The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-10-07


been erected especially for the occasion,
and the dancing was continued until a
late hour.
SPEECH OF Hon, RICHARD ]. CUTTINGS.
The meeting was opened by Captain
John w. Bennett, President Of the Club,
who introduced to the audience Mr.. Rich
ard J. Cuttings, Presidential Elector from
the Second Congressional District Mr.
Cuttings said
Laiics and Geatlemm:-I did not occu-
py present position of electoral delegate
when accepted the invitation to be pres
ent and address You on this occasion.
This position brings me in closer contact
with the people of Carroll county. The
approaching contest is no ordinary election
and it requires that you should look at the
matter of politics carefully. In voting
for the presidential candidate and for
congress you should lay aside all minor
issues aud take up the broad national issue
of the country, On ono side you have
the Democratic and on the other the Re-
publican party. Looking at it from
Maryland standpoint it is most impartant
question. How does Maryland stand and
what are her sentimcnts2 The Republican
party claim that it is the same old fight
as in 1861. When we look at their record
for moment | do not see how it is pos
siblc for any Marylander to endorse it.
The Republican party in Maryland know
her geographical position and the question
of sentiment never arises. No sectional
party ever met with any success here.
The secession party Of the South could not
gain n hold in this State nor could the
North secure control. The Republican
party began as sectional party in Mary
land and at that time no one would admit
that they belonged to it. They claimed
10 1865 that they were not sectional but
were willing to restore the union. See
how that pledge has been carried out.
Laying aside its well known corruption
and looking at it from political point of
view from 1865 down it has proved itself
unworthy of the support of any one having
the interest of the country at heart At
that time the Southern people, weary of
war, were anxious to lay down their arms,
The rebellion was put down upon the
avowed declaration Of congress that there
should be no separation of States, and un-
der the old constitution the government
should be conducted as before the war.
Then came the trial of the Republican
party. The reconstruction committee was
appointed who declared that the Southern
States must be reconstructed before they
4 could be readmitted to the union. Their
principles were then, and have been since,
notfor the good of the country but to per-
petuate the party They saw four or five
millions of whites aud about three millions
of colored people in the South and their
object was to give the South into the
hands Of the negroes and have them re-
presented by Republican members in the
House. They carefully managed to dis
franchise the Southern people and the
pnly condition for the South to come into
Rhc union was as Republican States. BY
hc armed occupation Of the South and
heir system of registration the record Of
this misruled people has not its parallel in
fhe history of nations, They were plum
dered by carpet-baggers and scallawags,
their Governors impeached and driven
from the State, money taxed for school
purposes and utilized for party ends; and
instead of redecming their pledge, they
kept them down and inestimable damage
is the result And SO they have gone on
from that time to this. In 1868 and 1872
they were before you and are now before
you again reasoning on the same platform,
Fiz that the Republican party only can be
trusted, and perfect government secured
pnly through them. The cry of reform
JAS come up from both sides The Re-
publican party admitthe corruptness of the
administration and claim that they are
eformers. Looking at the policy, and not
platforms or letters of acceptance, it is
confession of terrible weakness. They
be seeking to elect their candidates by
ppealing to the passions of the people
ind waving the "bloody shirt" Now we
Tant an honest Executive and must look
70 letters of acceptance rather than party
platforms. (The speaker than referred to
he Republican candidates and read an
Pxtract of recent speech delivered by
dr. Wheeler, in Vermont, in which he
appealed to the prejudices of the people
Ind claimed the contest to be the same as
IN 1860, aud to be met in the same way)
This old way, said the speaker, means
bayonets, and is this man fitted to repre-
sent this republican government2 The
whole form of this government is ability
Of self government, and if this be true
what becomes Of the promise that the same
liberty should exist as prior to the war?
1t shows conclusiyely that they are ap-
pealiug to passions and predjudices and
arc asking for support from the South.
If they get it it will be by military force.
Secretary Cameron has recently issued an
order giving to the United States marshals
the authority Of dictator, and to further
the cause Governor Chamberlain Of South
Carolina is to-day in Washington appeal
Ing for more troops in the already beleag-
nred South. Their whole campaign is
organized upon this principle. While
Wheeler is laboring in Vermont and the
South oyerun with government troops,
he "Boys in Blue are collected in the
State Of Indiana, at the expense of the
oyernment, just before election in order
p influence votes in November, Cam
ron's order was followed by Tafts libel
pus and insulting statement as iounda-
bon to this and as m means of carving