The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-08-16
'CRAVESS ON THE STUMP.
he REVIEWS THE ISSUES.
The Evils the Country Endures and
the Remedy.
THE HON. JOHN R. CRAVENS'
SPEECH.

DELIVERED AT MADISON ON THE 10TH
INsT-TAE FULL TEXT OF THE ABLE AD-
DRESS.
Fellow Citizens: In the progress OF time and
its attendant good aud evil, new, and appar-
emily strange developments are continually
taking place. Political organizations, once
widely separated by distinctions of the most
radical character. have approached SO nearly
10 the same standard OF politics, that the re-
naming differences are more those of name
than of fact. 1 am here to-day surrounded by,
and adyising them whom in other times have
dealt somewhat heavy blows, which were al
ways returned with equal heav1ness.
see in the papers OF the several par; les hlgn
and deserved compli ments paid TO the ability
and PATRIOTS IN Of public men OF whom these
terms. L am reminded Of the act that twen-
ty-eight years ago made my hrst pubic pro-
plea in benalf OF the down-trOdden, the OPP
pressed and the enSlaved. From that day un-
Ill the period OF the nnal overthrow OF slaSeiy,
good report, IN party and on side oil parry, the
great idea of the rights OF man, as man, and
now my fellow citizens through the unself1sh
and persistent devotion II the Amer
ican people TO his great Idea, we
can congratulate ourselves, the country
and the world that the ffeedom of man on
this continent is esta blished on a foundation
that can not be shaken, im'noVable as the
facts OF history and the human race that
stands out as bold, distinct aud resplendent az
the most radiant OF the ed stars, that for
ever reflect and proclaim The glory OF GOD anu
and the majesty of His wisdom and power
But il is neither the glory OF the past, the
achievements that have been m ade that claim
our attention to-day. II Is the present, the
importunate present, with all OF its earnest,
persistent ana jealous elements. l have no
apology for you or Tor others hat L am here
now. am not here as a suppuant for your
official favor. come lly as private cltl-
zen, to talk to and with my friends ana neigh
bOrs OF those matters and gu ST ons that a e
equally affecting all OF Us and all OF our inter
ests- speak for mys alone, and give nttel-
ance to my own convictions, Tor which L am
alone responsible. Why L speak as 1
do now will appear hereafter,
de- trstoo1. am aw are, however, that
the political opinions aud the pol tical posi-
tion OF an individual, however he might be
DISPOSED TO MA5NIFY HIS OWN IMPORT
ANCE,
are of but little significance 10 the country or
to the people at large. But, however true
this may be in the abstract, Ia Kepubic like
ours, In q government of the peop e, which
derives all OF its great powers from the con-
sent of the governed, we concede it the right
of the people to know where each individual
stands, at least in so far as 10 know that he
discharges his duty a citizen. But the man
ner in which he does This, The particular or
ganiZatiOn through which he Sn Cts tie dis
charge OF those duties, are necessarily left TO
his own vOluntar choice, aud, liz ke The mo-
tives that influence his action, not 10 be
questioned or challenged by any. We regard
1t as the right OF every man u wOrsh o God
according to the dictates of his CO science,
and we aso concede il as a right of very citt-
zen to render allegiance To his government
in the mode most in harmony with his judg-
ment. L rec. gnize THIS I1zht 4 The peO-
PIE 70 @ OF IneI o,Id isi0w
1t chiefly to those who hold official Ielau n.
with the government, To those VINO seek sucn
relations, and TO those whose social position is
such as 10 give force 10 their opinions. For
these reasons a Position OF neutrality on these
questions of po1cy with which the real avs
of the country Is, or may b., invOlved, is by
no means to be encOu a ed even If IL does noL
conflict with good citizenship or patriotism.
1t is the right. as 1t is ais the du of every
man to have fxeS opinions on all subjects in
which he may be called upon 10 express him.
self through tue elective franchise; and he
would be a poor one indeed II his opinions
were not decided 10 become a good cltl
zen or a valuab e member OF any polite IL or
ganization. NJ own political position has no
been entirely satisfactory 10 myself for some
time past, whatever IL m8y have been u
others; bat during that period whilst my po
nticaI convictions have ben Gle ar and pro
nOunceo, IL has by no means been so cieal
here tna5 should express ihese convictio a
as through what organization thould laooi
10 give 10 these cOnvIc lols the greatest pr C
tical force Every man Is more o.
less. naturally and essenia ly, a parti
san; am and have been as much 90 as any
one could well jdstify Ia the power of MS OWL
conscience or at the bar of public opinion
With the Republican party, when its platform
and sound pria cipies which commendeS
themsel es 10 my judg ent, IL was my pride
as Ii was my pleasure, TO act; and did SO &C
fecfive in the support of thaS policy and il
the establishment OF those princlpies. Tha
policy and those prize pIes we're OF such a ma
ture that the iual adj usi m Mt of the 81 aver,
question and ahs rehabllitati N OF the severs
states after the civil War practically ended tn
mission and the purpose OF that pa ty. Bu
1t was by no means orange or unnatural tina
that political organization should desire q
perpe'uate ITS power end TO continue tn
possession OF the government. Having M
longer any great principle In view, 70 gfea
patriotic purp)s 10 achieve, Its politician
addressed themselves To the work OF employ
ing and using the powers OF tue governmen
TO promote their owo Individual aggraLdize
ment. In this purpose IL became and wa
necessary to
GET CLEAR OF THAT CLASS OF STATESMEN
and moralists which had given character, ,enec
tiveness, power and success 10 the Repub lea
party. Those men have become the victim
of executive power and Of PARTY malignit,
although they We're the pioneers of Repuh
licanism, law-givers of ex perience patriots @
true and tried virtue, statesmen who stoo
fast amid the storm Of war, guarding wit
equal vigilance and jealous care the .tiona
integrity & as 'hs jewel TO De preserved LAT at !, a.
high above the seething corruption into whic
the politicians seemed resolved to drag an
.drae gle the Republic and us glorious history
For their devotion thee men were brande
with executive oisapprob alton, and the blood
hounds OF party, trained for the chase, wer
turned loose upon their track. Some OF then
were senators known throuzhou the worl
for their moral worth. t1eir Legal accomplish
ments, their historical research. their gres
experience and intellectual power; but the
were driven rom positions OF honor and In
sduence, for which tneu r. cognized quaiifi "a
cations p -e-eminently disuns suissled them
that inferior men and politician