Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1876-11-14
a Rap AT MIR. EYARTs.

Col. j. Fairfax Mclaughlin, of New York
City, we'll known to many of our citizens,
and whom il will be remembered made us a
stirring speech just before the October Eec-
tons, made one of his most telling speeches
at the monster demonstration at Tammapy
Hall on Thursday night, the End instant
Mr.. Mclaughlin has taken y very active
part in the campaign, speaking in Now Jersey
and elsewhere, as well as at home in New
York He paid his respects to Mr. Evarts
in the following singing and caustic style,
as reported by the New York Express:
think it was Edmund Burke who said
that the practice Of law had tendency to
make mems minds more acute than liberal,
and the speech of Mr.. VIM. NJ. Evarts, de-
hvered at the Cooper Institute. furnishes a
pointed illustration of the truth Of the re-
mark. Mr.. Evarts was retained by some
Republican politicians who carry on the Blu
siness of banking in this city, 10 make this
speech for them, aud whether the usual re.
tanning fee which the gentleman knows as
we'll how to exact was waived, for the con-
tiugent fee to follow Gin the event of the
election of Governor Hayes) in the shape of
a Cabinet portfolio or Foreign Mission. ]
shall not too curiously inquire. The hired
euloeiss of Henry Ward Beecher cannot in
jure the Democratic party by his abuse. Last
year he stood on the same platform where
he figured last night and denounced Grant
as military despot and usurper. He de
nounced Sheridan's invasion of Louisiana as
deadly blow at the cardinal principles of
liberty. The echoes of that denunei
seemed to ring still through the Esfis Of
J Cooper Institute when the pImeStRsce was
raised to mock them. and to .Ike good men
feel ashamed for the versatile advocate. The
papers which attributed dishonest motives to
Mr.. Evartss denuncistion of the Republican
party in 1875, and imputed it to the soured
temper of place. hunter whom the Presi>
dent had disappointed. came out .his morn
ing in Mysteries of praise over the mild
apostate who had recanted the opinion that
the military should not be used in time of
peace. It was a melancholy sight, fellow
citizens, to see this ingenious lawyer spend
ing his strength to defend party which is
strangling South Carolina to death with the
same strong hand with which it struck down
Louisiana two years ago. and against which
Mr.. Evarts then made ringing protest.
leave that gentleman to settle it with
his honor whether the attitude he has taken
before this community is consistent or patri-
otto, manly or straightforward If the in
situations he made against Mr.. Tilden had
any foundation to justify them, then they
should not have been uttered as half formed
hints with sly winks and cunning mods and
mysterious shrugs, which seems to imply:
''if | chose to speak-but no, will not; l
know a great deal that must not tell Mr.
Tilden is neighbOr of mine, and it does
not become man like me to speak i'll of my
neighbors.". Now, my fellow, citizens, if Mr..
Evarts is afraid to sheer himself, he ought
not teach the rest to do it That sort of
thing might be expected in a campaign sup
plement of the Times, or from the lips Of the
demagogue Blaine. bus it is unworthy of
high-minded gentleman, and utterly destitute
of the quality of courage. In another part
of his speech the attorney for the Republi>
can bankers tells Us Mr.. Tildcn is an excel
lent man to crush Tweed and Democratic
thieves, but that it would be q calamity to
take him out of this State where he has done
so much good, and to send him to Washing>
ton where he would do so much harm. Now,
fellow citizens, 1 challenge Bob Ingersoll,
the most blatant cutpurse who has appeared
on tho RapnbGean. stump during this defam-
atory campaign. to utter a meaner or more
cowardly speech than that. But let me as.
sure Mr.. Evarts that Mr. Tilden has high.
or quarry in view than to split hairs with
Mr.. Beecher's apolosist. When he cut off
Tweed he only cut of branch of the spread
ing evil of corruption He has the axe now
to the root, and 10 ! the giant tree topples to
its fall. 1t is not the man now but the sys-
tenn he is after. l fear Mr. Evarts is going
to have another eye>opener. Tweed was
great rogue and the captain of band of
rogues, bu. Grantism, the parent stem. The
Republican party has not only like Tweed en-
couraged stealing, but like the old Greeks it
has made god of theft The next time
this latest convert and disciple to Grantism
goes into the Radical pagoda to pray. he will
probably find that the inconoclast has been
there before him, and that he has shattered
into clay the divinity which he has come to
worship. Fellow citizens let us bag the idols
next Tuesday, and Mr.. Tilden will take care
of the idolators
THE POPULAR VOTE,