The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-07-07
THE WAR BEGINS.

more notable, or had so wide and deep pc.
litical significance, as that at Woodstock,
Connecticut, at which D. II. Chamberlain, the
ueposed Governor of South Carolina, and
James G. Blaine, the disappointed presiden.
tial aspirant, were the chief spokesmen. The
affair had been largely advertised as an
anti. Hayes demonstration, at which the dis.
tlnguished spokesman named were to sound
the keynote of the impending bloody shirt
crusade against the distinctive principles and
"policies' of the Hayes administration. AS
such the gathering was attended by many
thousands of New England republicans, cler.
gymen, college professors, poets aud philoso.
pliers. Prof. Northrup, Oliver Wendell
Holmes, Mary Clemmer, Rev. DR.. Cuyler, and
dozens of that class were among the notewor-
thy guests and participants in the exercises.
The celebration took place in Roseland Park,
and had the Hsua, Accomplishments of music,
big guns, feasting and dancing.
Gov. CHAMBERLAIN's SPEECH.
The first speaker introduced was ex.Gov
Dan III. Cham berlain, of South Carolina. He
said he had been invited there to speak in ref.
erence to the special experience through which
he had lately passed. He should do 81 with
freedom: this was freedoms day. Without
further preface therefore, lie announced his
theme to be the Presidents southern policy,
of which he said he must speak in condemna-
ton.
The question will he asked, "Why attack
that policy nowy Ii is irrevocable. Criticism
cannot recall it. Denunciation cannot change
1t. Attacks upon II will distract the party
and promote only the success of our political
opponents" l answer, that If a political par.
~ is continuance for Selling and holding
the government of the country, regardless OF
any broad or fixed political principles, l
ought to hold my peace. But if, as | have
believed, q political party Is means or agen
cy for promoting the welfare OF all the peo-
pie by the enforcement, In the affairs of gov.
eminent, of certain political principles, then,
whenever the citizen finds those principles
abandoned by the party protesting them, II
is the simple dictate alike of duty and honor
to attack those who are betraying the party
which has trusted them. This duty | shall
try to discharge. Party success is not always
possible. Party honesty Is. know we'll that
there are tides in the affairs of parties, great
refluent waves OF sentiment or opinion, which
overpOwer the strongest political
organizations. There is no permanent loss In
such reverses. Principles remain and vital
ize organizations into fresh life after every
defeat; but woe to that party which bends 81.
lenty under the blow OF trcachery to its own
principles .4 Ha IA
But what is the presidents southern policy p
He defined it as follows;
In point of physical or external fact, 1t con-
ssts in Withdrawing the military forces of
the United States from the points IN South
Carolina and Louisiana where they had been
stationed tor the protection and
support of the lawful governments of those
states.
In point of immediate, foreseen, and intend. |
ed consequence, II consists in the overthrow
aud destruction of those state governments,
and the substitution in Their stead OF certain
other organizations called state governments.
In point of actual present results, it consists
In the abandonment of southern republicans,
and especially the colOred race to the control
and rule not only of the democratic party,
but OF that class at the south which regarded
slavery as a divine institution, which wsged
four years of destructive war for its perpetual
lion, which steadily opposed citizenship and
whose traditions, principles, aud history are
opposed to every step and feature of what re-
publicans call our national progress since
1860. - H"H.
In point of general political and moral sig.
IL consists in the proclamation to
he country and the world that the will OF the
majority of the voters of u state, lawfully and
-egulariy expressed, Is no longer the ruling
power in our states, and that tho constitution
II guarantee to every state In this union OF a
'spublican form of government and of pro-
ection against domestic violence is henceforth
nefiectua and worthless.
And these points he illustrated and enforced
~ detailing the facts, first in the case of
Louisiana, and next in tina: of South Carolina,
that in both cases the Presi.
lent had entered into negotiations with
hose who had taken up arms against the
awful governments OF Louisiana and South
Carolina, ain order that he might the more
urely betray, and thus did betray, the friends
Who had trusted him and the cause he was
elected and sworn to uphold!n
At the close If Chamberlain's speech the
Rev. Mr. Stodard, of .Fairhaven, Mass,
bought that Hayes had been a little too Sc
'erely dealt with, and to show that all New
England was not Of one way of thinking,
allied for three cheers for Hayes. They
we're feebly given. Then some one called for
hree cheers for Chamberlain, which were
given with great unctien.
o. w. holmes then read a short poem, after
which came the
SPEECH OF j. q. BLAINE.
Introducing it with the remark that the
outhern policy Of the President had already
ecelved sufficient attention, Blaine proceeded
o attack the administration on its Mexican
policy lie said this agitation on our south
western border involved greater national dan.
,ers and ultimate graver disasters than any
'ther subject now engaging public attention.