Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-08-09
HIS REASONS.
GEN. Tuttless Telling Speech-Why He
Left the Democratic Rarty-A ScOrch.
ing Review Of Facts.

cent telling speech made by Gen. j. M.
Tuttle, at Des MOines, Iowa, in which he
gives his reasons for abandoning the Dem
ocratic party and uniting with the Repub-
licans:
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen Of the Hayes and
Wheeler Club:
When ] concluded to change my party
thought might be allowed to do il quietly.
1t was private act, and required no public
announcement, as there was no one to whom
Twas obligated to account for such an ac-
ton. But as my course has been called SO
severely to account, may as well embrace
this opportunity to tell both my Democratic
and my Republican friends why have left
the old Democracy and why l am here
tonight. The act OF change was private
one, but my reasons for SO doing were pub
lie ones, and they may be told, and shall be-
lChecrs i am no speaker, and make no
pretensions OF being. But can talk to you
as neighbors. i have been considered
doubtful by many Democrats for nearly two
years. Laughter.] Indeed, never had
been o Democrat if the issues on which they
are fighting this year are the principles of
the party. [Great applause.l But nearly
two years ago the course OF my duty was de.
yeloped much more plainly than it ever had
been before. What l had seen before that
that was wrong, l had continued to hope
would be found to be mistakes, and would
be mended
Nearly two years ago / was in st. Louis
Now there's nothing peculiar in simply hav-
ing been in st. Louis. But was there also
in 1861. Cheers. That was just after the
first battle Of Bull Run, and ST Louis was
thoroughly, wildly, insanely rebel. 1t was
worth mans life then, almost, to be seen
in the Union uniform. A Union officer
about the hotels, where congregated the
noisiest secession elements, was hooted at
and derided and told with sneers: Eyes,
you'll 90 South and you will come back, as
the Union soldiers have just come back from
Bull Run, with your tails tucked" But as l
remember it, none of our troops from Iowa
ever came back in that shape. Laughter
and applause. That was the feeling in st.
Louis in 1851 and this feeling | found there
again, in the same spirit and in the same
places, re-expresscd b, the very same men,
when was there in 1874. 1t was then |
learned the news that the Democrats had
elected a majority of the National House,
and these same fellows who swarmed
about the hotels talking treason
and derding Union soldiers in 1861
were exultant and delirious with
10y this last time. | remarked to gentle
man who had been a comrade with me in
the war, This looks like the same set of
fellows who were spouting treason here at
the beginning of the war. What is it that is
exciting them so, and what ails them|' We
asked II squad Of them what it was that made
them feel so good =" | heard one Of them
say ''we have got them this time. We
can beat them this time" We asked
who they meant by "them" They re-
piled, Gwen elect the next President,
and then we've got them. Then We'll get
pay for all our property destroyed in the
war, and then Wen get pay for our lost
slaves. We have the House overwhelmingly
now, and in 1876, the Centennial year, we
.ratt "a. and nnv fin prap
dent. Then we can appoint our committees
to suit ourselves, and choose our own South
ern Claims Committee and Southern Claims
Court, and make good our losses by the
war" They meant that they would get pay
for all the property destroyed by the Union
army, and pay for all their emancipated
slaves.
Said one: "Give Us possession OF the Gov
eminent, and the North will be the rebels
next time This was the talk, and the talk
in earnest--as was the talk of the same men
IN 1861 They meant it. They talked it over
coolly and seriously. Said they had already
United South, which would be nearly
enough and that their Democratic allies in
the North dare not deny them the little
more, the few more votes that they would
need That is their idea to-day-to gain by
legislation, by means of diplomacy and
trickery, what they failed to gain by means
of force. ] believe it; ! know it. All their
express ons suggest it, and all their actions
prove it. What else do they mean? Why is
it that the State of Missouri has issued to
every former owner of slaves in that State
certificate for 81 900 for every slave, payable
when the General Government will pay il?
This very thing, the total amount of the
value of their emancipated slaves is now esti-
mated as Il part of the State debt of Mis-
souri,! used to think that this was Re-
publican fasehood, the certificate matter.
Rnt is artn Al IL
Gates, and all certificates or showings of
losses sustained throughout the State, are
being saved up ms carefully as money against
/ the day when the Democracy, and the rebel
element ruling it, in the National Govern
mcnt, shall have attained TO power. Ii Mis-
souri, will do this thing, and hold out this
promise to pay for all emancpated slaves,
+ why will not all the Southerners, all worse
/ rebel States, do it, and will not they do it?
/ When these things came to my knowledge
/ | could not do less than halt for further de.
/ yelopment, watching suspiciously every
/ movement made thereafter which | could
/ see had Il tendency to draw the Democracy
I North and South nearer together, a union
I which could see would inevitably put the
/ old rebel element at the head of and yir-
/ tually in control Of the party. Events have
/ eliminated rapidly since then, and had
not long to wait to see the whole pro
gTamme. The Democratic House soon gave
me light enough. Cheers.
! For some time | have been ready to an
swer the question: g Have you left the
! Democratic party?" | have. Great ap-
/ 7lause. And ! am often asked now: " Is
]. soy win you vote for Hayes and Wheel
err" 1t is so, and | will work for them as
well IS vote for them. Renewed applause. !
Ny Democratic friends ask me for my rca-
sons. There are plenty of them, and all Of
them cannot be told in these few remarks.
/ and il is not necessary to tell all. First, let
me say that my abandonment of Democracy
WAS not caused, a. has been charged by the
press of that party, because of the currency
or tariff questions. ! have no objection TO
those planks in the st. Louis platform. But
my reasons are as | have already indicated,