The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-10-26
Governor seymour in Chicago.

CHICAGO, Oct. Ex-Governor Seymour addressed
an immense meeting of the Democracy i'm the Court
House Square tonight. He spoke to the following
effect;
down, the task of restoring order, of bringing back
business to its proper channels and of reyiving
paternal regard IN the hearts of the citizens of ali
parts of our Union fell upon the party in power.
have no disposition to underrate the difficulties
which hindered the performance of that duty. If
anCes should be made for many mistakes
The magnitude of the duty, the far-reachng con-
sequences of the policy which should be adopted
with regard to It, imposed upon the men in power
solemn responsibilities. Any indulgence in pas
sion, any spirit Of vindictiveness, any purpose to
advance personal or partisan objects, were great
crimes against our country. They involved de-
gree Of guilt as black as known. In the then con-
diton of affairs selfish or malignant passions were
as cruel as the rayages of l will not dwell
upon the character of the debates in Congressional
halls, nor upon the temper shown by those who
have shaped the action of our government for the
past four years. The record can be read by each
citizen for himself and at this time it is the duty of
every voter to decide If he is satisfied with the spirit
shown by those who now ask him to continue chem
in place.
and when things look dark ahead they may be
pleasant. AT this moment we are confronted by
imminent dangers and serious difficulties. We owe
70 our business men, TO our mechanics and to our
laborers in an earnest and thoughtful way, to find
out how we may relieve them from their perplexi-
ties and burdens. 1 will speak tonight with re-
gard to some of them which concern especially the
northwestern and southern States, and through
them the interests of our whole country.
Before the late rebellion, the great cotton-pro
ducing country of the world, we had advantages
over all rival nations. This product stimulated
our commerce and gave the material needed to our
manufacturers and brought in return for its price
from other lands the merchandise needed bV our
people; turned the balance of trade in our favor
and filled the vaults of our banks with gold silver
money. As all the labor of the south was engaged
in this profitable culture they bought their pToyis-
ions mainly from this and adjoining States, and
thus the corn the wheat, the beef and pork of this
region were turned into cotton, and in that shape
reached the markets of Europe, which they could
not do in their original conditions.
When the civil war broke out and this process
stopped corn fell so low that in some parts of
the west it used for fuel and great distress pre-
vailed. The demand for our armies and the mar
kets of the east and of Europe restored its value,
but experience has taught you that you cannot with
safety count upon being able to send at all times
your products to distant markets. Your interest
demands that the property Of the south should be
restored at the earliest moment.
We want them to help pay our taxes. The in
terests of our whole country demand that the cul-
ture of cotton should be revived Our foreign and
internal commerce is langushing for the want of
this. The negro of the south cannot be advanced
in civilization and made good and orderly citizen
unless he is protitably employed, and his planter
cannot pay MS wages unless he takes money for his
What was the first step taken by those in power
when the south, prosrated, poor and dsorganzed at
the end of the war; tried to carry the work rails
ing cotton with the aid of the enfranchsed African?
in the success of the trial than the white man His
very existence race, the whole judgment of the
world as to his capacity to 90 the duty of an Anne
rican citizen, hangs upon his success.
Did these rulers stretch out the helping hand?
NO; tney Salu 10 Whlte man ana negro alike, we
will not let you get the full value of your products
in the markets Of the world. We win put heavy
tax on the cotton which you send out of the coun-
try, and you shall sell it to eastern manufacturers
for less than its value in the European markets.
Now this act not only cruel but it revenge
full 1t crushed the first efforts Of revivng indus
try; it pushed back an impoverished and dsorgan-
lied people in their efforts TO build up social sys
tenn It was one of the first causes of the disorders
which exist at the south. The unpaid African
could not understand why his employer was unable
to pay him his wages, and was filed with hatred
and rage towards him; and the employer found hi
slender means and low credit still further weak
ened.
In whose interest was this wrong done? In tina
of the cotton manufacturers Of the east, whose
profits have been enormous and who are protected
upon the farmers of the west? The planter could
not buy your pork, and was compelled by
starvation to raise these things for himself and you
lost the markets you should have gained, and the
export duty on cotton proved to be an export duty