Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1872-08-01
senRter Cenkling's speech at Cooper
3f1ssiri rAmntituse, Mow Yexk. ~ asisist iii,

3ff1asiHi Anstisuse. Now KeFk. II, asiaa ii
NEw aYoRK, July 2S. Senator Conklina
addressed q large and enthusiastic public
meeting at Cooper Institute to-night on the
subject of Grant and his defamers, deeds
eersus words. After speaking Of the Interest
he felt In the Presidential campaign, the Sem
ator proceeded In d warm eulogy Of Grant,
asserting that If ever there had been Presi-
dent who had never knowingly failed In his
duty, he was one. His military genius saved
the country, and under his civil administra-
ton It had tiourished as no one had dared to
predict, and the nations gratitude and benel
sdiction was rightfully due; yet, ne had been
and was being slandered and DETAINED, and
simply because he stands in the way of the
greed of ambitious politicians and schemers.
The speaker proceeded TO denounce the Pre-
sidents defamers in unmeasnred terms, re-
ferring to his (the President's) chief cons
petitor as managing behind the curtain of q
newspaper from which he pretends to have
retired, to puff himself and fill the paper with
falseh00ds, in the hope of backing name
which posterity will be proud of. He re.
viewed the action of the Republican oppo-
actuated by cupidity, disappointed ambition,
and hate. He said that the so.called re-
formers were sadly in need of being reformed
themselves; they had wasted half of the last
session of Congress in slanderous electiOneer-
ing barangues. aimed at the Administrations,
and its friends. nj -oIt,sti,,-4 m 7-,T -
Referring to the Cincinnati Convention, be
characterized the men who participated in ii
as the gross and disreputable from political
cutters; its platform as libellous upon the
President; its tariff resolution amere evasion;
its amnesty plank supererogatory; while that
in regard to Capitalization. if ID meant any-
thing, referred to measures of Congress which
Greeley himself had approved oil; civil ser
vice reform the President had inaugurated
himself, and the, Philadelphia Convention
specially declared for it. ,,'', ,t ..,,r
The issue, therefore, he argued. was sinnply,
a personal one. and he could not zee how q,
Democrat could be asked to vote, for Greeley.
who, all his life has been a. most radical RE-
publican, and against man born Democrat,
who never acted with the Republican party
until after the war had raised new issues,
upon which Democrats were divided. = !
Adverting to the charge.of the Presidents
rhe cited examples fOsshow how
by acts of Parliament, and the voluntary SUBJ
scriptions made in this country to Sherman,
Sheridan and Farra0ut. and 10 Stantoi,'s and
Rawlins' families. He said the charge that
thereception of these things was dishonor-,
able, was an insult to the nation. The charge
that Grant had ever accepted any Gift since
he became President, the speaker said was
wholly false. He had accepted nothing of
value since his iifst nomination; net even 4
carriage and horses. although other Presi-
dents had accepted carriages and horses after
their election. He defended the President
from the charge of having appointed those
who had subscribed testimonials to him to
office. He said that Borie was appointed
Secretary of the Navy and Stewart as SecreAa
tary of the Treasury, because of their sup.
posed fitness for the Office, they not being
politicians. He also defended him from the
charge of being money maker, or an office
seeker. He said that heaw0uld not consent
to denomination until he was assured that
he was the only man who could not be beaten.
Referring to the Philadelphia Convention,
he said there were only thirty -four Office
holders there; that no, National Convention
was ever held where the ofhce-holding ele-
nent was SO scantiiy represented. In refer
ring to the Philadelphia selection for Vice
President he hcomplimented Wilson in the.
highest terms, and said that one reason for
the nomination was desire of the Conyen-
tion to rehuke the inexcusable conduct of
Sumner. 6 =
The Senatorthe reviewed dtlie San Domingo
question, reiterating essentially his arguments
in the Senate on thesubjecte In this conrec-
ton he spoke of Summers deposition from
the Chairmanship of the Foreign Affairs
Committee, which hesaid was noton account of
his opposition to the San Domingo scherae,
but because he, would have no communica-
ton with the State Department, and the busi-
ness of the committee was SO delayed In con-
sequence that Ii became necessary to select
another Chairman. 8i3Fya3i stii 9rols,i e9qaAl
Referring to the charge against the Presi-
dent of nepotism, he cited numerous instances