The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-03-21
Col, r.. G. IngersOII.
His New York Leeture-The Presiarut
susiained-An Eloquent Plea for Cor
dial Union of the Whole Nation.

Susthtncu-An Eicquent flea for n Cor
dial Union of the Whole Nation.
Last Thursday evening Col. Robert c. Inger-
soil delivered notable lecture in New York on
Political Questions and Answers, from which
we present few extracts. After referring
briefly to some of the phases of the recent cam
paign and the subsequent electoral contest, he
spoke of Cronin as follows:
The last scene of this strange eventful his
tory so far as the election by the people was
concerned, was CroDin. / see him now
as he leaves the land where rolls the
Oregon, and hears no sound save his own DASH
ings. CroniD, the last surviving veteran of the
grand army of honesty and reform Cronin, a
quorum OF one. Cronin, who elected the two
others by plurality of his own vote. I see
him now armed with Hoadley's opinion and
with Grover S certificate trudging wearily over
the wide and wasted saleratus deserts of the
West.
s.And still the wonder is, and still it grows,
How one small head could carry all his nose.'
Concerning the electoral count he said: Then
came the great question of who shall count the
Electoral vote. The Vice-President being a
Republican it was generally contended, at least
by me, that he had right to count that vote
oky oOCtIlut was IL lG6 NlCe-freSlQeQt would
count the vote right he had the right to count
it. The Vice-President not being Democrat,
the members of that party claimed that the
House could prevent the Vice-President from
counting it, and this was claimed because the
House was not Republican. Nearly all decided
according to their politics. Finally bill was
passed creating tribunal to count the vote, If
any, and hear testimony, if any, and declare
what man had teen elected President if any
This tribunal consisted of Is men, 10 being
chosen on account of their politics, and five
from purely geographical considerations
was there, and l know exactly how it was.
This tribunal divided as near even as it is posi-
Ole to divide fifteen men. On all questions, ex-
cept adjournments, they stood eight to seven,
and it has been remarked by unpreiudiced OBJ.
servers, that in no single instance involving an
Electoral vote did solitary Democrat vote
with the Republicans. 1t seemed impossible
for them to forget old party ideas and associa-
tlons; such is :he weakness of man and such
IS the strength of political habit. But, not
withstanding the seven Democrats voted con.
stantly together, the eight Republicans kept
having majority of one until the last disput-
ed state was given against the great party of
honesty and reform, and Hayes and Wheeler
were declared to be elected President and Vice
President of the United States.
Col. Ingersoll pointed out the weak spots in
the laws and Constitution discovered by the
controversy, and urged good men of all parties
to unite in efforts to remedy the defects Some
plan, be said, should be devised to give the
country an honest ballot, provide for the ascer-
tainment of the real will of the people, and
place only honest men in offices of trust After
referring to the Southern question, the protec-
tion of the negro and other topics, he said:
All these questions, my friends, are upon us,
and it is for you to say whether there shall be
honest ballots, and only honest ballots, cast in
this country or not. 1t is for you to say whether
office shall be given to honest and deserving men;
it is tor yon to say whether every election shall
be scramble for office or real, honest effort
for principle: All these questions, say, are
upon u.s. This is ro time for war; War set
Ties nothing except a mere question of strength
That is all war ever did settle. You cannot
shoot ideas into man with a musket, nor with
a cannon into one OF those old Bourbon Demos
Gratis of the North. You cannot cut prejudice
out with sword. This is the time for reason,
for discussion, for compromise. This is the
time to repair, to rebuild, to preserve War
destroys; peace creates. War is decay and
death; peace is growth and life, and sunlight
lery does not reason; it asserts. A bayonet has
point enough, but no logic. When the sword
Is drawn reason remains in the scabbard. 1t is
not enough to win upon the field of battle; we
must stand victors within the realm of thought
There must be peace between the North and
South sometime; not conquered peace, but
peace that conquers. With knowledge of our
wants, with clear perception of our difficult
ties, Rutherford B. Hayes became President of
The United States. Nations have been saved
by the courage, the grandeur of one man.
Above all things, President should be pat.
riot. Party, at best. is only means to an end,
that end being the good of the country, the
happiness of the people, The President took
the right hand of the North and put it in the
right hand Of the South, and said, "Let us be
q nor tod af ftna -
we were divided by the edge of the glittering
sword; we must become acquainted again. We
are equals. We are all fellow-citizens. In
government of the people, by people, there
snail s not De an o9tcast class, whether white or
lie shall be invited and welcomed" 1t was a
grand thing grandly done. If the President
succeeds in his policy it will be an immense
compliment to his brain. If he fails, it will be
an equal compliment to his heart. He has
opened the door; he has advanced, he has ex-
teuded his hand. he has broken the silence of
hatred with the wordssof welcome.
PRESIDENT HAYES CABINET
Ac.uated by this broad and Catholic spirit
he selected his constitutional advisers, and al
low me to say right here the President has a
right to select his constitutional advisers to suit
himself, and the idea of men endeayoring to
force themselves or others into the Cabinet of
the President, against, as it were, bis will, why
would as soon think of circulating a petition
20 compel some woman to marry me. He has
gathered around him the men he considers the
wisest and the best, and say, let us give them
fair chance. L say let US be honest with the
President of the United States and his Cabinet,
and give his policy fair and honest chance.
Mr.. Eyarts is man standing confessedly at
the head OF the American Bar; he is perfectly
acquainted with International law, and his
character is without stain. Carl Schurz is
man OF culture, man of great literary at
tainments, and believe, an honest man and an
orator and reformer by nature. 1 look upon his
selection as a real compliment paid to intelli-
nave known personally for many years. He
is gentleman of the old school. He has been
Republican ever since the party was born,
and l believe he has helped to write every
platform It has put before the world: He is an
excellent lawyer and one of the kindest and
purest and best of men. General Key-I
will be honest with you. When first heard of
1t L did not like it. went to call on Gen. Key
now follow me fairly and let me say am sat
isfied with that appointment. 1t will do. Why he
He fought against this Government
and did nearly as much harm as though he had
lived in the North, and talked and wrote against
it. There is one thing in his favor-he never
was member of-no, will not say it, for he
voted for Samuel j. Tilden. What do you
think of that? Do you tell me that reformation
is not possible for all the sons of men?
He is Democrat And yet the Presi-
dent made up his mind that to ap-
point that man would be to say to the
South, 81 do not look upon you as psriahs in
this Government l look upon you as fellow.
citizens l want you to to wipe forever the
color line, the rebel line, or the Union line
from the politics of this Government on account
OF what has been done heretofore What are
you now? is the only question that should be
asked. 1t was strange thing for the
President to appoint that man. I admit it.
1t was an ext eriment. 1t is an experiment 1t
has not yet been tested. But 1 believe that it
will be proof of the Presidents wisdom. 1t
was brave thing to appoint him. 1t was
brave thing on the part of Gen. Key to accept.
For my part am glad the ice is broken, and
believe the future will justify and appland the
appointment of Gen. Key. Nothing could have
been better, in my judgment, than the appoint
ment of John Sherman at the head of the
Treasury Department. He is perfectly ac-
quainted with our financial history, and with
all the legislation upon the subject, and he has
the confidence of the entire country. AS long as
Gen. Sherman holds the sword and John Sher-
man the purse, this nation will neither be
whipped nor robbed The Attorney General.
Charles Devens, was as brave as he is modest,
and he is as learned as he is unassuming. I am
satisfied with him. McCrarv ia natnralIv q