The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1876-08-10


as was the rebel speech of Ben. Hill in Con-
gress, so heartily cheered by his Democra-
tic colleagues, and so wildly applauded in
the South. That speech, let me refer to
again moment. The Democrats and
Democratic press now say they do not IN
dcrse this speech But they cheered it
when it was made in the House, and the
South cheered it, and their denunication of
it now is not so much denunciation of the
spirit of it as Of his imprudence in making
it.
GOOD BYE DEMOCRACY.
And now, in conclusion, as to the reason
why | have not left the Democratic Party
sooner. They say [ want office, and that
[ have wanted office If j had gentleman,
| would have left the Democratic Party
years ago, for it is matter Of record that
| have said for years that there was never
any hope of the Democrats carrying Iowa
If had been an Office seeker, | should
have left the old party long ago. | am not
a candidate for office, and never will be.
have no aspirations for prominence in poll
tics, and | do not see, why, when as pri-:
vate citizen [ have tried to change my party
quietly, AL this abuse should be heaped up
on me-. | can stand it, though, and it in
nowise changes my conviction as to my
duty, o-ly to intensity and confirm it. APP
plause.
/ feel in earnest now as I did during the
war Cheers | have no retreat to make
Renewed cheers.) The reason [ have left
the Democratic Party is that [ have no
faith in it, (cheers) and no faith in the old
rebel clement who have long feared would
come to the front, and who | now know
and see have come, and whose coming has,
made my way clear and my course of duty
plain. Great applause.) Seeing these
men again 1t the head Of Il e part 7, 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 of
fcers Of any note were Floyd and Jake
Thompson, the Democratic Secretary of
War and Secretary of the Interior. They
stole from the Government they were sworn
to serve to help the rebellion raised to de-
stroy it, and beside their crimes and their
corruptions all that is charged against the
IOepuDllCdu ODicldIS, duluit IL dll " UC JIuO
even, sinks into in significance.
Why, old Jake Thompson, encouraged
by the defiance of Ben Hill in has speech,
went down to Washington a few months
ago, and like braggart demanded investi-
CATION that he would waive the legal point
of time. He went down there blowing,
and got sued-for the money that he stole
T., ~ Ill al, IL
Floyd were alive, he too, probably would
go down there, under the protection of the
rebel shadow of Ben Hill, and demand in
vestigation. (Laughter) But like the
! child covered with the curse of the crime
against Abraham Lincoln, he also had the,
! good sense to die. He was at Fort Donel-
son with the other "Constitution-huggers,"
but he skipped out early, so as to be safe.
IF he had stood his ground like brave
man, he would probably have had the good
fortune to die earlier. (Laughter.) But
federacy, but he wasn't willing to die for it.
(Laughter)
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 trout
to assume party control. As they
have come as leaders, l have asked and
taken the privilege of leaving the Demo
cratic ranks. (Cheers) This, follow citi-
zens, is why am here tonight, (Rencwcd
cheers.)
Finally, gentlemen, would say keep y
solid front and we'll beat them. (Cheers.)
| hope and think we will. [ am with you,
and with you in earnest. Great cheer
ing.) 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 instead of on
the battlefield. Renewed applause, fre-
quently repeatedly
l thank you, gentlemen, for having heard
me so patiently. | have not tried to make
a speech | am not a speaker. [ have tried
simply to tell you, my neighbors, why L
have changed parties, and at the same time
to make brief answer to few of the many
mad and venomous charges which have
been made against me because of my act.
The State Register adds: At the con-
cusion of the Generals speech the audience
rose to its feet with three theers for him
and his speech, and the martial band, hay
ing in it the band of old Second Iowa, with
the same old drums, played "Hail to the
Chief with an JUNCTION that fairly electrified
the audience and brought back to the old
; soldiers present the vivid memories of the
days when they were at the front, led by
this same band 1t was scene of his his
, | tory and the only rnrrnt aynrnssed WAS 2