Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-01-16

AT reception at the Manhattan
Club, to the Governor and elect of
New York, on December 10Th, 1874.
Gentlemen of the Club: 1t cannot be
otherwise than gratifying, and | am
highly gratified, tor the circumstances
that have placed me in the presence Of
such solid and enthusiastic body of
the Democracy of this country, and af-
tOrded me an opportunity OF testitylng
by my presence my very high apprecia-
ton of those distinguished members Of
the club to whom this honor is special
ly rendered, admire, gentlemen, that
policy which DEGREES distinction like
this on each of your fellowmembers as
by their virtues and patriotism have OBJ
tanned the high state of municipal hon
ors. Gentlemen, permit me to say-and
perhaps | say it with more pleasure as
some gentleman this evening has flat
tered me 10y saying that was imbued
with u spirit OF resentment to misgov
ernment-l should have some resent
ment to its Intellectual status; but per
init me TO say that of those members of
Your club who have thus been distin-
guished by you in this reception the
name OF Samuel j. Tilden is not un-
known among the mountains and val
lcys of West Virginia. where L was
born and where l now reside. zap,
plause.)-That name is pronounced
there by every tongue with patriotic
enthusiasm. IL is almost as familiar to
Us rs il is in your own great CONNER
cial emporium. He is fully recognized
among us as one of those efficient lea
ders OF that great reform movement
which wrenched your city from 4 band
OF conspirators and public robbers; and
the exposure and prosecution of those
people has done much to secure TO the
Democracy the confidence OF the honest
men throughout the country. No party,
gentlemen, can be exempt from the In
trusion of corrupt men. The doors are
open to all, and the bad as well as the
good enter there. Exceptional cases Of
crime and corruption cannot of them
selves stain the purity or mar the repu-
tation of any party; it is only where
fraud having been once discovered is
excused, where notorious corruption is
mildly aad taebly rebuked; where the
mantle OF inSansib.e mercy is passed
over the guilty actors. 1t is there that
party becomes responsible to what 1t
leads TO. Tie elections we had i'll Octo
her and November have Justly diScrim
mated between the course that you
pursued and that of the Republican
Congress dealing with the disclosures
Of corruption when male before that
body. Yes, gentlemen, those fall cleo
lions are full of hope to every lover OF
Gcc Institutions. They teach one lesson
unmis;akaby, and that is, that no mat
Ter how o5iCrate or stubborn party
feeling may be there is point Of this
Government beyond which it will not
be tolerated by the American people.
(.AppIause) The great masses of the
people. Republicans as well us Demo
Gratis. would arise. There is comfort
in the blessings of good government,
when il is made apparent that no party
is suborlina:ing the public good to It's
own selfish aud corrupt purposes; when
they do not abnse the power entrusted
10 them, either TO sectional patriotism
or sectional injustice or OPPRESSION
when such is the case, and that colnbl-
naticuis placed upon the public mind,
we may arrive surely at the silent rcvi-
sion Of Il policy, and will very soon
realize what the country commends.-
Such WAS the Judgement pronounced in
October and November last upon the
Republican party of this country. 1t
WIS a vote OF absolute want OF conf
dence in the integrity and patriotism OF
the leaders of that party. Those leaders
recognized it, and we sec it proclaimed
in their organs that they will hereafter
be upon their good behavior Well, the
lime left to them is short. We will see
wha; virtue there is in that death-bed
repentance. / can only say it gives me
treat pleasure TO meet upon tins occa-
sion So many Of those with whom L
was associated i'll the better days OF the
Republic. Since that time our country
has passed through an eventiul period:
Let US be prepared to unite with sound
Democrats, whether they come from
the North or from the South, from the
East or from the West, to redeem this
country from Republican misrue.