New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-09-12
Candidates and Parties Contrasted.
SPEECH OF
Hon. GEORGE F. HOAR,
At W, rcester, Mass, August 18th, 1872
EeNosc- Citizens :

Fsl'o0- Citizens:
This is the first Presidential election in
which every grown man in the Republic has
been entitled to take a part. 1t is the hrst
since 1860 in which every State may take
share. The process Of restoration, not too
long DELAYED for the safety of the Republic,
i. at last complete. Every State is in its
nlnce. every Senator'S chair is full, every
district enjoys its rightful representation.
Ii isa time of general peace. The flag
with its thirty seven stars floats over every
sea and is honored in every land. The most
powerful and proudest monarchy of the
West, for the first time in her history, has
apologized for great wrong, and tribunal
now sits by the shores of the beautiful and
classic lake of Geneva, before which we are
holding her as defendant to make atone
ment for her offense. In the East, Japan, a
nation equal in population to ourselves,
reused by the sound of our mighty footsteps
from her barbarous sleep Of ages, sits docile
at our feet, learning civilization, manners,
laws, religion.
1t is time also of general prosperity. In
spite of the war, in spite Of the loss from the
estimate of the value of the slaves, the val
uation of the wealth of the nation has in.
creased from sixteen thousand to twenty
nine thousand millions of dollars in ten
wears. The manufactures of the country
have increased in ten years from 1885,
S6l,676 to $4,305, 49,, 1882. Not, as in
slave. holding times, has the legislation of
the General Government been guided by
hatred or jealousy toward you, but every
regulation Of finance, tariff, currency, taxa
ton, has been in accordance with your gen.
lz- <ho nf
own chosen and trusted statesmen.
Better than the statistics of wealth are the
statistics of manhood. Every slave has be-
come a freeman, every freeman a citizen,
every citizen has become q voter.
In this condition of things two great part.
les and little one present themselves. They
ask you tochoose between Grant and Gree
ley /; between Wilson and Gratz Brown be-
tween the candidates Of the Republicans
everywhere and the candidates of the De-
mocracy. What is best for the Republic?
10 which shall we give our confidence
Twill detain you for few moments only
while ask you whether the promises of 1868
have not been kept? think the promises
made in the Chicago platform of 1868 have
been kept by the Republican party beyond
even their own expectations.
The Chicago platform of 1868 consisted of
IOuItCCh ICSOiutiOuSs uCNioAihS a POAiSy i'
regard to six great subjects l. Equal rights
and equal Suffrage 2. Payment of the pub
lie debt; 8. Reduction of taxation 4. Hon
esty and economy of administration s. En-
couraging immigration, especially opposi-
ton to the doctrine of European Govern.
ments that once subject always q subject;
6. Amnesty.
Now 1 submit to you, fellow. citizens, with
out fear of contradiction, that in regard to
each of these things, not only has the Repub'
lican party accomplished more than four
years ago any of us dared to hope, butt has
accomplished more than any other Admins.
tration ever did or tried to do. In these
great particulars it will stand out conspicu-
Gus and illustrious, mighty landmark In
history.
First, as to equal suffrage. What Govern.
ment or Administration ever bestowed on
mankind q jewel so precious as the fifteenth
amendment? the last of the three great
amendments to our Constitution, standing
out brilliant and conspicuous in our history,
and which have been we'll compared to three
blazing stars in the belt of Orion which give
glory aud splendor to the skies.
What Government on earth ever paid
debt equal to the reduction that has been
made in ours? What Government can show
such reduction of taxes in three years? What
Government such economy and honesty? In
these four great particulars you will, l am
sure, agree with me 10 Government can
make such showing.
The claim to hold their subjects in per.
petual allegiance, so long discussed, which
European sovereigns have so strenuously
maintained, has at last been yielded to the
peaceful diplomacy of General Grant. The
American citizen of German or of British
birth is hereafter to be subjected to no other
claim than those of his adopted country.
So, too, in the matter of amnesty has the
Administration not only exceeded the prom
Use of the platform, but exhibited clemency
unparalleled in history. This is a matter
much misunderstood, and ] shall explain
It briefly. Many people suppose that large
numbers of the rebels are still disfranchised.
The fact is otherwise. The elective fran
chise has been restored to every person
within the Government, notwithstanding his
share in the rebellion. But the Constitu-
as to qualification for Office. 1t provides
that no person under twenty one shall hold
office, that none under twenty. five be a Rep
psssntative, none under thirty a Senator,
and no man Of foreign birth or under thirty.
I've be President. State constitutions and
statutes contain many like provisions for the
public safety. So the fourteenth amend
ment declares that persons who had taken
an oath to support the Constitution and
thereafter taken part in the rebellion shall
not hold Office unless their disabilities are
removed by Congress by two-thiAls vote.
The offense supposes the addition of per
jury to treason. Even then the exclusion
from Office is not absolute, but the party has
only to satisfy Congress that he has changed
his mind. So generous has Congress been
a = L L. -
che prayer Of any person who has asked re.
iief. Many thousands have been pardoned
by name, and, at the last session. Congress
passed q law removing the disabilities of all
but few individuals who had held seats in
two Congresses and left them to take part
in the rebellion. England has always
brought her rebels to the block or the gal
lows. You know the bloody fate of the un.
happy but brave communists of France. The
tories of our Revolution were exiled to for
eign lands and their estates confscated
General Grant gave orders to our officers
abroad, if any misguided rebel was found
wandering and destitute in foreign lands, de-
string to return, to bring him home at the
public charge. Surely here, too, no Ad-
ministration or Government in history ever
equalled in clemency that of Gen. Grant.
Mr.: Hoar then gives at length state
ment showing the pay ment Of the public debt,
the reduction of taxation, and the honesty
and economy of the present, as compared
with past Administrations, which we omit.
have no desire to undervalue Mr.. Gree.
Icy. He is entitled to the credit of having
established and built up large influential
Eev York newspaper difficult work. re-
curing extraordinary business qualities.
He has edited it ably, and has shown him.
self TO be man of generous sympathies.
There are many men in America Of whom
seeking to build up newspaper establish.