Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-08-07
For the Freeman.
Senator BIair'S Explanation OF the
new Movement.

being in Montgomery, Alabama, as member
of the Ku-Klux Committee, made d speech
to the citizens The New York Tribune OF
October ~, 1871, publishes liberal extracts
from the speech as reported IN the AdrertiSeT
of Montgomery. under this heading, IN large
eapitals-.s Gen. Blair on the NelC Departure
He recommends he Democracy to nominate
PenrBl;caa 10 defeat Gen Grant FOR the
Presidency" In reference to the proPo-
sitron which he had heard of, for the South
to abstain from taking any part IN the next
Democratic convention, Gen. Blair says
- dissent entirely from that proposition.
The triumph Of the Democratic Party IS the
safety Of The South, and who should guard
it's safety but Southern men My fellow
citizens a triumph which shall ret'ere you, Is
the thing which the South looks to,and looks
to alone.
81. They (the Democrats OF the West and
Nortbl have no question of personal favor
ties TO be advanced. To them all Democrats
are alike. and their choice will fall upon him
who is most likely to carry that banner IN TIL
umnb. If the South fails to give us the
benefit of her couDsels, if she fails to send
her prudent and wise men who will.go there
with an eye single to success, if they leave
the d, mocracv of the North to struggle for a
nomination amid the c0ntendIng factions oil
the aspiIants she viii withhold from US tue
benefit Of the wisest and most impartial
council we can have 1t she should abstain,
even though it be upon the ground stated by
some OF the distinguished men vino advocate
this course, and who say that their presence
in the convention in 1865 was laid hold o.
and used to the destruction of the democratic
party. I tell you their abstinence now Will
be claimed as a refusal to 20 with the north
ern Democrats because they hare aa0Pted tie
/ Ne,r Departure. II will be claimed that the
spirit of the Rebellion still fingers and burns
under the sm0uldering ashes, and that 1t is
+ lighted into new flame Of indignation because
the Democratic party Of the North OF a large
portion or them have assumed, for reasons
which seemed good TO them to make certain
concessions in their platform. It would be
suicidal-it would be j destructive OF your
very best interests do not know how well
it is known. but to those who care for my
opinion. it is known that | am no friend to
the new departure. But I believe in the
patriotism and the purity of motives of those
who have chosen that path. But, while
shall still hold to the opinions which [ have
heretofore expressed and shall not yield one
inch of my own convictions as to the eonstitu-
tionalitv of the usurpations Of the radical
party. / am willing TO fight the radicals in
any shape the Democratic party may deter
mine uuon That's Frank Blair
Though he don't believe word in the
New Departure. he decides to JOIN heartily
with those &c who for reasons which seemed
good 10 them have assumed 70 make certain
. concessions in their platform, and Sc fight
the Radicals in any shape the Democratic
party may determine upon. Where in all
our political history can be found more
shameless avowal of perfect restitution of
honor, OF even common honesty and yet
this Frank Blair has planned the programme
Of this Presidential campaign on the Demo
cratic side. and certain Republicans who
wish to reform public affairs are proposing
to associate themselves with such men as
Frank Blair
The speech continues, speaking OF the New
E Departure. &c [ believe that policy has failed
TO give US success in the elections Of THE
summer (Ie7l) and autumn. and for the rea
= son that it was a confession in open court OF
? our inability to carry the elections upon ou7
0.-n priHap'es 1t was confession that We
mus make concessions in order TO draw to
e Us others who had heretofore acted against
e Us. But in making thar confession it failed
to place candidates before the people in har.
, mony with that platform. d" Thus while some
{ Democrats were disguised at this concession,
d no Republicans were coaciIated. Mex
comes Biair's plan for defeating tie reelec-
ton of Gen. Grant. Things don't Iool
j gloomy to him he don't d,spoDe It il
; well understood that if the Republican party
r. contains in itself seeds of discomfort. of bit
terness, OF rivalry and dis Fiction. and it il
r natural that'in these preliminary elections
e that those who are against the election o
Gen. Grant should attempt 10 hold thslr pcsi
fi0n within their party in order that then
influence may be used to defeat Lis nomi
nation | know very well that his nomina
= ton Will not be defeated. at least that is my
= solemn conviction. believe he viii dictat,
: his own nomination; but then, my fellow
, citizens, know that some Of the most consci
entious, able and courageous men who stan,
highest in the Radical party Will lears tia
: party ,rhen Grant is nominated, They wi
take good pains TO defeat has reelection , an,
t again, instead Of going for new departure
0 l would prefer TO give that guaranty to the
disaffected Republicans, rather than 20 bach
on my own principles.
a would prefer to make choice Of Repub
, licans and support a man who should b.
nominated by the disafectcd Republicans o.
what would be better one who might be nom
{ mated by the Democrats in the convention
and they drawn TO US by much stronge
guaranty than the mere words of a platform
= the support of those who are disaffected with
( Grant and the radical party .. We would
all vote for a Republican who was in favor
; of universal amnesty, against the Ku Klul
5 bills and against the military laws, while
@ the most ancient Bourbon in the State oil
Alabama could vote for such Republican il
preference to L. S. Grant, and hold all the
: time IN his very heart all there would be Of
e his BOurbonism. What does he mean by
Bourbonism is it the old rebel doctrine of
the South ?
4 90 speak of my colleague in the Senate
s Carl Schurz lie it was, my fellow citizens