New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-10-10
Ada ms on Grant.
Speech OF Charles Franc,s Adams, Jr. at
Quincy. Mass.-IntsrcstiDg Review Of
National AHairs-SRhy Every.
body Should Vote for

national Anairs-Why Every.
body Should Vote for
General Grant.
special Dispatch to the New York Tlme-i
QUINCY, MASS. Sept. 30.--A large meet.
ing was held in this place tonight, which
was addressed by Charles Francis Adams,
Jr., (brother of John Quincy Adams, the
Straight-out Democratic candidate for Vice
Prcsident.) / send You the main points OF
his remarks. which were well received.
MIR. ADAMS ADDRESS.
The great DR.. Samuel johnson, on ap-
preaching some matter Of discussion, once
advised his faithful Boswell to ''olear his
mind Of can't" This, my fellow-citizens OF
Quincy, l propose, with your kind indul-
gence, TO do for myself on the present occa-
SION. And in one respect, nj least, the can
vass now going on affords matter for sincere
congratulation. Much of il IS there is, there
ia yet far less discreditable electioncering
cant about it than nj one time there seemed
cause 10 apprehend. a few weeks ago i aC-
cidentally came across an Old volume of po-
iitical pamphlets relating To the election of
iS40-the famous 'log-cabin and 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
the space Of three years and eleven months
Itwas singular reading though some What mel
ancholy withal, and closed the volume with,
to state it mildly, small admiration for tidal
waves and prairie fires when viewed through
perspective OF thirty years. Early in the
present summer another hard-cidcr dispen-
sation seemed impending over us in the shape
of a whitehall and wood-chopper campaign !;
and it was only as the season advanced that
it became evident that the professionals in
charge of that novelty had greatly undcresti-
mated the intelligence Of those ''masscs," OF
whom they thought so much and the feeble
nutriment which sut,iccd for 1910 was a pro-
nounced failure in 1872. We may not, as a
people, even yet have reached the full height
oil calm political debate, but we are out Of our
swadding clothes, and the childish appeals
which once excited an odd enthusiasm have
this year been distinctly productive only of
laughter and disgust. As YOU well know, |
am not politician, but il is not unknown to
some OF you that, in my own way, I was
concerned in the movement which resulted
IN the Cincinnati Convention of MAY last,
and, having been actively engaged in that
movement from its first inception, l have
been most anxious for some suitable public
occasion on which L might Put on record my
reasons for refusing to abide by its result,
and for giving my vote against the candidate
OF that convention, Mr.. Greeley, and in IA
vor Of the opposing candidate, Gen. Grant.
L was not then. nor am 1 now, believer
in an irredcemable paper currency, and re-
garded nation, as rich and prosperous as this,
and which nevertheless does not pay its
notes, much as regard abusness man who
can pay and don't. l was, and am, also a
firm believer in the necessity of an immediate
and thorough reform and publication of our
whole civil service system. detest and de-
spise the theory that the Offices Of Govern
ment are the legitimate boot, Of each poiti-
cal victory, and ! felt and still feel that the
recognition OF such rule is wholly inconsist-
emit with continued political purity. Ger
tain men met together at Washington and
subsequently in New York-editors, econo-
mists, politicians and men of business-few
in number, being not more than fifteen or
twenty in all, but welding an enormous
power thu ough the press. We were all of
one mind. Political managers and aspirants
for office were very civil and profuse in ex-
pressions Of sympathy with US in private, but
very shy of us in public. Nearly two years
ago drew up with my own hand the origi-
nal draft of a 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 sub
seQuently grew out of it,
So far as President Grant himself was con
cened, ! personally entertained but one
sentiment-that of intense and bitter disap-
pointnient at what still consider his great
failure as civil administrator. He was my
old General; and as such felt toward him
not as you feel, but as those only feel who
have passed through long days and nights
Of battle agony, looking to one man in firm
reliance that he carried with him ultimate
victory, and 10 the end have found that faith
justified. And let me further say that /, in
common with vast multitude of others. have
had my admiration and sympathy deeply ex-
cited by the grand silence with which Che
President has undergone the vile torrent of
contradictory calumny which has So persist
emily been poured forth against him. Gen.
Grant cannot at once be both the wretched
imbecile and the cunning usurper he is so
commonly described by the same lips, and
can assure those now so indiscreetly assailing
him that they are guilty Of grave error Of
Judgment if they fondly believe that the men
who stood by him while lead was in the air
will be driven from his side by the hurting of
hard words. Whichever party is successful
this year the vile scandal known as "carpet-
baglsm" is doomed, and the States lately in
rebellion are sure at last of being left to
themselves. The only contingency, SO far
1 can forecast the future, which can endanger
this much-to-be-desired result, would be the
election of Mr.. Greeley. That might posi-
bly,, by inviting new disturbances, reopen the
whole question. In such an event Mr.. Gree
ley is, judging by his own utterances In the
past in relation to the justice and propriety
Of secession and force bills, scarcely the man
/ should care to see intrusted with the deli
cate duty of readjustment. l was one of
those who met our Southern brethren on a
number of hard fought fields. Seven years
ago, when Gen. Grant paroled Lees army, l
"clasped hands across the bloody chasn,'
and from that day to this have entertained
only the kindest feelings toward my old enc
mics. I really can't, at this late day, see
the necessity for any more tears or hyster-
les. The question Of reconstruction is now
practically decided, and its gross abuses,
which in my place have never hesitated to
denounce, are at last repudiated Of all men.
The Southern States now need above all
things to be carefully let alone, but Mr..
Greeley and his supporters insist on more
agitation. In this miserable work /, for one,
will not abet them. am, indeed, opposed
to them upon this issue more than upon any
other, and as q friend and well-wisher of the
Simultaneously hoping to SEQ it work out
Its own salvation quietly and peaceably-l
feel could not too strongly deprecate the
substitution at this time Of Mr.. Greeley for
To-, 4l,o