The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-15
POLITICAL PROBLEMS.
Colonel IngersOll on the Constitution
and the Law.
HAYES AND HIS CABINET.
The Southern Policy of the New Admin.
istration Commended.


Ingersoi who electrified the Cincinnati National Con-
vcntion nominating his friend Blaine Tor the Prcs.
dcncy, delivered characteristic lecture last evening
at Steinway Iail on s'Potca Questions ana Answers"
Tho bad weather did not prevent excellent attend
There u iair sprinkling OF ladies'
among tho audience, aud single coored
gentleman occupied front seat Considerable
anxiety manifested 10 the tone and substance OF
tho address. Some hunted that he would open rad.
cal broadsidc against the Hayes administration. while
Others limited that he would launch forth aduation
of the Ohio statesman. The latter prophecy came
nearest 10 the truth. His expression, "Lct US give
tho President and his Cabinet a iair and honest
chance, brought out thunders OF applause.
Upon the platform assembled several prominent
republicans, among them Postmaster James, exPoIico
Commissioner Gardiner, General K,lburn Knox, a. b.
Cornell and several Others.
few minutes after eight o'clock Colonel Ingersoll
took scat on the platform. He received with
capping OF hands. and minute later he was intro.
duced to his audience by Mr.. A. b. Cornell and
ceived with applause as he came forward and placed
the manuscript OF his discourse ON the reading desk.
COLONEL. iNGERsoLL's ADDRESS.
He began by reviewing the late political campaign In
scro-comic manner, which elected frequent bursts
Of laughter Cronin came In for considerable
share OF ridiculc, 'who elected two others by
the plurality Of his own vote" The counting Of
subject for many witty observations ''Thc
Vice President" said he, "being repub
Iican, u was generally concuded-at least
by mc-that he had right TO count that Laugh
ter Ny belief that If tho Vice President counted
right he had right TO count It, And hnally bill
passed to count the vote IL any and to hear tho
testimony II any, ana declare what had boon
elected II any. Q.uughter) This consisted OF
lieen men, ten being chosen on account OF
lx,o
considerations" While the election Jailed decide
who was elected Colonel Ingersoli sud did
discover the weak flaws IN tho law and tho consttu-
ton 1t suggested weaknesses that be remcdied
II the present form OF government was to be
preserved. LIS basis the ballot, and 10 protect
tnat and keep pure good men OF all parties should
The speaker thought tho period of registration
was short, and that no person should, under
any circumstances. be allowed to vote without beng
registered, 'alidavu or no affidavit. Voters should
aepos,.,ns their ballots sixty days before election
tho lists should be corrected. and every citizen
should have the right to enter or objection
against every name found upon tho list Them twenty
thirty days before election the lists should be pub
lshed ana exposed IN several pubic places In each
ward precinct ana upon the day oil election
should be allowed 10 vote whose name was
upon that list The wards ana election districts
should be made smaller, 50 that people could vote
without waiting an entire day so that the honest bus
ness man could go to the polls, deposit his ticket at
once, like gentleman, and proceed without delay to
! his business. Unless some such plan were adopted
there would never DO another iair election IN tins
country.
Another defect discovered by the last election was In
the form o handling the electoral votes IL was OF the
greatest Importance that the executive should TIC
trely independent OF tho judiciary aud legislative de-
pariincnts OF the government Tho speaker did not
could mot FL. cons.u,,ou d not
exactly say who should count The votes. IL
Inacrsoll believed there was very easy way. He
wanted the constitution so amended that The electors
Of all States should NEE. IN general college at tho Guy
pausc That college should decide every dispute and
the chairman chosen by II should annouuce who
had been elected II was dangerous thing to have
the ermnc 81 the Supreme Court stained by politi
cal suspicion. Again, the speaker would engthen tao
term OF ollcc Elections were at present SO frequent
to interfere win the BUSINESS VI the country, and
the time short that when politician failed
got Office he run tor another until the peo-
plo elected him to get nd OF his annoyance.
''Lenslhen the term" said he, purify the ballot, aud
the present scramDles Tor Office will cease" very
aughablc picture of the professional oicc.hoder
drawn. he was little higher than the bcasl-a tte
lower than man. The successful Office seeker was
| ikened unto the centre OF tho earth-he weighed
nothing himself and drew all things toward his oince
a question pressing Tor was whether tho
general government defends its citizens IN the
states II had lately been sad by orthodox demo-
Gratis that II the state VIII not protect tho
the latter could leave thc state IL had been
SAID that the general government had no
right march army across the lines OF
u State TO protect the citizen unless the Governor Of
that state, If the Legislature we're not In session or
the latter body II II werc should call upon the Prcsi-
dent III the State Of Illinois must protect
me- SAID the speaker, # nave right to call Tor
that my allegiance belong " that governments
which protects me- lAppause) what does the gen eral
government propose 10 give me IN exchange Tor my
allcgianccy Protection, or else our government Is
fraud. (Applause.l VINO has right 10 call Tor tho
who needs 1t. Tho government that cannot respond
to the cry oil the mcanest cItzen beneath us flag when
his rights are being tampcd OH, even by The govern
nent ot u sovereign State, has no right TO existence
DUAL STATE GOVERNMENTS
The question vi dual government In Statcs was
another 10 be settled South Carolina had two Gov
errors and two legislatures, and OF
hau collected similar state OF affairs existed
Louisiana. Colonel lngersoll offered no remedy tor
the existing difficulty, but remarked that he thought
The Executive had no power 10 decide the question.
Some way he commended, should DO adopted prevent
| u repetition oil the trouble.
Still another question to he answered had reference
to the uemonctizaton OF silver We arc u silver pro-
ducng naton the speaker saId aud should rot there
lore, slander our OWE wares Silver would
buy bread aud labor, aud whatever would
pay debts with. He would nave the government
keep Ito WORD and pay god TO ali whom 1t had been
oil MS soon as possible.
la coucIud ng TINS portion OF his lecture the speaker
declared cmphatically that there must be peace TO-
tween the North ana the SOUTH Not u conquered
peace but a peace that conqucrs" The declaration
was received with long ana loud applause
TIM PRESIDENT AND his CABINET.
Then he proceeded to speak OF President Hayes and
his Cabinet Mr. Hayes, lac SAID ,ook his seat with
clear knowledge OF the wants OF the people. Nations
had been saved by the courage OF one man. Above all
things else the President should be patriot Party
at best was only means to I'M end, tnut end being
the good Of the country and tho happiness OF tho
people The President TOOK the right hand OF tho
North and put IN the right hand OF the Soulh and
SAID LET US be friends tAppausc. Ia government by
the people Tor the peopc there shall not DO outcast
class whether white or black IL would the speaker
sad, DC compliment to the Presidents policy u no
succeeded, aud II he failed II would be compliment
to his heart (AppIausc) He had opened the dour
lad extended his hand Fad broken the silence OF
hatred with words OF welcome. "Actuatcd by this
broad and catholic spirit hc,' said Colonel Iagcrsoi
''scected his constitutional advisers; and allow
TO say right here tho President mad right TO
select his constitutional advisers to suit hmsclf-oud
mn auspi- nd q In
themselves or others into the Cabinet OF tho President
as II were against his wi-wby, would AS think
| OF trying to circulate pcthon to compel some
woman 10 marry me say. let give these men n
fair chance say let US DO honest with the President
and with his Cabinet and give his poiicy a lair and
honest chance (Applause)
Mr.. EXarls Is laMYcT. standing cnnf,ssedI nj a