The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-09-03
Speech Of Senator TrumbulI at Co.
.. lumbus,

COLUMBUS, o., September 2.-ThI
Democrats and Liberal Republicans hell
Q large meeting here tonight to heal
Senator Trumbull, who spoke at length
The proceedings were inaugurated By {
torchlight demonstration, In which
II, 900 or $4,000 persons participated.
Senator Thurman, who presided, In In
PRODUCING Mr.. Trumbull, made shori
speech, the first he has made IN this cam
paign. After referring TO Mr.. Trumbull's
position as one Of patriotism at the sacri-
fee Of personal ambition, Senator Thur
man said Indeed, what but patriotism
can actuste the large body Of Republicans
who have enlisted In the same causeY !
appeal TO every honest man to answer
conscientlously TO hlmseli the question
what but strong and firm conviction OF
duty could have led these Republicans "a
oppose the reelection Of Grant3 And !
ask the same question in relation TO the
Democracy. What but sense Of duty
could have induced that party TO sacrifice
pride and It's pfejudlces and unite in the
support Of one OF Its lifelong opponents
for the highest office In the gilt of the
people. The Democrats had no ill-yill
towards Grant in 1868. In the campaign
OF that year never heard him spoken OF
BY Democrat save in terms Of respect:
Even his acknowledged fAilIngs were sell
dom If ever alluded 10 by the bitterest
partisan. What, then, has produced the
revulsion OF leeling2 We see revulsion
so strong that, In order to defeat his
reelection, the Democracy are will
lng, nay anxious, TO elect Horace
Greeley. My friends, there is but
one true answer TO give TO this
question. Grants civil administration
has been lamentable failure He has
utterly disappointed the reasonable ex-
pectations Of the people. His saving,
"Let US have Peace" elected him in 1868,
or at least did more than anything else to
to elect him. The country democrats as
well as Republicans believed in his sin.
cerity when he uttered that saying, prob.
ably he was sincere, but scarcely was he
inaugurated before he fell into the hands
and under the guidance Of the men who
made him repudiate and ignore
that sentiment instead OF peace
We have had bayonets, suspension of
hGbeGs corpus, armed interference in
nominating conventions and in support
OF carpet baggers, the most corrupt on
earth and the impoVerishment OF one
third Of the Republic. II was loudly pro.
claimed in 1868 that the administration of
Andrew johnson was corrupt and
civil aarvina raEorpn tyas ,Hror,;,,.j
in tho event OF Grants cleo
.tion. How has that promise been
fulfilled. l will ask you TO look at the
New York Custom House frauds; at the
long list Of delalcations amounting TO
millions, at the Chorpening claims and
others like II, at the nepolism that has
disgraced the appointing power, and worse
than all, at the proaigate use of patron.
age 10 influence members OF Congress and
carry elections. Look at these and ask
yourselves where is the civil service re.
form that was promised to you and do
not forget how reform has been ridiculed
and sCOtIed and jeered at by the chiei
supporters ol the President In both houses
Of Congress. Do not forget how investi.
cation has been stiaed by the constitution
OF committees in violation of the parlia.
mentary law. You have heard OF the
military commissions organized to con.
vict, and you have seen Congressional
committees apparently organized to &C.
quit. There was time when delin-
quent trembled at the idea of Congress
sonal investigation Of his conduct. 1t
was not so last winter. Then the black.
er the crime, the stronger was the
hope Of the criminal that it would
be whitewashed by a partizan com.
mittee. What custom house officer
OF New York, convicted Of taking bribes,
has been removed from office? Not one
so far as have heard. What officer at
New Orleans, who used the military
forces Of the Government 10 overcome
and control State Convention, has lost
his place? No one 80 far as known.
And yet the Philadelphia Convention
had the audacity to talk of civil service
reiorml My friends, you will never have
any genuine reform in the civil service
until you adopt the one-term principle in
reference TO the Presidency. As long as
the incumbent can hope for a second
term, he will use the immense patronage
OF the Government to procure his re-
nomination and secure his reelection.
Once 1t was not so. The patriot Presi-
dents Of revolutionary memory were re-
elected without the employment Of any
such arts. They would have scorned and
abhorred their use, and considered
themselves dishoncFed had they used
them, But we have fallen upon
evil times. The example set BY
the fathers is no longer followed. The
Presidential office is no longer in the es.
timatiOn OF many "a great public trust"
but is merely personal privilege and
means Of rewarding parasites and par.
tisans, and maintaining aparty in public
as in private affairs and experience Is con.
stantly developing the truths that cannot
with safety be overlooked. It has de.
veloped the fact that the one term prin.
cipal is essential to purity In the civil ad.
ministratlon Of the Republic. l repeat
It, until that principal be adopted and
acted upon, you will have no genuine
reform, and were there no other reason
for opposing Grants reelection this
would be sufficient.
THE WRECK OF THE NETS