The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1872-10-10
Adams on Grant.
The Cincinnati FarOs Repudiat-
ed by an Original Liberal"
Speech OF Chas. Francis Adams, JF., at
Quincy, Mass.-InteFestIng Review
or National AfIaIrs-KhY ET-
erybOdy should Vote for
General Grant.
QUINCY, Mass., Sept. 3O.

QUINCY, Mass, Sept. 80.
A large meeting was held in this
place tonight, which was addressed
by Charles Francis Adams, ,jr.-(b broth
er of John Quincy Adams, the straight
out Democratic candidate for Vice
President.) / send you the main
points of his remarks, which were
well received.
Mr.. ADAMS ADDRESS.
The great DR.. Samuel johnson, in
approaching some matter of discus
sion, once advised his faithful BOs-
well to "clear his mind of cant.U
ThiF, my fellow citizens of Quincy, I
propose, with your kind indulgence,
to do for myself on the present occa-
sion. And in one respect, at least,
the canvass now going on affords
matter for sincere congratulatiOn.
Much of it as there is, there is yet far
less discreditable electioneering cant
about it than at one time there seemed
cause to apprehend. A few weeks
ago l accidentally came across an old
volume of political pamphlets relat-
ing to the election of lS40-the famous
'lOg cabin aud hard cider" campaign
of 'Tippecanoe and Tyler tOo"-that
ideal year for the believers in "tidal
waves" and 'prairie fires" in which,
through the grace of God, John Tyler
was chosen to preside over the desti-
nies of this people for the space of
three years and eleven months. 1t
was singular reading, though some
what melancholy withal, and I closed
the volume with, to state it mildly,
small admiration for tidal waves and
prairie fires when viewed through a
perspective of thirty years. Early in
the present summer another hard ci-
der dispensatiOn seemed impending
over US in the shape of a white hat
and wood chopper campaign; and it
twas only as the season advanced that
it became evident that the profession
ais in charge of that novelty hsd
dreadfully underestimated the intelli-
gence of those masses" of whom
they thought so much; and the feeble !
nutriment which sufficed for 1910 was
a pronounced failure in 1872, We
may not, as people, even yet have
reached the height Of calm political !
debate, but we are out of our swad- |
| ding clothes, and the childish appeals |
which once excited an odd enthusi- |
asm have this year been distinctly |
productive only of laughter and dis |
gust. As you we'll know, am not a |
politician, but it is not unknown to |
some of you that, in my own way, I |
was -concerned in the movement |
which resulted in the Cincinnati con-
vention of May last, and, having been |
actively engaged in that movement |
from its first inception, have been |
most anxious for some suitable public |
occasion on which 1 might put on
record my reasons for refusing to
abide by its result, and for giving nv
vote against the candidate of that
convention, Mr.. Greeley, and in favor
OF the opposing candidate, General
Grant.
L was not then, nor am / now, a
believer in an irredeemable paper
currency, and regarded nation, as
rich and prosperous as this, and which,
nevertheless, does not pay its notes,
much as l regard a business man who
can pay and don't. 1 was, and arn,
also, firm believer in the necessity
of an immediate and thorough reform
and publication of our whole civil
service system. I detest and despise
the theory that the offices of govern
ment are the legitimate booty of each
political victory, and I felt and still
feel that the recognition of such a
rule is wholly inconsistent with a con-
tinued political purity. Certain men
met together at Washington and sub
sequently in New York-editors,
economists, politicians, and men of
business-few in number, being not
more than fifteen or twenty ia all, but
welding an enormous power through
the press. We were all of one mind.
Political managers and aspirants for
office were very civil and profuse in
expressions OF sympathy with us in
private, but very shy of us in public.
Nearly two years ago drew up with
my own hand the original draft of q
resolution calling a convention of
those sympathizing in our views to
meet at Cincinnati. This was not,
however, the nominating convention
of May last-that subsequently grew
out oft.
So far as President Grant himself
was concerned, personally enter ain
ed but one sentiment-thato of intense
ard bitter disappointment at what I
still consider his great failure as civil
administrator. He was my old Gen
eral; and as such I felt toward him
not as you feel, but as those only feel
who have passed through lcng days
and nights of battle agony, looking to
one man in firm reliance that he car
ried with him ultimate victory, and
In the end have found that faith JUS
titled. And let me further say, that
/, in common with vast multitude
of others, have had my admiration
and sympathy deeply excited by the
grand silence with which the Presi-
dent has undergone the vile torrent of {
contradictory calumny which has so (
perSistently been poured forth against .
him. Gen. Grant can not at once be
both the Wretched imbecile and the
cunning usurper he is so commonly
described by the same lips, and can
assure those how so indiscreetly as
sailing him that they are guilty of a
grave error of judgment if they fond
ly believe that the men who stood byNi
him while lead was in the air, will be
driven from his side by the hurtlingofl
hard words. Whichever party is sue
cessful this year the vile scandal
known as "carpet bagism" is doomed,
and the States lately in rebellion are
sure at last of being left to themselves.
The only contingency, so far as I can
forecast the future, which can endan-
ger this much-to-be-desired result,
would be the election of Mr.. Greeley.
That might possibly, by inviting new
disturbances, reopen the whole ques-
ton. In such an event Mr.. Greeley
is, judging by his own utterances in
the past in relation to the Justice and
propriety of secession and force bills,
scarcely the man l should care to see
intrusted with the delicate duty of
Teadjustment. I was one of those who
met our Southern brethren on a num-
Der Of hard fought fields. Seven years
ago, when Gen. Grant paroied Lees
army, / "clasped hands across the
bloody chasm," and from that day to
this have entertained only the kindest
feelings toward my old enemies. I /
really can't, at this late day, see the I
necessity for any more tears or hys- +,
terics. The question of Reconstruction (
is now practically decided, and its
gross abuses, which in my place I [
have never hesitated to denounee, are s
at last repudiated of all men. The ]
Southern States now need above all |
things TO be carefully let alone; but I
Mr.. Greeley and his supporters insist ,
on more agitation. In this miserable /:
work /, for one, will not abet them. !
am indeed opposed to them on this ;
issue more than on any other, and, as !
friend and well wisher of the South, ;
earnestly hoping to see it work out &
its own salvation quietly and peace
ably, feel could not too strongly {
deprecate the substitution, at this |
time, of Mr.. Greeley for Gen. Grant {
in the presidential chair. 1t would be
chaos come again, which heaven for
bidi
In regard to the new questions, 8
however-tke questions of the future {