New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-11-19
WENDELL PHILLIPS SPEAKS.
-s~ESe Meaning Of the Presidential Con
eeet.O

-.~EAe Meaning Of the Presidential Con
test.0
The Parker Memorial was crowded with
N tive audience last night, anxious to
bear the famous orator OF Massachusetts
rive his idea as to 1.-THE Meaning Of the
Presidential Election" Mr.. PHILIPPE was
warmly greeted, and began his remarks by
saying that deeply interested as he was in
the presidential election, he could not feel
fourth day Of March. No matter what the
uepers say, there can be NO decision of the
qaestiOny who shall succeed Grant" be-
fore the middle of February. The first
word to be spoken to-day, when We can in
dulge some hope that the Ohio Governor
will occupy the presidential chair, should
b one of gratitude that General Grant ia
now the chief executive. If the republic ia
oafe to-day, We owe it to the far sighted
craftsmanship and fearless patriotism of
the President of the United States Fear
loss, because in the face of popular
misunderstanding and misc0nception,
Grant 10 - steadfast - when he was be-
fore the enemy's camp, cautious never to
overstep the law, but prompt to 60 to its
extreme verge 10 protect liberty. No man
aince Andrew jackson has been more will
Grant; and believe on this willingness to
assume responsibility in time of need haa
depended the salvation Of this nation. The
two names, jackson and Grant, will 90
down to history together. Every year has
added t. the laurels of the hero; and this
pear. if General Grant succeeds in his pur-
pose, he will descend from his high post
With the greenest Of all his laurels ON his
brow. He has, believe, risen to the level
. Of every duty. and has never been found
wanting when called tn action. I take
pleasure in praising his fearlsssn-ss in we'll
doing for have main tanned all along that
che public man who best understands the
signs Of the times is the President. And
now look at the condition of affairs in
which the election leaves US.
1t Tilden is really the next President he
ought to thank first of all the Boston aud
New York papers s0-called Republican.
They have made it possible that the ma.
tnrai order OF things can be reversed, and
have perhaps gained victory for the cOuu-
try'e foes at q time when all history indi.
Gated that the government should be kept
in the hands Of the men who saved it. l
cay this for this reason. The Republican
journals of the North have been credulous
ia the extreme in regard to every piece of
gossip against their own leaders. No tale
was improbable that, once started, these
journals would not give it wind, if not full
eredence. Thus they fouled their own
0aests and frit.ered away the cohesion which
held the once strong party together till it
became q mere mob. On the other hand
these papers were most aetOnishingly in
oredulOns At every tale which came from the
South disclosing its real condition. No mat.
ter how complete the evidence, bow fair the
rocerd, how overwhelming the testimony,
Until the first Of September you could hardly
got hearing in any Republican col lmns
tor true statement Of affairs at the South.
When Senator Bout we'll put the cap sheaf
to his splendid public services by taking up
the gauntlet which Bayard had thrown
Gown, his speech was decried as ungraoiOus
and disgracefnl, q mere ebuilition of NOR
old rage. Not one journal in Boston,
chink-snd quite sure no daily journal
had one line Of recognition, one cordial
word oil welcome to the Senator. He was
called boy. aud asked to come home and
not disgrace the State further by such ex-
ambitions OF malice. These papers tried to
ran the Republican machine on two wheels,
civil service reform and finance. Nothing
else was to be tolerated. Bat ON September
these journals had learned that these
were but vapid super luites and tame
Issues. which would invite defeat, aud 90
they stole the thunder Of the Massachusetts
Senator without THANKING him they saw
1T length that it WAS not possible to rally
the North against the nations enemy. ex.
cept ON one great vital issue-the rights of
man. I should have been ashamed had it
been otherwise; if New England or the |
North had thought OF anything Else while |
. white or black Republican must leave his |
Southern home at night, in fear of his life;
il the American peoples sense of honor |
cculd have tolerated any ether issue.
In 1916 CHARLES Francis Adams said to |
zae: III argue for banks or the tariff, the |
people go to sleep; but if say Texas,
svery man Is on his feet" That word
touched the living fiber in those days. And
20 to-day the Republican party could not
se stirrod on suy other than the issue Of
equal rights. Sel6shness would have made
6 the issue, even II conviction had not set-