The Colfax chronicle. (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1876-1877, 1877-06-30
Mr.. Tilden's- Speech before the
Manhattan Club.

MT. PRESIDENT anu UentleIneu Oi tno
Manhattan Club: / accepted your in
vitation under the idea that this was
to be a merely social meeting, the par
ticular occasion of which was the pres
ence in this city of Mr.. Hendricks and
of Gov Robinson and Lieut.. Governor
DOrsheimer,
You are aware, suppose, that one of
your guests, Mr.. Hendricks, embarks
tomorrow on an excursion to foreign
lands, for rest and recreation. He will
carry with him, l am sure, our best
wishes for prosperous voyage, for a
pleasant visit, and safe return, and
for the health and happiness of himself
and family. / have been availing my
self, for similar purposes, of brief in
terval, and find myself now, with some
reluctance, drawn away from this pri-
vacy to attend this occasion. But the
occasion itself, and the apparent gem
eral expectation, seem to require that
should say word in respect to public
affairs, and especially that should al
lude to the transaction which, in my
Judgment, is the most portentious event
in American history.
Everybody knows that, after the re-
cent election, the men who were elected
by the people as President and Vice
President of the United States were
counted out and men who were not
elected were counted in" and seated.
/ disclaim any thought of the personal
wrong done to myself in this transac-
ton. Not by any act or word OF mine
shall that be dwarfed or degraded into
a personal grievance, which is, in truth,
the greatest wrong that has stained our
national annals. Not one of the four
millions and quarter of American
citizens who gave us their votes but
experienced a wrong as deep and as
great as l. Not one of that minority
who did not give us their votes, but, in
the resulting consequences OF this act,
will share in the mischiefs, if it is not
redressed and punished. To every man
of the four and a quarter millions who
were defrauded of the fruits of their
elective franchise it is as great wrong
as it is to me. And no less to every
man of the minority will the ultimate
consequences extend.
Evils in government grow by success
and by impunity. They do not restrain
themselves voluntarily. They can
never be limited except by external
forces.
If the men in possessi on of the Gov
eminent can, ia one instance, maintain
themselves in power against an adverse
decision at the elections, such an exam
pie will be initiated. Temptation ex-
lists always. Devices to give the color
of law, and faulse pretences ON which
90 1,rla 81 ~
be wanting. The wrong will grow into
a practice, if cOndOned-if once con-
: doned.
In other countries, in the Old World
changes in the succession of Govern
; ments have usually been the result OF
fraud or force. We felicitated ourselves
that here, through the skill and pa
triotism ana philanthropy of our fore
fathers, we had established system Of
peaceful change through the agency o.
the ballot box. This is the first time in
American history that this right of the
, people has been impaired. 1t is the
, first time in American history thai
anybody has ever pretended that tn,
Government of this great country wa!
4 handed over to any set of men through
fraud.
g The question now is whether oul
8 elective system, in its substance as wei
as its form, is to be maintained.
q This is the question of questions
Until it is finally settled there can b,
no politics founded in inferior question
/, of administrative policy. 1t involve
the fundamental right of the people
1t involves the elective principle. 1
I involves the whole system of popula
government.
o The people must signally condemn
the great wrong which has been don
to them. They must strip the exampl
s of everything that can attract imita
;, tors. They must refuse prosperOu
= immunity to crime.
ri This is not all. The people will no
be able to trust the authors or benif
Charles of the wrong to devise remedies
@ But when those who condemn tn
wrong shall have the power, they mus
devise the measure which shall rende
/ q REPETITION of the wrong forever in
possible.
u If my voice could reach throughou
our country and be heard in its reno
test hamlet, would say, "Be of goo
s cheer. The Republic will live. tn
institutions of our fathers are not t
expire in shame. The sovereignty Q
}. the people shall be rescued from thi
= peril and re-established.
Successful wrong never appears s
d triumphant as on the very eve of it
~ fall. Seven years ago corrupt dy
J nasty eliminated in its power over til
: million Of people who live in the cit
of New York. 1t had conquered O
= bribed, or fattered and won almos
= everybody into acquiescence. 1t al
peared to be invincible. A year or tw
e later its members were in the peniter
n tiaries or in exile. History abounds il
similar examples. We must believe
q the right and in the future. A grea
o. and noble nation will not sever its pol
tical from its moral life.
u Mr.. Tilden's address was eagerly lii
!. tened to, and at its close was loudl
applauded.
), Every man to be successful i
e any branch of manufacturing