The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1876-08-03

catcu, anu lcar Soule oi them are too
true.
For the people to do these things would
be bad, but not so bad, we must remem-
Der, as was the rebel speech of Ben Hill
in Congress, so heartily ..iieered By his
Democratic colleagues, and 50 wildly APP
plauded in the South. That speech, let
me refer to again moment. The Dem
ocrats and Democratic press now say they
DO not endorse that speech. But they
cheered it when it was made in the House,
and the South cheered it. and their de-
nunciation OF it now is not so much
denunciation Of the spirit of it as Of his
imprudence in making it.
GOODBYE, DEMOCRACY.
And now, in conclusion, as to the reason
why l have not left the Democratic party
sooner. They say l want Office, and that
l have wanted Office. If I had, gentle
men, 1 would have left the Democratic
party years ago, for it is q matter Of re-
cord that ! have said for years that there
was never any hope of the Democrats car
rying Iowa. If | had been an Office
seeker l should have left the old party
long ago. a ] am not candidate for Office,
and never will be. I have no aspirations
for prominence in politics, and do not
see why, when as private citizen, l have
tried to change my party quietly, all this
abuse should be heaped upon me. / can
stand it, though, and it in nowise changes
my conviction as to my duty, only to in-
tensify and confirm it, (Appiausel.
/ feel in earnest now, as ] did during
the war. [Chcers.l l have no retreat
to make. Renewed cheers The rea-
son / have left the Democratic party is
that I have no faith in it, [cheersl and no
faith in the old rebel element whom, I
have long feared would come to the front,
and whom now know and see have come,
and whose coming has made my way clear
and my course Of duty plain, IGreat ap-
plsuse,l Seeing these men again at the
head Of the party, and seeing the def
ance of the men who last held Office in the
National Government under the Demo
cratic party, makes things plain enough.
Among the last Democratic officers of
any note were Floyd and Jake Thompson,
the Democratic Secretary of war and
Secretary of the interior. They stole from
the government they were sworn TO serve,
to help the rebellion raised to destroyit
and besides their crimes and their cor
ruptions all that is charged against the
Republican officials, admit it all to be
true even, sinks into insignifcanceI 3ss,.ar
Why old Jake Thompson, encouraged
by the defiance of Ben Hill in his speech,
went down to Washington a few months
ago, and ike . braggart demanded inves-
tigation, pompously saying that he would
waive the legal point of time. He went
down there blowing, and got sued-for
the money that he stole for the rebels.
| TGreat cheering.lI If old Floyd was alive,
he, too, probably, would go down there,
under the protection of the rebel shadow
of Ben Hill, and demand investigation.
Laughter. But, ike the child, covered
with the curse Of the crime against Abra-
ham Lincoln, he also had the good sense
to die: He was at Fort Donelson with
the other "constitution-huggers," but he
skipped out early, SO as to be safe. If he
had stood his ground like q brave man,
he would probably have had the good for
tune to die earlier. Laughter But he
lit out. He could steal for the Confeder.
acy, but he wasn't willing to die for it.
Laughter J..
1t is his fault gentlemen, and not mine,
that his memory is not to be spoken with
more respect. This Thompson and this
Floyd were the last of the u Democratic
4 rulers, and they represented the DONNA.
ton of the South in the Democracy then.
AND Thompson and his friends, and the
friends Of Floyd, are again pressing to the
fort to assume party control As they
have come as leaders, 1 have asked and
taken the privilege Of leaving the Demo-
cratic ranks [Cheers.l This, fellow
citizens, is why L am here tonight
Renewed cheers.
Finally, gentlemen, would say keep q
solid front, and we'll beat them. Cheers ]
! hope and think we will; 1 am with you,
and with you in earnest. fGreat cheering. /
Close up for the fight They mean bust,
ness, and we must Applause. Il is
something Of the old fight, only it is to be
fought at the ballot box instead of on the
battle field. Renewed applause, fire.
quently repeated L. liz, 1 mi ..!a
| I thank you gentlemsn, for having
heard me 50 patiently, - I have not tried
to make o speech + am not speaker. ]
have tried simply to tell my neighbors
why / have changed parties, and at the
same time to make brief answer TO q few
Of the many mad and venomous charges
which have been made against me because
of nv act. Tr.Fa g.. -....ra@. .@.as.a...-... .H