The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-10-19
THE CAMPAIGN.
Republican Success Essential to
Southern Prosperity.
Speech of Hon. Stewart L. Woodford
at Wabash, Ind.


thusiasm of your canvass, intense is tn
interest with which the mon of the Atlanti
i coast watch this great popular debate and avail
it's decision by your people.
They wait as men waited in the old days o
battle. They wait with hushed breath, will
eager eyes, with prayers too deep for words
| II Indiana shall speak next Tuesday for equa
rights; for fair play to labor and TO manhood
! for education to all; for sound financial sys
tenn, and for the rule OF the nation by wise
generous and truly loyal men, then will patriots
| be glad the broad land over.
! The hour grows late. There is no time fol
| waste of words. Let us come at once to the
matters involved in this canvass.
| It's discussions all group themselves around
three central problems. These are, first, the
question OF civil service reform, as it has come
| to be technically STYLED second the financial
situation, and third, the Southern problem.
| As to each of these let me speak directly,
| briefly, and without reserve.
| Our Democratic friends, in their st. Louis
platform, with one breath praise the good old
days of JacksOnian time, and with another be-
moan the evil custom that now rewards parti-
san service with public Office. Do they forget
that with Jackson came the party cry, "To the
victors belong the spoils?" That was good
Democratic doctrine then. If we could turn
inside out the patriotic and unselfish hearts
that were gathered at st. Louis few weeks
since, and cad their inmost hopes and fears,
fancy we should find it sure article of the
Democratic faith to-day. Do they forget that
with the incoming Of the Jackson admlnistra-
ton there followed the first general turning
out from Office Of all political opponents of
every grade from the village Postmaster to
the Cabinet advisor? They bewail the work
ing of the official guillotne. So do I. Do
they forget that it was Democratic invention,
for whose patent Democrats applied, for whose
renewal Democrats are responsible and for
To
The absurdities OF our civil service system
are self-evident. The method Of appoint
ment the tenure of retention, and the cOndi-
tons of discharge would not be tolerated in
any kind Of private business. Both parties
nay, we the people ourselves, for we consti-
tute both the parties-are responsible for this
condition of things Reform in this matter
must begin with us rather than at the White
House. So long as we ourselves regard the
postof1ice as proper reward for local political
service, 80 long we shall elect Congressman
whom we expect and intend to distribute the
So long as we do this or tolerate this, the
Congressman will naturally think that the
patriot who works most efficiently for him
works most usefully and wisely for the party
and for the people. So long as this system
obtains, just so long will our Congressman be
so many brokers in patronage, just 90 long
will the larger opportunities OF craftsmanship
ing out places.
So long as we constantly press these claims
upon our Representatives and Senators, they,
in self-defense. must press them on the Presi-
dent and heads OF the departments. Efficient
cure must be very radical. Radical cure will
that public Office is for the public service and
not for party use and party help. The cure will
como when we shall thus believe for then and
then only will our agents in the House, in the
Senate, in the Cabinet, and in the Presidential
chair, reflect our belief and do our will. This
education is going on. This people are too
practical always to submit to asystem of official
appointment and official tenure SO cumbersome,
80 expensive so full of temptation to dishon-
esty and so full of opportunity for ineficiency
as that we now employ.
Meanwhile. our President can do much to re-
form abuses, to improve methods, and to guide
public opinion Alright. In such service and to
secure such result, let me plainly say that be-
lieve we can more safely trust Gov. Hayes and
the Republican party than Gov. Tilden and the
Democracy.
Such reform as that we seek in the civil SER
vice is only possible by party and through a
party that fully believes in school-houses, in
IDEAS in loyalty, in equal justice and in homes
ty and such party has the Republican party
| ever been such party is it to-day.
Now let us turn to the matter OF finance.
shall not weary you with long details of argu-
ment nor with bewildering array of statistics.
We Republicans believe that nations like men,
should keep their word, and perform their
promises. We believe in truth and honesty.
We believe That pledge kept strengthens
credit, and that pledge broken destroys
credit and invites bankruptcy. We believe in
dollars that are dollars, worth to-day what
they were worth yesterday, what they Will be
worth to morrow. We believe that labor
should be paid in honest money; in money
hot 10 %ho ida w no.
leve in taking care of the bllholder as well rs
the bondholder. We know that we have taken
care of the bondholder. We know that we
have made our credit so good that whereas we
could only once borrow greenbacks at
seven per cent. interest, we can now
| borrow gold at four and q half per
| cent And now we deliberately intend to take
| Just as good care of the binholder, and pay
him the coin that his bill promises. We pro.
| pose to be 30 honest, so brave and SO faithful
! in keeping our pledged word as to deserve
prosperity. Thus shall we compel prosperity.
! Thus shall we get great victory for the truest,
J the highest the surest interests of labor.
With such victory shall come revivlng con.
fdence and with confidence once restored
| good times shall come again. The song of the
| spindle, waking from long slumber, the musiC
| of the forge. and all the glad sounds OF in
! dustry once again employed shall unite in the
| anthem when absolute honesty shall have won
|
A few serious, and confess, to me most
painful words in regard to the Southern
problem and my task OF the day is ended.
shall not recall the causes of the fratricida
war now closed. Nor will seek to quicker
your pulses by any recital of brave deeds
grandly done for liberty and union. In then
Indiana nobly done her part. The tattere6
flags at your State-house forever tell witt
silent eloquence Of where your soldiers led
of how they died. The name of your grea
war Governor still kindles pulses as warm II
Eastern hearts as in those that here hold hin
in such faithful keeping.
But have come from my far home not to re
cite words OF history. I am here to plead To-
present duty, to ask you to listen to the call o
to-day; to bid you hear and heed the voices tina
come from the sunrise and tomorrow, voices
of prophecy and progress.
We fought the war of the rebellion to sav'
this nation and to save free governmental
this nation. We did not fight it to enslave tn,
South nor to enslave section.
When the war WAS ended wa offered recon