aud
question Of napds ability maintain position should
be discussed Prsosn Discussion implies doubt sDa doubt
defense and ct nste task
with election of Gen. Grant comes higher stand
ard Of American citizenship, with dignity char
acer 10 the abroad and assured liberty and
security attaching to IL ~ home Our diplomacy will DO
rescued the subserylent by which have