New-York tribune., 1868-04-04
SPEECH OF MR.. GREELEY.
TIE REPUBLICAN PARTYITs PAST AND ITS
lIYTIGRE

dental Campaign Club held at Headquarters corner
Of broadway and Twenty secoRd-st., on tho evening
OF March p. 1868, the Hon. CHARLES s. SPENCER the
President Of the Cub. introduced Horace Greeley 10
the audience in the following words
GENTLEMEN: have the pleasure OF introducing to you
one who has made an honorable mark upon the present
age, which centuries Will not efacc, o those great
champions Of the RIGHT whose battle for Justice and
equal political rights 10 all men was commenced with HE
nrt entrance into active life has been patiently brayely
effectively fought this hour and will ony be ended
when his heart has made 1ts astspusation. Gentlemen
| Greeley.
| Mr.. GREELEY said Mr.. PRESIDENT AND
GENTLrMIN: In entering upon and doubtless very
arduous but trust, not doubtful contest for the
Presidential election, II is desirable that should delb
erately survey the ground and discern II We may the
obstacles to be and the under
which we confront them IL IS proper and reasonable
that We should survey the past and see If We may
derive theefrom hope and courage for the abor and the
trials before u.s. Now the time We belong 10 party
that proud Of ts past and which dares an timer
to Judge what shall do by What have done. There
are among who dread TO look back the course
which they have pursued during the late eventfu ta
and perils of country We not OF those We
have nothing TO discaim, nothing TO Cisovn nothing
which we wish bury Let U.S. therefore, In commencing
this canvass survey the past record Of the Republican
party that may say the people, "There is what
have DONE Believe shall do in the future substantial
| y tho past justi6es you in expecting" We
closing the fourteenth year since the Republican party
first had organization and name We have just closed
the seventh year since the people nrusted 10 that party
the government OF the country propose. thon to
slider what perils have been surmouned what results
secured during past history OF the efforts and srug
giles Of that great party Let see, then what pers
what evils have been already and very completely
by the efforts of that party. rank first among
these the continual peril and menace OF dsunion look
around mainly upon young faces-youDg mean. com
pared with my My recollection goes far back In the
L NJ nur md nm xhieh
rests formidable threat Of disunon II the slayeho0
could not be allowed to have their own way That
belongs my early boybood. The Territory Of Missouri
had in process of time, come 10 be t for organization
into State State Government had been formed,
and Congress called upon to ratify that Government
The people Of the North without distinction Of party
with very few and notable exceptions OF persons said TO
Missouri Yes, in aud welcome shall rejoice to
have you among u.s. but not as Slave State. We VIII
have no more Slave States" This was no matter party
There was no abolition element in the country. II was
the simple spontaneous dictate OF the heart and con
snswer SLAVERY is our business 1t is none Of yours
This State chooses To be Slave State IL Is not your
lection had been oyerruied- stop Missouri from coming
Ia as slave state and we win dissolve the Union" Tna,
veteran politicians and states satesmsn Dissolve the Union
own wayo That Was the threat that finally folceda very
neager minority OF Northern politicians to give way 70
And the prestige thus acquired the moral Of that sur
render, never overcome until the Slave Power was
came new crisis in the history of our country new con
Gcs between the Slave Power and the free spirit Of the
way or we will dissolve the Union And 70 that srsu
Ssa %ea e Se%h @ NcSs Hy eoroSs
tanning very much Of the youthful vlgor and resolution
You remember il very Wen. You remember how not
merely did the South to Give half OF the tern
tories FOR Slavery. will dissolve the Unlon" but the
whole Democracy and Conservative party Of the North
rose ny, backing that demand and backing the threat
luton In homes, robbery in our stores and In oui
banks II we did not give way to t9at @ mslaee menace e, ne
gentleman who did himself the honor TO preside over th
State Governor during two OF the most critical years o
the war. That gentleman recently made exceeding
vigorous and bitter speech against the Republican party
do not complain Of its inyecfiye. do not object thai
We called substantially and perssenty party Of
hypocrites and pecuators, and disunonsts. only ass
that the people shall consider when they listen TO this
oS W. gG90 s s noT for ia aSd ae ap
yearS and say TO the ayehodng gentlemen OF
Union and obey tie laws This was the way in which
Gov. seymour, the Twedde Hall Convention IN 1861.
The Republicans yet in power were simply and mod
esty saying that the Union was not g. be dissolved and
to toll the extension Of slavery:
F:i9 sa hen S to G,ss f IF o% an
look 0 dioi hnesev some 10 'alse nsnss
AID brins upOa common esur Is ther, reyolRs ssg
II II, W.. ,o no, ns w @ ai .:sss a Tie asinsi es ps
s1y 2 i ~ hor@r 20 % ss} s g''G .a 3 cslSy ssn
No, Governor seymour they we're not forgotten The
statesmen OF The Republican party Mere ten s9nsSIs n,h
treason aud Northern compcity therewlth lcbeersJ
In all tnlt me "oveInor SM, w. sbern po@ians who
were then Wrestling after state SO far as they coud
protesting that lncy would return there again Not
word OF rebGk lr them; but for those statesmen VINO
preserved and il, laws oh cd for those The rep9aches
te Governor were recr,ed TO those were they DIRECTED
those is lnNrciiEes poured OUT ahd ne Nehls
L. NJ u this manner;
i~ qssou .upl, li,Skn We have eOnPFoHse efr "sr"
compromise wthoHf Nss :.
Ma Governor we had M compromise without war and
We pr.fr no compromise after tlmmense cheers
sxStr" ninn Having accomplished this we propose
keep down aud preserve tue union evsIore
,ogotlor threatening bullying, denouncing the Repnb
caus in power SIMPLY minority IN tor
old Wing friend, Thaycr, now transformed INTO
Conservative. hsonst and synpatlzer WITH the Rebel
Ion-ho followed GOV. seymour IN words which would
gladly have you mark as elincDK the sprt III tne sorth
which the Ropubh'an party mas been eompellen 10 cor
front and oycrbcar said Mr. rhayer Oh the same ocea
sion
sorg.z e can st ls,' q ;s,sS,,. .:.,.
ton heers We least b tseuto ,nghten ste ane eois
.ss Sa ie,rf that eirSuoa but essiSI' .sss
ay foab The raI'~ s0s Of Ie I. ,S. u9r ali e
clss'nce e & a4 tg We 5qst % S n5T .IS 9 y ~ m us, ..
pSosa PS .rs' n M M a max. ihs, revolution . e,n
aS sh ai c. posSS Si As, has lss. sT,
,a,ioss We Ss a @ e.l. viii tie fragment
.sS, iaSs s. SEel 1 % % F RsSooD
people S sstsg ss,s & &e,Ss a l nSa.sst Sf .ppa.
uere Won see gentlemen, how those who proposed 10
obey the laws and support the laws were denounced
n ana h who we've descrng their seats Congress and
taking states they sad out of the Unon There
n%scye was poured the devoted heads Of those
Who proposed to stand by the country and its flag Iy
were threatened with cy war and the glIotne they
simply stood still and said to these rebels and traitors
IL Is better 10 obey you will have TO In the end fr