New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-08-02
Liberal Meeting in Chicago-Speeches of
Leading Republicans.

CHICAGO. July 29.-The Liberal mass
meeting in this city tonight was large and
enthusiastic. Two stands for the speakers
were erected on Market street, between
Washington street and Madison, around
which a Gro Nd gathered, variOu5ly esti-
mated at from 5000 10 5000 persons. Hon.
Gustavus Koerner, Liberal candidate for
Governor, was the first speaker. After al
luding briefly to his early acquaintance
with Chicago in 1886, and expressing the
interest he felt in her progress, be said he
wished, before entering upon q discussion
of the political issues of the canvass, to
have a certain thing distinctly understood,
namely, that neither he nor those tor whom
he spoke wished to depreciate the great
services Of General Grant as a military
leader, or in criticiZing his course as civil
administrator, to reflect upon him as a Gen
cral, nor did they, as this has been impu-
IDENTIFY claimed by some men, to cast q sig
ma upon the noble army which maintained
the Union intact and preserved the life Of
the nation lie read from the Cincinnati
and Springfield Liberal platforms in proof
of the esteem in which the soldiers were
held by the Liberal party. He deprecated
the appeals which were being made to sol
diers in a canvass which was essentially a
civil one
lie next referred to the history of the Re
publican party, and recOunted the meas
ures it had originated and carried out, aud
said that he would be the last man to dis
pUte any OF the claims of the Republican
party. He said he belonged to the party
almost from its inception, and worked for
its success. If that party was to be eulo-
gized for its success up to the termination
Of the civil war, and for several years there
after, he might humbly claim some share
of the eulOgy. But parties cOuld not live
upon laUrels alone, new issues spring up,
divisions naturally arise among honest peO-
pie, and old parties dissolve to make room
for new ones on the leading questions Of the
day. This was precisely what was pressing
to-day, and only the blind, or those who use
parties for plumber merely, can not or will
not see il. He then proceeded to review
the measures of the present administration,
which he regarded as Objectionable meas
ures adopted to force the South to lose the
Union. were lily advised and of doubtful
cOnEtitutiOnality, and had been 50 far I'M
successful. General amnesty had been de-
layed until the administration party became
alarmed by the extent Of the movement 50
apparent at the Cincinnati convention.
The financial policy of the present admin
IstratiOR was unsatisfactory The boarding
Of gold and currency in the national treas
ury, under the plea OF maintaining the ma
tiOnal credit, was condemned by the ablest
tinancieTs in the country. The adjustment
of the tariff, fostering mOnOpOies, land
grants to corporations already welding
dangerous power disposal of patronage for
personal ends had caused great dissatisfac-
ton; he criticised the persons with whom
the President had surrounded himself as
corrupt, political tricksteTs, and inexpeT-
fenced and reckless military pets 1t was to
remedy these evils that the Liberal move
ment " as inauguTated. 1t was not move
ment of politicians, but founded upon the
desires and aspirations of large portion of
the American people. Referring to the
claims which were made in behalf of the adj
ministratiOn of having reduced the national
debt and taxation, peace at home and
abroad, settling dangerous foreign difficult
ties, and giving the country prosperity, he
said there was not grain Of truth in some
of these assertions, but much more eXag-
geration.
The debt had been paid by the people
through heavy taxation, which had been
lately reduced as a natural consequence of
the cessation Of war; and no one ought to
take credit for removing taxes which, if
continued after the occasion for them had
ceased, would have ruined the country; and
our taxes were tOOhigh yet. Our currency,
instead of being one of the best in the
world, was one. of the very worst. Our
prOsperityis due to our own labOTs, our own
energy. The Washington treaty was the
result-Of the remarkable good luck and abil-
absurd and untenable claims we came very
near losing the benefits Of that treaty. He
then proceeded to give his estimate of the
weak points Of General Grant as the chief
executive of the nation, repeating the
charges of nepotism and corruption in his
appointments, his gift taking, etc. He
gave, briefly, bis views of what reforms
were necessary in the civil service, and CON
cluded with high eulOgy of Horace Gree
ley, who, he said, was not the first choice of
either Democrat or Liberal Republican, but
who was honest and incOrruptible, and
whose popularity was daily Increasing so
that his election was now a fOregone conclu-
sion.
At the second stand short speeches were
made by Ex-Governor Blair, of Michigan,
whose remarks were mainly devoted TO a
review Of the alleged frauds and COrruptions
in the various departments of the govern
meut especially those in the Navy Depart
ment; and by John Wentworth, Thaddeus
Hayne and other local speakers. Governor
KOerner was followed by Senator Trumbull
in speech, which was mainly repetition
of former speech made by him during the
campaign, and which has already been pub.
lshPd.