The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1872-10-01
GREELEY.
Short Speeches at Lancaster and
Marrishurg--Alnnesty and
reconciliation.

IOI'lil Cdllttl lOt odltl
FELLOW CITIZENS: You see befor YOU
one who is just now the object of much
denunciation it is pro-
claimed that have been a secessionist,
know nothing, and even negro trader
Whatever seems likely to produce prize
udice against me is freely uttered with
out any regard to the truth. | have
been repeatedly asked to refute the ca
lumnies, but have thought it best not to
attempt to do So, inasmuch as any de-
NAL I might make would fail to silence
the tongue of slander.
| am one of those who believe that
political parties ought not to be permit
ted to exist long in government such
as ours, that they should flourish and
pass away when they have subserved the
purpose for which they have been crea-
ted. / do not believe that this country
would continue to flourish long under
the exclusive domination of any politi-
cal party Scheming and corrupt poll.
ticians are sure to seize upon the organ
izations Of political parties. They soon
learn to run the machine, as they say,
and they take good care to run it SO that
all the oil runs into their pockets.
trust that we shall see frequent chan
ges of parties in this country. What
we most need just now is that indeperd
ent spirit which leads men in their love
of country to rise superior to all preju
dices of political associations and all ties
Of party.
am free to confess and in no way
ashamed to admit that my party associa-
tons are not the same now as they were
some years ago The dangers which
threatened our nation in the past are
gone. We struggled and suffered to-
gether to preserve the union of these
States, and not in the next hundred
years will any attempt to divide it be
made What we need now is such a
Government as will enable all parts of
the country to reap the fruits Of the vic.
tory We want genuine peace and COM
plete restoration of fraternal relations.
1t is time for us to forget the animosities
engendered hv the war, and to kindle,in-
stead of these baleful passions, feeling
of univ ersal love.
1t is time for us to invite those who
stood opposed to US to a seat around
the common table There is room
enough.
am in favor Of -enfranchising all.
Having done this, having buried the dis
cords of the past, let us see if we can
not do away with the corruption which
prevails so largely in our local State and
national governments. This is the great
work now set before us 1t is for you
to say through what instrumentality this
can be accomplished.
Amidst tremendous cheers he bowed
to the people and proceeded westward.
Mr.. Greeley was received at Harris
burg BY an immense crowd. After pro-
longed cheering, and quiet having been
restored, he delivered the following
speech:
FELLow-CIT1zENs OF HARRIsBURG
Scarcely had the last guns from the
great civil war ceased to reverberate
over the hills of Virginia, when my
voice was raised earnestly, if not loud
/ ly, in favor of forbearancc, mercy, am
nesty and reconciliation Great ap
plause l felt that there had been
b!oodshed enough, devastation enough
that it was now time for a manifestation
of the spirit of Heaven born charity.
| remember the dying injunction OF
the great King David, that vengeance
should be wrought on his chief officer
Joab, because he had shed the blood o.
war in peace ] would have no blood
of war shed in peace, and would have
not drop Of human blood shed unles;
absolute necessity should dictate So
Then in that early day, when the coun
try was highly infuriated by the assas
sination of its President, l dared speak
when there were very few to hear on the
side of forgiveness. Time passed Oh
and at different times l was required, i
seemed, to give the same testimony.
happen now to be candidate, very
unexpectedly to myself, mostly because
of these early utterances. They, more
than anything else, created for me al
influence which made me a candidat,
for your suffrages.
| use these words now because, fel
lowe citizens, may some time be re
quired to speak in popular truths, and
wish you to feel what truth to day re
jects, tomorrow or next will welcome
l stand before you my friends th'
candidate of universal amnesty.
fought the battle Of impartial sutfrag,
until the victory was won, and now
demand the pledge Of the Nationa
Government that every man now dis
franchised be relieved by perfect am
nesty. Applause.
We had clear promise of that am
nesty in the platform of the Republican
party of 1868 That promise has MOI
yet been performed. l stand here to
demand that it shall be- Great ap
plause
If ] could assure the success of ami
nesty better by ceasing to tie candi-
date, l would gladly do so. l desire
only that our disfranchised, prescribed
fellow citizens may be welcomed back
under the folds OF the national flag,
which in an unwise hour they deserted
that they shall be welcomed back, not
as penitents, but as fellow-ci citizens who,
having seen the error of their ways,
and having renewed their allegiance in
faith to their country, shall be treated
like every man white or black, in this
country.
He is citizen simply. and only on
that platform, and with that purpose,
stand before you; and, fellow citizens,
be cheered by the truth that victory be.
longs to us. National hatred, bitter
thoughts Of rebellion, and all these
things, must necessarily die away, and
dying, make the echoes feebler
The day cannot be far distant when
we shall rejoice in restored national
ity, so universal, so perfect, that there
shall be no man under the flag of the
American nation who is not perfectly
protected beneath its folds. Applause.
! In that phrase. in that Snirit 7 hiC