Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-08-22
A SIGN OF BETTER TIMES,
THE NOBLE SPEECH OF HORACE
GREELEY AT PORTLAND.

1fr Chairman and Ladies and Ge1ltle-
men:
1t is certainly true that throughout
the course Of my life, so far as | have
been connected with public affairs, I
have struggled with such capacity as
God has given me. first, for impartial
and universal liberty, second, for the
union and greatness Of our common
country, and third, and by no means
least, when the former end was attain
ed, for early and hearty reconciliation
and peace among our countrymen.
For these great ends have struggled,
and hope the issue Of the third is not
doubtful. thoroughly comprehended
that no personal consideration has
drawn this vast assembly together.
Other higher and grander considera-
tions have collected you around me to-
day. 1t is part Of the unwritten law
of our country that a candidate for the
Presidency may not make speeches in
vindication and commendation of the
principles whereupon he is supported,
or the measures which his election is
intended to promote, though candi-
date for Vice-President is under no
such inhibition. ! not merely acqui-
esce in the restriction; recognize and
affirm its propriety. The temptation
to misinterpret and misrepresent a
candidate for The higher posts is so
great, the means Of circulating such
perversions among people who never
see word Of their refutation are so
vast, that candidate has no moral
right to subject his friends to the per-
lis he must brave, if not invite, by TAX
ing part i'll the canvass. Yet there is
a truth to be uttered in behalf of those
who have placed me before the Amer
ican people in my present attitude,
which does them such honor that /
claim the privilege Of stating it here
and now. This is The truth no person
has ever yet made the fact known that
he proposed to support. or actively did
support my nomination, whether at
Cincinnati, at Baltimore, or in any aC-
tion which resulted in sending dele
gates to either convention, as the basis
of a claim for office at my handS. No
one who favored my nomination before
either convention, or at either convcn-
ton, has sought Office at my hands,
either for himself or for any one else;
nor has any one suggf sted to me that
| might strengthen my self as a caDdi-
date by promising to appoint any one
to any important Office whatever. In
f., -, lyos H., ii m, N,
| am ccr,ain, some of ihe smaller fry OF
politicians have, since my double nom.
nation, hinttd to me that might in-
crease my chance of felecti"n by pr0mis
ing a poSt"tiice or sOmt such place TO my
vO'uutccr correspondents respectively.
| have not usually responded to these
oyerturcs, but now give general
notice that. should he el, cted. will
consider the claims Of these uutimsly
asplrants q ter those Of the more mod
est aid feIiceut shall have been fully
satisfied. Applause. IN two or
three inStanc $ | have been asked to
say whether | would or would not, if
elected, confne my appointments to
Republicans. | answer thts by point
ing to the plank in The Cincinnati plat
torm wherein all who cOUcnr in the
principlts therein set forth are cordial
ly invited To participate in their estab-
lshmsnt and yiLdicatiou. | never
yet heard Of man who Invited his
nei"hbors to help him raise IA house
and prccrt ded 10 kick them out Of it
Sd soon as the roof was iairly over his
head. For my own part recognize
every honest man who approves and
adheres 20 the Cincinnati platform as
my Political brother, aud, as such, full
,ly eutitl, & to my confidence and friend
ly regard. Oue other point demands
word. Those adverse to ME ask
what pledges L have given to those
lately hostile to the Union to secure
their favor and support. answer:
ever asked Of ne, either directly or
through another, any other pledge
than is given IN all my acts aud words,
from tha hour Of Lees surrender down
t. th!s mOmcnt.s No Southern man
ever limited 10 me an eXpect alton, hope
~ s"' .'tT ,1D'a a,nn1% ~ W. nS,noi
09n,'rsi'I ~ nsd y, ,he o' Tin w mn
srn w. rian r' " T Rn ,Ir conJ T he M ni' cIcd % tnn
Irrisiofnre 81 il nv nr m.d~ coIonrI nf q mil.
t;s II rnn;msnt eynn suggcst,I i tbe nm.
si"nin@ 81" i M ~ an the r.heI soIdiers m Or any
o,"I' o' ,hoIn " ov",, m ~ 49, . remnte t mos.ih;Ii,"
" '.eni h ''Tn t, " 1',0o' ~, ,,in ",r 49,.
Al "l@ .h I,''i'''E,' ETI i'J Ta,s I iv',;t tfi
IMhc ri1 Ti ;.i"t >,,'''" i, ",' 'sIIor KI,r
s,'g';a ~ nJ ,,%''', ~ .,,,. uf "I tnT
ronSplrac! anu o"r"s@S, ''"uSh lldu m
i9h3 ago iHSia,ad IT, H'ie'iuou5'E aS now