Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1876-10-21
SPEECH OF EX-GOVERNOR PARKER.

LEssNEss OF THE POLICY or THE REPUB-
LIcANs TOWARD THE SOUTH. q.
The following is the full text of the
speech of Ex-Governor Parker of New
Jersey, made the 18th Of September.
on being nominated temporary Chair
man of the Democratic Electoral Con-
vention of his State: A
Gentlemen of the Convsntion: Ac-
cept my thanks for the honor conferred.
You have met to nomine2e electors,
whose duty it will be, if y9ur choice be
confirmed by majority the legal
voters of New Jersey, to ast the cleo
toral vote of the State IL President
and Vice President Of the United
States. Under our systsl of govern
ment the people do not vo directly for
those officers, but men a16chosen who,
in the Electoral College, vote for the
candidates for President and Vice
President who have been nominated
by the party to which such chosen
electors belong. It will be for the
Democracy and Conservative people of
New Jersey to determine if the gentle
men whom we this day nominated, will
have the opportunity to discharge that
duty.
Candidates for the Presidency have
been named by the respective parties.
Fearing to present the record OF their
party squarely and boldly to the coun-
try, the Republican Convention thrust
| aside prominent and able leaders, and
nominated a gentleman who, while
welded to the ultra dogmas OF his
party, and approving all the iniquitous
acts of the Federal Administration, is
still comparatively obscure. It is true
he served in the army, but where,
when and how did he distinguish him
self? It is true he served in Congress,
but what great measure did he origi-
nate or even advocate in such way as
to attract attention? When he was
nominated not one in ten thousand
of his own party knew that he had been
in the army or in Congress. With
such fields for distinction, a man fit for
the Presidency would have done some
thing to raise him above the level OF
mediocity. Should he be elected
there is no doubt that the men who
control the present administration will
remain all powerful. and that the coun-
try would have continuation of the
present policy and methods.
The candidate of the Democracy, on
the contrary, is a man of the highest
order of talent. He is thoroughly
versed in the principles of government
tai science, and is also possessed of
consummate executive ability. That he
has the learning and experience to en-
able him to rescue the government
from the perils by which it is environed
cannot be doubted, and is not denied.
But opposition papers which were
formerly filed with praises of our can
didate have, since his nomination,
opened the Walls of abuse and are now
daily publishing the most malicious
ISLANDERS against his private character.
This is not the occasion to notice in
detail the falsity of these charges.
Time will not permit. It is sufficient
for me now to say that they relate to
period of time long anterior to his can
didacy for the Governorship OF New
York. His character, private, and
public, was then discussed for
months throughout the Empire State,
where he had passed his whole life
and was best known, and the result
was that Samuel j. Tilden was elected
Governor by $4,000 majority over the
most popular man in the Republican
party. The verdict of his neighbors
was an emphatic denial of the base
slanders at that time, and it will be
found that the people of the country
will regard the record of that verdict
by the vicinage, conclusive as to his
private character. As the lawyers say,
the result of that election should
operate as an estopped to SANDER.
The object of these attacks upon
Mr.. Tilden is we'll understood. The
record of the radical party, which the
Cincinnati Convention indorsed and
approved, will not bear the test of ex-
animation. The peculation, fraud and
corruption of many high officials, if
fully presented, would astound the
country. The extravaganza pervading
all departments, the arbitrary acts of
the administration, its protection OF
favorites from the exposure and
punishment due rascality, it's disregard
for constitutional guarantees as mani
tested in holding under military rule
the people of an entire section forpoli-
tical purposes, exposed thoroughly in
every public print and on every plat
form, should and would arouse the
people to herculean efforts to throw
off the incubus of such government.
Hence the attempt to divert attention
from the real issue by raising side is
sues of personal nature.
They even say that Mr.. Tilden was
disloyal. To disprove this charge
may be cited, among other things, the
fact that through his influence General
Mcclellan wrote his letter, declaring
"for the maintenance of the Union at
all hazards" The following extract
from declaration of principles from
the pen of Mr.. Tilden, written in 1862,
shows the true patriot and refutes the
charge of disloyalty. Addressing the
South he wrote: "Within the Union
we will give you the Constitution you
profess to revere. We will give you
everything that local self-government
demands, everything that a common
ancestry of glory, everything that ma
tional fraternity or Christian fellow
ship requires; but to dissolve the Fed
eral bond between the States, to dis
member our country, whoever else con-
sents, we will not-No! never! never!'
To the same effect is the evidence OF
Judge Cation, late Chief Judge of the
State of Illinois, who had repeated