New-York tribune., 1872-10-15
FENTON VS.. CONKLING.
SENATOR FENToNs SPEECH IN HIS NATIVE
TOWN

At a meeting Of the neighb0rs and friends
Of Senator Fenon held in his native town oS Carroll,
Chautauqua County, Saturday evening, Oct II, tho
Senator spoke fOllows>
FELLow-cITrzESs: I will not appropriate this warm
reception personal compliment growing out Of my
residence in your midst from childhood untn a few
years ago. or to other personal considerations, bat TO
your interest In that great political movement Of tho
people with which / am identified heartily thank
you, however, for t. My purpose in coming here is for
Kind and consderate discussion Of our political con-
dton free possible passion md pTciuiiee Let
try and together the hope that win 500
more clearly tie path OF duty, and thus wisely
discharge our obligations at the baliobox faithful
citizens OF the Republic Every four years wo called
upon to consider, with renewed interest mon and mo2s
affecting the administration Of our national alairi
But few of these recurring periods, looking TO the repu
tatiOn Of the Government and tie welfare OF She peo.
ple have been. in my iudgmout. more important
than this none have been more interesting those
who, like myself IN revolt from besotted political
organization, OF which the people weary. In plain
terms, movement from a corrupt and caete Ia.
cal party the part Of Republicans and from u1tena-
bic and Improbable past political controversy on tho
part OF Democrats With some, who out OF 0nce no
doubt knowledge Of the fact that the only way 70 set
I'm, is 20 fight their IN, has its weight; bat tic srcat
body OF the people moved BY higher, broader and
nober considerations So It Is true that neither tic ten
thousand Liberal Republicans who assembled &c CRcis-
natl the 1st Of May the large numbers Lcy repr-
sented to any great extent expected or desired oe
The sane Is true Of the great body Of the Democratic
party whose representatives subsequently gthereda at
Baltimore It required sefdcnal and courage 20 nE'aS
away party associates and power On the nc SIDE
and abandon the traditions Of party action ana the
preiudices OF the other The two united are
patriotic force impeed by sincere and single desire TO
promote good politics and honesty in public affairs.
WHAT IT MEANS.
II means that there is an earnest and devoted purpose
d rFg- I vHNrf % fsfnF.
eminent Civil Service Reform, correction Of rho
abuses In administrative affairs, escape from the mis-
chevous personallsm in the Executive Of the nation,
and an avoidance Of blunders in forcsR policy II
means, too, that the great leading objects OF the Icpa9
lcan party been Accomplishment that there Is na
longer any opposition to those Objects and that eres
something better than fight old battles over again. II
means also that it is important to eject q complete
reconciliation between the North and the South Ihose
two sections Of common country have oeeh n
bitter hostility against each other for more tnan
q quarter Of century, growing out OF the q'eS'
ton Of Human Slavery. 10 is now over eIgyeu
vears since this hostility Tpened into bloody strife Bat
the Rebellion has been overthrOwn and ts cause de-
sroyed by force Of upon the battlefield ana us ie
appearance made impossible by an amendment % tAo
Constitution Since then Impartial Suffrage nae peen
secured; civil and political equality established as
principle Of the Government; the National deDt mas
been guaranteed and the payment OF the hebei deD'
prohibited by another amendment 70 tho Constitution
All the old obstacles to peace and fraternity nave ohs
by one, been removed. To effect, then, complots
escape from decentralization and misrule and return 10
friendship and fraternal regard, ID the mission OF the
masses Of the people who have engaged IN the support
| Of Greeley and Brown.
| PATRIOTISM AND SUCCESS.
Can be that movement based upon such groundss
otherwise than unselfsh and patriotc But few VIII
doubt its final success When the great founders OF the
Republican party like Greeley, Sumner, Curtin, Erun
nd Gov qfr and st
and le are engaged in It's support joined by nneynine
onehundredths Of the great Democratic party It's not
confined to your town, county, or SlaJoi AHt
has q firm foundation in every town, every
| county, and every State Of our great country
| Upon every hill and IN every valley, among the
toer in every pursuit. in every uade, IN every pfoies
sion and among all classes and conditions OF men, you
will find this movement has an earnest and vigorous
support The great majority Of all parties are patriotic
and honest and have blind attachment OF unreafon
ing devotion to party organization. They only adj
| here to it so far and long as, BY it and
and through it, the higher aud better interests OF theii
country are subserved when party ceases TO be IN
agency for promoting the general good, the people c
it aside as q worn out garment. Al along TIE pathway
OF our history we see wreck aud the rubbish Of worn
out and decayed organizations and the rse, progress
and triumph Of new political associations. lt began a
| the close OF John Adamss Administration, and 1t VIII
| not end with the remarkable revolution within your
own experience in 1866 and scO which resulted in tie
accession Of the Republican party TO power n Is
mistake to suppose that the people do no readily com
prehend the principles involved in our nerce political
conflicts They alike in the end TO solve every
question Of Government correctly and 10 supply every
| needed reform and security.
| LET Us HAVE PEACE.
Thus four years ago no declaration OF Gen. Grant re-
ceyed more hearty acceptance from all parties than tho
| one "Let US have peace" What grand Opportunity
was before him. The whole people were weary and de-
sired reuose and the President had only to act upon tho
great principle Of humanity and progress 10 nave re-
yived friendly feeling between the sections ana to nave
ayered tho reign of rings and wrongs which fastened
upon u.s. Instead of peace, however, we have had con.
tnued sectional srife instead Of friendship have had
continued hatred and bitterness among tue people; in
stead Of return tho normal condition Of civil admin
istraton we have had subordnation OF civil 10 military
rule and federal encTOachmen upon local and reserved
rights instead Of aiding restore the wasted energies
OF the South, there has been continued fostering of
irresponsible and eXtIGvagant government which has IN
creased the burdens OF the people In word OF
an administration in the interest OF the Whole people
| there has been greater degree Of partisan con-
troll and despousm Of party action than ever BEFORE
| Not only do we now witness the absence OF an
entire Cabinet their official duties engaged IN an
attempt prolong the powcr Of themselves ana their
chief but we the vast army Of ohcehoderS' nom
the highest TO the lowest banded together in unusual
and extraordinary partisan strife. These onccholdors
obey the word Of command Of their chief with as much
alacrv and with rs complete subsection 20 discipline
ever the same number OF displayed under TIE same
chief upon the battlefield. Instead Of deyo,lng thom-
selves TO your interests and performing their duties
your servants they employ time and money bconsing
to YOU not In the promotion Of public interest, but OF
marty ends Indeed they are told good term
deserves another and while they led forward by
the promise that they shall be continued in Office they
cceed in retecnR their chief they dare not hesitate