The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1870-09-21
54olftral.
SPEECH OF
GEN. G.. w. MORGAN
AT BRANDON, KNOX COUNTY
SPEECH Oh
A REVIEW OF JOHN SHERMAN'S AT
TEMPTED DEFENSE.
An Exposure for Thoughtful STen of
all Parties.

My FRIENDS AND FELLOW CITIZENS
When Senator Sherman made his speech
at Delaware one week ago, he must have
been influenced by the maxim of Talley-
rand, who is held to have said, Language
is the art of concealing the truth" For
the distinguished Senator had so well sue
| ceeded in that direction that he would
carry away the prize against all comers,
were one to be awarded for q talent of
such doubtful merit.
When a speaker lisesse address an au-
dience, they have not the right to demand
great eloquence, for it is a gift which but
few men possess nor convincing logic,
for that is a talent not less rare. But they
have right to demand candor and truth
in the statement of facts, and sincere men
Will pay but little heed to the teachings
of those who have been detected in an
attempt to deceive.
On the 18th of August spoke at Del
| aware, and on the Sd of September, at the
same place, Senator Sherman answered
my remarks. And I propose to show to
what a straight the betrayers and plum
derers of the people ale driven, when a
gentleman of his talents and position IS
forced to an evasion of the truth in an
endeavor to escape the just judgment of
the people.
Here let me say - my tellow-citizens
who have heretofore acted with the Re
! publican organization, and who honor
me by their presence, that you are no
more responsible for the gross abuses
which have been committed than are we,
for you have not only been betrayed, but
with the rest of the people you have been
plundered. l do not come to make char
ges against you, but to appeal to you as
my fellow-cltlZens, to give your aid IN
correcting the abuses which exist. To
| show you what some of these abuses are,
l will read you an extract from Senator
Sherman's speech, which l hold in my
hand He says, "SInce 1862, l have usu-
ally voted for railroad grants, but in
question Of this kind I will cheerfully
obey the voice of the people of Ohio"
except that 1 should feel bound
to give the Southern Pacific railroad the
same grants that have been given to the
Nothern and Central roads" Mark his
language-"In question Of this kiHd.'
says the Senator Il will cheerfully obey
the voice Of the people of Ohio except
as to another abuse as great as any one
which has been committed. And the peo-
pie are given to understand that upon all
questions which are not of "this kind"
the Senator will do Just as he pleases
without reference to the will of the peo-
pie.
But during these long years that Sena-
tor Sherman has been giving away the
lands of the people to railroad monopo-
lists, did he not know that he acted
against the almost unanimous wishes of
the people? Did he not know that the
citizens of our State were part owners of
these lands, which he voted to take from
the people and give to the railway kings
And where did he get authority to give
away the lands of the people, to hand
full of Massachusetts spectators, who
Senator Sherman helped to incorporate
into railroad companies? Why did he
give away for nothing to a few million
aires, the lands which oUrsyoung and en-
terprising farmers were anxious to buy
from the Government in order to establish
new homes, and build up new States and
Territories in the great West And if
the lands Were to be given away for moth
ing, why did he not vote to give them TO
our soldiers, without offensive conditions,
and TO those who own no lands? Let us
see how much of the peoples lands Sena-
tor Sherman voted to give away. One year
ago, ain order to be certain-to avoid the
chance of doing injustice-in order to lay
reliable facts before the people," l wrote
to Commissioner Wilson, of the General
Land Office, and requested to be informed
what amount of the public lands had been
given away by Congress since March 4,
1861 and 1 will read you his answer:
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, !
GENERAL LAND OFFICE,
September 7, 1869
"Hon. G. w. MORGAN, Mt. Vernon, Ohio ::
"SIR Pursuant to your letter of the
Both ultimo, have the honor to give a
statement which shows, under separate
headings, the number Of acres of public
land appropriated by Congress under ex-
isting laws since the 4th of March, 1861 /:
Aeree.
Railroad since 4th OF March, OTO3 1857
Wagon roads since the 4th of March,
Canals SoI since the 18th .; March iS6i 7s30S
Agricultural College since 4th of March,
1861 9,5OuOOO
March, islG....... ................. ls3.OlO
Total number of I65 I45 $50
Very respectfully,
Your sbedient servant,
Jos. S. WILSON, Commissioner
One hundred and fifty-one million, sew
enty thousand three hundred sand eighty
seven acres given to railroad companies
since the Republican party came into
power in 1861 How much does that
mean.
uEpI Tc TEJE7 ADJcvUEp