Ottumwa weekly courier., 1876-07-26

heartily cheered by his Democratic
colleagues, and so wildly applauded
in the South. That speech. LET me re-
fer to again moment. The Demo.
Gratis aud Democratic press now say
they do not indorse this speech. But
they cheered ii when il was made in
the House, and the South chcered it
and their denunciation of il now is
not so much denunciation of the spirit
of it as of his imprudcnce in making
| il.
GOODBYE, DEMOCRACY.
And now, in conclusion, as to tho
reason why have not left the Demo.
cratic party sooner. They say wan,
Office, and that have wanted office
If had, gentlemen, | would have lef,
the Democrarratic party years ago
for il is a matter of record that have
said for years that there was never
any hope of the Democrats carving
Iowa. If had been an ofiice-seekel
should have left. the old party long
| ago. ! am not a candidate for office
and never will be. have no aspira-
tons for prominence i'm politics
and | do not see why, when as a pri-
vate citizen, have tried TO change
my party quietly, all this abuse
should be heapcd upon me. | can
stand it, though, and it in nowise
changes my conviction as to my duty,
only to intensity and confirm it. Ap-
plause.
feel in earnest now, as did dur
ing the war. Cheers / have no re-
treat to make. Renewed cheers. The
reason | have left the Democratic
party is that | have no faith in il.
cheers and no faith in the old rebel
element whom | have long feared
would come to the front, and whom
now know and see haze come, and
whose coming has made my way clear
and my course of duty plain. Great
applause Seeing these men again at
the head of the party, and seeing the
defiance of the men who last held
office in the National Government
under the Democratic party, makes
things plain enough. Among the last
Democratic officers of any note were
Floyd and Jake Thompson, the DEM
Ocratic Secretary of War and Sccre-
retary of the Interior They stole
from the Government they were
sworn to serve, to help the rebellion
raised to destroy it; and beside their
crimes and their corruptions all that
is charged against the Republican
officials, admit it all to be true even.
sinks into insignificance.
Why old Jake Thompson, encour-
aged by the defiance of Ben. Hill in
his speech, went down to Washington
a few months ago, and like brag-
CART demanded investigation. POM
pously 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. Great cheering.l If old
Floyd was alive, he, too, probably,
would go down there, under the pro-
lection Of the rebel shadow of Ben.
Hill, and demand investigation.
Langhter.] But, like the child, COW
cred with the curse of the crime
against Abraham Lincoln, he also had
the good sense to die. He was al
Fort Donnelson with The other "Con-
stitution-huggers," but he skipped out
early, SO as to be safe. If he had
stood his ground like a brave man.
he would probably have had the good
fortune to die earlier. Laughter,
But he lit out. lie could steal for
the Confederacy, but he wasn't will
ing to die for it. Laughter.l
1t is his fault gentlemen. and not
mine, that his memory is not to be
spoken of with more respect. This
Thompson and this Floyd were the
last of the Democratic rulers. and they
represented the domination of the
South in the Democracy then. And
Thompson and his friends, and the
friends of Floyd, are again pressing
to the front to assume party control.
As they have come as leaders, have
asked and taken the privilege ofleay-
ing the Democratic ranks. Cheers.
This, fellow citizens, is why am here
tonight. Renewed cheers
Finally, gentlemen, I would say
keep a solid front, and we'll beat
them. [Clcers.l ! hope and think
we will. | am with you, and with
you in earnest. Great cheering.
Close up for the fight. They mean
business, and we must. Applause.
1t is something of the old fight, only
it is to be fought at the ballot box in
stead of on the battle field. [Re-
newed applause, frequently repeat
ed.
] thank you gentleman, for having
heard me SO patiently. l have not
tried to make speech; am not
speaker. | have tried simply to tell
you my neighbors, why have changed
parties, and at the same time to make
brief answer to few of the many
mad and yenomous charges which
have been made against me because |
Of my. act. !