St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-07-13
The Presidents Policy Condemned

ADDRESS OF HON. DANIEL H. CHAMBER
lat the celebration the 4th at Woodstock, Conn.,
Mr.. President and Fell0p Citizens =
| have accepted the invitation with
which | have been hOnOred to address
you to-day, because of the earnest as
surance by which it was accompanied,
that it would be agreeable to the good
people who might be gathered here to
listen to my views upon the great pub
lie question which it has been my for
tune recently to be connected. fully
recognize the fact that whatever of in
terest may be felt in what l shall say is
due wholly to the special experience
through which | have lately passed.
Under such circumstances | have no
choice of themes. Nor can | consider it
inappropriate, upon any ground, that
should discuss such theme. 1t is a
public question. 1t concerns not me
alone, nor one party nor one State alone.
1t concerns the nation, the whole peO-
pie, the generation living and the gen
eratiOns unborn.
This is Freedoms day. l shall speak
for freedom. l shall speak with free
dom. l have no private griefs to pre-
sent. So far as personal interests are
concerned, recent events have but re-
lieved me of a burden heavy almost be-
yOnd endurance. For myself alone
could be thankful for it.
l speak to you to-day from profound
sense of duty. Gladly would close
forever that chapter of history to which
| have referred. But dare not do it
Il see hand you cannot see;
Ihear a voice you cannot hear;
the hand of the helpless and deserted
Southern patriot, the voice of the widow
whose husband, of the child whose fathe
has fallen by the blow of the politica
assassin. L speak, too, because Other
do not. My ambitions are few ant
limited, but it shall not he written o
me when life closes "He loved ease, o
freedom from detractiOn and calumny
or the favor of the great and powerful
so well that he failed, in a crisis il
which he was involved, to utter hi
sincere opinions without fear or re
serve"
There passed away recently in foreign
lands one of the nOblest spirits of Ou
age; an eminent American, whose bril-
liant services to literature, whose sensi
| tive honor, whose rare courage, hav'
won new respect for the American name
| read the lofty and abounding eulogie
which covered his grave, but | read N
word more faithful and honorable t,
his memory than this: "WhOever write
of Mr.. Motley now ought by no mean
to forget to record that he was one o
the few who devoured no dirt, kisse'
not the feet of the President or hi
Secretary, and had no words of vOcfer
Gus admiration for MY Policy"
have already sufficiently informed
you that must speak in condemnation
of what is known as President Hayes
Southern Policy. The question will b
asked, ''Why attack that policy now
1t is irrevocable. Criticism cannot re
call it. Denunciation cannot change il
Attacks upon it will distract the part
and promote only the success of on
political oppOnents.n l answer, tina
if political party is contrivance fo
seizing and holding the government c
the country, regardless of any broad o
fixed political principles, / ought to hOl
} my peace. But if, as / have believed
political party is means or agenc
for promoting the welfare of all til
people by the enforcement, in the al
fairs of government, of certain politics
principles, whenever the citizen find
those principles abandoned by the part
protesting them, it is the simple dictat
alike of duty and honor to oppose an
! attack those who are betraying the pal
7 ty which has trusted them. This dut
shall try to discharge. Party succes
5 is not always possible. Party honesty i
= know we'll that there are tides in th
affairs of parties, great refuent wave
of sentiment or opinion which some
times overpOwer the strongest politics
!. organizations. There is no permanel
: loss in such reverses. Principles RENAL