The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-09-16
Speech Of Hon. George W. Julian.


The Hon. George w. Julian, formcrl,
a proment Republican member of Con
gress, having become convinced that
Samuel j. Tilden is the only man who car
carry out the measures promised by the
platforms of both parties, cut loose the
tic that bound him to the Republicans,
and is now doing his best to assist in the
noble work of reform. In speech deliy-
ercd at indianapolis on the 26th Of Aug.
and published in the Cowier-.Jonrnal. he
gave the following reasons for supporting
the Democratic rather than the Republi.
can nominee:
"But now, gentlemen, having shown by
Irresistible proofs that the Liberal move.
ment Of 1872 was justified by facts, and
called for by the times, and that the Re-
publican party, instead of retracing its
steps and recovering its lost estate, has
steadily grayitated farther and farther
from its primal integrity, il may still be
argued that Gov. Hayes will cut the ugly
thread Of history from behind it, and
launch it graudly on new and blessed
departure. Believing as do, that the
age Of miracles has passed, / find myself
compelled to reject this view. / am ac-
quainted with Gov. Hayes, and believe
him to be honest and patriotic, and most
gladly and cordially would l support him
if any Republican could explain to me
how his accidental selection at Cincih-
natl can make saints out Of the distin-
guished sinners who are the recognized
leaders and managers Of the party now,
as they were four years ago. If YOU
place the hat Of an honest man ON tho
head Of rogue, will the roguery instantly
depart? Every one has heard of the
story Of Fortunatus. He had wishing
hat, which relieved him Of the expense
and labor Of travelling. By placing this
hat on his head and wishing himself at a
given place, he straightway found him
self there. Who would not join in build
ing a monument to the sorely- needed
genius who could manufacture d Presi-
dental hat that would enable Governor
Hayes, by simple wish, to change the
nature Of Morton and Cameron, and But
Ter, and Clayton, and Boss Shepherd, and
and Brother-in-law Casey and
the rest Of the unbaptized crew who arc
taxing their wits and pouring out their
money to secure his election, and will
darken the air about the Executive man
sion on the 4th of March, if he should
succeed Such q hat, am free to con-
fess, would make Gov. Hayes a pretty re-
spectacle President, and he would be able
10 take up the question Of reform and
dispose Of it with tolerable success. Un-
no such head-gear can be
found, while the great leader Of the party
in Indiana and the right-hand man Of tho
Administration tells us the party has no
need Of it, and that the men who ask for
reform are worse criminals than the
thieves they wish to expose and punish.
Here is the ugly knot which Liberal Re
publicans, and good many other Repub-
leans, desire to see united. Can you
obtain the command Of piratical craft by
simply changing the fgure-head of the
vessel? You must expel the pirates and
put an honest crew in possession. This
IS the truth in nutshell, and George
William Curtis himself admits it. His
cry, is "Reform within the party" which
he is shouting along the lines as he did
our years ago, as if utterly unmindfnl of
he fact that under this battle-cry our civil
'ervice has become as foul and fsculent
Iystem of official huckstering and political
PROSTITUTION as our thoroughly debauched
,arty politics could make it. But he is
lot blind, like Senator Morton, to the
iced of reform, and he tells us in Har-
,ers Weekly that the only hope Of the
,arty lies in the power to persuade the
,eople that it is not hopelessly corrupt.
de frankly confesses that reform is only
possible by throwing overheard the Grant
eaders and trained corruptionists who have
,rought the party into disgrace. In all
oberness | ask, is this possible? Haze
he Republicas masses after their long and
patient service under tie party yoke, aie
courage and pirtue 10 take their old leaders
y the throat. VIII the party chiefs
nave named, meekly and penitentially take
he back seats, while honest and stainless
men come to the front? The man who
believes all this must have allowed his
,ommon sense to pack its baggage. The
5rant leaders would reign in any conceiv-
.ble political hell, rather than serve in the
ieayen of honest government. In the
Of caucuses and conventions
hey have long been masters. They are
ourneymen and experts in the work Of
politics as trade. They have reduced
,lunder and pelf to science and the
,reed Of clutch to o fine art. Nothing
an be more certain than that such q rc-
orm as would completely dislodge these
eaders and put such men as Bristow and
Adams in their places, would be, in fact
he creation Of a new party. 1t would
nave to be preceded by general disin-
and it would be quite as absurd
% consider it the same party which has
'uled the country since Grant camo into
,ower, as it would have been to treat the
Republican party of 1856 as identical with
he old Wing party, which has gone down
o its grave. The idea, therefore, Of max
ng the Republican party the instrument
# self-purifcation, Is not only morally but
ogically absurd. A party once thoroughly
corrupt has lost the power to reform itself
Devils are not inclined to cast out devils,
md could scarcely DO trusted with the
BUSINESS if they should offer their services;
nd it is because entertain these views
nd can not escape their force, that I sim
erely desire to see the machinery Of the
Republican party battered into Fragments,
nd the way thus opened for ro-forma-
ion Of parties on the living questions Of
be hour unembarrassed by the memories
+ the past.