The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-08-05
REPUBLICAN MEETING AT
RICHMOND, IND.
Speeches Of Senator Wilson and Gov.
Moves.

II
NoyeS.
RICHMOND, August 8.-An immense
Republican mass meeting was held here
to-day. The number present was gener.
ally estimated at from 5000 to 10000.
Hon. Henry Wilson made the first speech.
He began BY referring TO the record Of
Indiana and Wayne counties in the war
and In peace. He then traced the foot.
steps Of the Republican party from Its in.
lancy TO the present time, showing that 1t
had from beginning to end been true to
the principles OF justice, liberty and bu-
manity. Those who say that the party
has performed It's mission and is dead are
themselves dead to the great principles
on which 1t was founded, and still rests.
Those who leave the party, claiming they
are as good Republicans as ever, simply
follow In the footsteps Of the Blairs, Doc.
little and Andrew johnson. He then re.
viewed the record of Grant in war and in
peace. He said, as Chairman of the Mill.
tary Committee in the Senate, he had spe.
cial advantages to study his character
from the beginning. OF all the Generals
In the field he showed himself the most
efficient and far.sighted. He favored put.
ting the colored men in the army. In 1868
Gen. Grant urged the adoption Of the
amendment granting suffrage TO the ne
groes. He favored and suggested the
original reconstruction bill, and did more
than any other man TO secure the RdOp.
tion Of the 10Th amendment in 1869 and
1870. He concurred 10 the passage Of
the Ku.Klux bill only after it was per.
tectly apparent that negroes in Louisiana
and other Southern States could not pro.
teCt themselves. He hesitated TO assume
the power conferred upon him by that
law; his course toward the white people
OF the South had invariably been humane.
The speaker averred that Summers addi.
tional civil rights bill was supported by
the administration members OF both
houses Of Congress, but was opposed by
Trumbull and Schurz and their follow
ers, and defeated by Democrats. He
said an effort is now being made to draw
the colored vote away from Grant, but
having been over the South, he was pre-.
pared TO say that ninety.nine out Of every
one hundred negroes from the Potomac
to the Rio Grande will vote for him he
alluded to the plea now being made for
rebels and Democrats by the Liberal Re.
pgblicans, that they should be forgiven.
He was ready TO forgive when thsy
showed real evidence oil repentance. He
could not believe that alter forty years Of
shining three million men could be con-
verted in tho twinkllng Of an eye. He
was not willing 10 accept mere lip evidence
OF their conversion. II they have been
honest for forty years in their persistent
service Of the slave power, they could not be
converted to the Cincinnati platform in a
single day. In closing the speaker ap.
pealed to the men Of Indiana to stand
firmly by the party which had done more
for the human race than all others, and
which could never die ignobly.
Senator Wilson was followed by Gov.
NOyes, of Ohio, who spoke an hour and a
hall. He said: We have now entered
upon an anamalous-polltical campaign.
Heretofore there have always been oppos.
cd to each other, two parties representing
a district and antagonistic ideas, but now
If the protestation of certain selfconsli.
tuted party leaders arc to be depended on
the old Democratic party has committed
self destruction; but this is all pretext
and sham intended TO mislead. The
Democratic corps under the influence of
so.called Liberal Republican batteries will
be galvanized into life again. 1t is only
the semblance oil death, out Of which Il
will spring into action and vigorous ex-
istence animated by the spirit oil evil,
bent upon overturning the grand accom-
plishment Of the last ten years, and seek.
ing to perpetuate its power by destroying
the dearest interests OF the country. l warn
you as Republican patriots against these
deep laid plots. Whatever the designs
OF those who sympathized with treason
during the rebellion, and who have shared
in and smarted under the discontinue Of
OF tho rebel armies, and hostile Gov.
eminent, destroyed by the valor OF Union
soldiers, they only bide their time. Their
ablest representatives declare that they
have sacrificed no principle whatsoever
have changed no party creed-have in
no respect denied or abjured the faith
they professed in 1s60-61.
Recognizing the fact, however, that
their record OF treason during the war
was so black and damning that they. could
never hope for political power again, with.
out resorting to subterluge and false pre-
tense, they have deliberately put on the
appearance ofswallowing all utterances OF
the last ten years, and Of cheerfully accept.
ing as their candidate for the highest Office
in the gilt OF the people the man who
never opened his mouth but to abuse
lhem-who never took up his pen but to
characterize them as the veriest vaga.
bonds upon the face Of the earth. Who
believes they are honest in their present
humiliatlng attitude2 They are hungry
for the loaves and fishes and
want emoluments Of official position.
They want the influence and patronage
Of the dominant party, with good prom
ises inscribed upon their banners and
-crayon reform on their tongues, Under
cover Of mere sklrmish line Of disap-
pointed and sore head Republicans, they
hope to carry the citadel Of good govern
ment and to share the spoils among the
victors. It's fact that 1t is the old fight
over again-a struggle between the liber.
ty loving and progressive elements Of the
nation on one hand and the representa-.
tives Of oppression, violence and corrup.
tion on the other.
The speaker then passed briefly over
the course of Gen. Grant since his elec.
ton 10 the Presidency. He said he is n
plain, blunt man; honest, earnest, patriot.
ic and faithful; not much accustomed to
the ways Of politicians, nor always mind.
ful Of tho strictest proprieties. When
elected President he knew very little
Of those who had figured largely id
the management Of public atiairs.-