New-York tribune., 1872-09-13
SPEECH OF FERNANDO WOOD.

SPEECH OF FERNANDO WOOD.
IN fgIy-1t IrrlaJ Hal
Mr. Wood said ho would address himself es-
peciay to those old Democratic friends with whom he
had fought so many political campaigns. he thought his
political record and tenacious adherence to the princi
pies AMI usagcs Of tho party for third Of century
should give his opinions some consideration ana weight
with those who had stood side By side with him in the
same line OF duty. To them, therefore, he would say
that his Judgment those who refused to support tue
nominees OF the Baltimore Convention were liable to be
accused Of both Inconsistency and recreancy. Ours s
party OF principle believing in certain essential funda
mental doctrines OF Government, contradistnguished
opposite to those which have always been hed ana
acted upon by tho opposition. We hOld tAat man Is
capable Of sefgoyernment that the liberties and rights
OF the people best secured by decentralization OF
power aud distribution OF the functions OF government
throughout The States to bo left with the people ereOL
We believe In economical and honest administration
of public aalrsn the general pacllcaton OF inc e0u-
OF the Southern states to all their rights within the
Union that may constitute one grand league OI
states bound together Dy fraternity anu htlonal uy,
We opposed social Intolerance ana the prescription
Of foreignborn citizens in consequence OF Drtn or Iel
giOn We the rights Of labor IN the possession OF
It's just earnings the Tree exercise OF opnlOn ana the
te tecon III o @ s which have ALWAYS marked
our party and made up the great difference between our
sGineS anu % ~ t of Tbr Con ttifnti0n until this
tme ours has represented the DenOcrauc element OF
the American population as cohiadlshguisHcu lIOAn
the arstOcratic, almost always cOnoled against US 49,.
us we nave been frequently called upon to make sacr
fees. We have never hesltdted TO mdSe tleln Ior
lowers are not willing TO encounter ana surmOunJ u
ieutes So long as principles are preserved, merely
nrsonai consderaons are OF little moment. 1t is the
underlying fundamental basis upon whicn our lstltu
Ons rest that seek to defend and keep strong ana
enduring This object the beacOn-ght when all tfde
Democrats should follow
PRINCIPLES, NOT MEN.
Men are nothing, principles arc everything. Men
come and go Men change with their interests caprces
cha fps uV.lie IFsit ne
ties and welfare OF the people should be h1edly main
tanned at all hazards.
Iis the highest evidence OF sincerity in the advocacy
Of this cause that It's supporters are now willing TO lay
aside personal prejudce and forget personal hostltle
No noteal party in this country IN Europe has ever
are doing i'm supporting the Presidency Horace Gree
lev our love vi great cause is made paramount 10
dislike OF an Individual. Principle Is raised above
prejudice, and the general good MADE the soe OteGt
and aim OF success. We are reminded Dy incidents III
our party history of the danger OF following personal
leaders and giving way 10 sucn cOuSloeral1ns hnch
Van Buren, and Cass QuaIreled the Opposition came
into power by the division When Buchanan and Doug
las auarreed the Radical party warmed INTO EXISTENCE
Thai feud merey personal in itseli by oyldlng us,
rent asundcr both the party and the natOn spAt our
noble organization and plunged the country INTO M eiylt
war And calamitous the whole country as was that
bloody conflict in nothing has II been more disastrous
than In fastening upon the people the MohstIous YAM I
pre now eating the national yltas at tne feueTdl
eautal The evils under which we now suIer Dy the
existence OF the present most corrupt Adhlst %
NAV be properly charged to tho door OF Democrats MAo
fron merely individual preferences or prUudlces,
aowed themselves 10 he drawn OF from the main BODY
OF the organization they were R2lnd y 91hee " "
avery consideration OF party fidelity and public duty.
Cunning indeed are the managers OF tny presenit re,
gme Not forgetting the means py WiCI .iGy t n
tain power Tney are ndustrlousB atIe.nptuS " SOW
carry oil the spos OF victory and hold ON Tor another
period TO their il-gotten plunder.
EARNEST WORDS TO DEMOCRATS.
say, therefore to those valued friends with whom
and ior whom have long fought, stand fast to the
iii r.rIfe Oh bvpa nd
frightened of by the senseess cry of inconsistency
better be in line with the great body Of the party than
10 be charged with desertiOn TO the common enemy in
the midst heated battle. II You were opposed TO
Grant four years ago, why should you support hn no"
when his utter failure In civil administrator Is so papa
Bile to all II his ncapacity and personal unntness nave
been plain 10 disgust the aDest ana pnrc5t men
OF his own party, why should Democrats desert nODe
princpe TO run after fallen and SO OdOusf surely
10 aid in prOppng up man who i tle eXenpr Oh every
thing that Is rcpuguant to teachings ana piac
tlces is poor work Tor Democrats.
BE warned In time. little while later ana reforna-
tion will be impossible The reelection OI Grant implies
the continuation OF the Republican party, and TINS IN
sures the continuation OF the many evils which now
alc the country Ii taxation is great now 10 VIII 0e
nuadruped aud the official corruption existing now VIII
become LOld and audaci0us. The southern states VIII
he remanded 10 a condition of aJect seryitude, depend
ent upon the Presidents wlll-inltary authority VIII
take the place OF civil jursdlctlOn-al power VIII DC
concentrated Washington and every state corporate
and private rights made subservent to Federal rule
lshed by our fathers will be replaced by the ponp and
regaia Of imperial assumption The royal family thus
established ldlly III pOsse ,sIou, viii lhCLcdS VIC
button OF emoluments and h0nors among themselves,
fully Justified bV the apparent popular approval Ihe
profgate and corrupt legislation which has character
tounted ~ new schemes OF public punder; and as Dad
as has been the general conduct o. every depament %
tine Federai Government, legis9tNe anu ~ w.
will have not only an extension Of ts same Wl0nEs ana
a continuation of the errors but sueIl addtOnaI
evils will depTess industry, para 70 e0mhece ue
stroy values, undermine public liberty obhterate state
divisions and rights subvert our institutions, ana nhay
create such change In the country as TO produce n
tiOna bankruptcy, civil revolution, ana nitay govern
ment according 10 the Mexican and South American
practices. IL there are any Democrats VINO are ready
10 assume the responsibility OF aiding in the production
of such results let them do The consequence Will
rstuot only upon their heads, but upon those OF
thelr poserty For myself, shall not do so. shall
sustain the Democratic banner though Upheld by Horace
Greeley