Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-08-23
Speech by Senator Wilson.

Hon. Henry Wilson addressed large
and enthusiastic meeting at Fort Wayne,
Ind, q few days ago. The following is q !
synopsis of his speech
He said that there never was an Admiuis-
tration which could not be made to appear
the worst and most corrupt that ever exist
ed. That Is what has been done toward that
of General Grant. The Senator began by
contrasting in general way the state Of the
country when General Grant was elected
and now. The Grant Administration has
been true to the country and successful.
The speaker said the true way to secure In
the fullest sense the liberty OF the colored
race was to incorporate the idea OF the
Fifteenth Amendment Svithin-the gOnstiti-
tlon, and when. that measure was brought
before Congress he was its most earnest and
persistent advocate, and owe II TO truth
and justice to-day to say that to General
Grant, more than any man on the continent,
the passage of that amendment is due
which secures to them forever and irrevoca-
bly, the right of suffrage
will say this about the accusation about
San Domingo. Before General Grants cleo
tion treaty had been made with Denmark
for the acquisition of territory in the West
Indies, which was rejected by Congress.
Before this, however, Congress had made an
appropriation for the maintenance of n coal
harbor in San Domingo, and General Grant
believed that 1t was the wish of the people
BOeStoo
the duty of the Government to secure it,
with the best harbor in the world, for the
commercial and naval interests. He believed
1t would add much to our great commercial
interests II we obtained that island. Our
example would be potential for liberty, and
Spain would not have to maintain slavery in
Cuba and Porto Rico General Grant may
have been mistaken in his thought, but no
man can claim that he acted for anything
else than the public good and welfare
You may remember that the State of
Louisiana throughout gave its electoral vote
for Horatio Seymour in 1868. When there
is an honest election that State has Repub-
lican majority. In South and North Caro-
lima, and Georgia, were organized bands of
Ku-klux, who lashed women, burned school
houses and churches, and murdered men.
Now 1000 of them have been arrested, and
not few.are inmates of the Albany Peni-
tentiary Thank Godl TCheers1 Congress
waited for the States to take the matter in
hand, but nothing was done to stop the out
RACES, and the matter was then investigated
by Congress. That investigation showed it
to be the duty Of Congress to act in behalf
of the citizens OF those States by pass
ing laws to protect them from the out
RACES of bands of murderers. l am among
those that believe the Government is to pro-
tect the poor, the humble, and the depend
ent, whether at sea or on land. Its first
duty is to give iaan freedom and equality of
rights, and then secure him in the possession
OF them, no matter what may be his faith,
creed or color. One citizen of the United
states is just as good as another and en-
titled to its protection, wherever he may be
in the world. (Cheers
General Grant thought so, and he address
ed brief message to Congress, which result:
ed in the passage of the Ku-Klux Law, and
those bands are Sroken but not disbanded,
They have name to live by, but General
Grant is persistent yet, and they dare not
now show their heads. Cheers General
Grant has been bounded as q despot, but |
say to you that there never has been so much
liberty in the South as during the past twelve
months. Nobody claims that Grant is a des-
pot but assassins and those who sympathize
with them. Every citizen has right to be
protected, and II his State cannot do it the
National Government should do it, and ask
you If you believe this to vote for Genera
Grant. Tremendous cheers, and cries o.
''Wenl do it"]
Those who hoped to crush rebellion dc
now, as you did then--show the men who
execute the laws of the country for the pro
lection of the rights and liberties of ever,
citizen that you stand by them.
We have gpt-nen in the Republican party
who, like the Democratic party, want to turI
their backs upon their party, and they woulC
hardly vote 'now for the Civil Rights Bill
Again, say to those men, that the country
Will remember gratefully their past, but will
condemn their future.
1t is said that General Grant has been op
posed to the civil rights addition. to the Am
nesty bill. know he was in favor of it. H,
sent a letter to a colored meeting in Wash
ington, in which he said the colored peopl,
would be sustained in their rights, a commu
nication which was said by Frederick Doug
lass to be the most important to his rae,
ever received from the White House. A maj
who is in favor of the rights of the blacl
man is equally SO in favor of those of tn,
white man, and the Government of tn,
tot is In t1,al Al,
who believe this.
Senator Wilson then referred to the polio,
af General Grant, in regard to the protection
of our foreign citizens, for the benefit of ou
country as they will improve and develo
and open up markets for the sale of ou
farmers products, and to the efforts in be
half of the emigrant. All this sprung iron
the humane, God d-given idea of the sacred
ness of humanity, and our Government to
day is measured by this high standard. On
government to-day is thousand degree
hlgher and nearer to God than any Admins
tration that has gone before it, and sa
this knowing that it is in the hands of hu
man beings, and has made mistakes, bu
they are small. [Deafening and prolonge
cheers
The Senator then spoke at length of tn
financial theory of the Government, digresl
ing to refer to the reputation, ETC., time {
the Democrats in 1868, and the theory of
resumption OF specie payment by Horac
Greeley as an evil which would have infiicte
bankruptcy and ruin upon the country.
The Republican party was born of Chri
tianity and civilization, and was proud t
fight for the benefit of the toiling million
of the country. On the other hand, th
Democratic party, for the past twenty-f
years has been the mortal enemy of the |;
boring classes, black and white, and no
that slavery has gone down to its natiy
hell, they refuse to be comforted. [Cheers
The efforts of the Republican party fl
the benefit of the working-man, by aboisl
ing slavery and making labor respected
eight hundred square miles of former slaN
territory, has done more by these means f
the'dignity of laboring interests than ar
party has ever done before. The consecr
tion of the pubic domain to free lab,
and free men is due to the Republicf
party. At the time we were crowdI
thousands of brave men to the front
save the nation, the Republican part
passed the bill for the building of Il
Union Pacific Road, and built it'll
greatest work of the century. The railroad
have made this country worth what it is, al
the Republican party in Congress do all
their power to aid them all. They do n
take the land away from settlers, but il
prove it SO that. the farmer can put it to us
The Senator spoke of the difference /
tween the condition of the workingman I
day and forty years ago. On this point
Wilson gave a brief history of his early Iii
which was highly appreciated by the au,
ence. This great difference in the favor
the present day is due to the prosperity
the couptry under the Republican Admin
tration, which cares moi for them and tn,
interest than in any other country in t
world.
Senator Wilson closed by begging tho
who. thought of leaving the Republic
party to return and vote with their conrad
with righteous cause behind them, t
veterans to vote as they shot, young m
who vote for the first time to cast their b