The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-06-23
MIR. TILDEN's SPEECH.

MIR. TILDEN SPEECH.
Mr.. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN OF THE
MANHATTAN CLUE: | accepted your invita-
ton under the impression that this was to be
merely social meeting, the particular occa-
sion Of which was the presence in this city
of Mr.. Hendricks and OF Gov. Robinson and
Lieut.. Gov. Dorshcimer.
You are aware, suppose, that one OF your
guests, Mr. Hendricks, cmbarks tomorrow on
an excursion 10 foreign lands, for rest and
recreation. He will carry with him, l am sure,
our best wishes for a prosperous voyage, Tor
q pleasant visit, and q safe return, and for the
health and happiness of himself aud family.
IApplause. | have been avalling myself,
for similar purposes of brief interval, and
find myself now, with some relutance, drawn
away from this privacy to attend this Occa-
sion. But the occasion itself, and the appa-
rent general expectation, seem to require that
i should s s..y a word ia respect TO public at.
fairs, and especially that I should allude to
the transaction which, IN my judgment, is the
most portentous event in American history.
A hushed expectancy here restrained the
tendency to applause, which was Just break
inc out when Mr.. Tildel proceeded.
Everybody knows that, after the recent cleo.
ton, the men who were elected by the PEG.
pie as President and Vlce-President of the
United States were counted out, "Hear,
hearw aud applause and men who were
not elected were counted in" and seated.
["Hear, heart Yes! Yes" Applause l
disclaim any thought Of the wrong done to
myself in this transaction. ["Hear, hearm
Theoretically Good! Good" Applause.
Not by any act or word Of niue shall that be
iwar!cd or degraded into personal grlev-
auce, 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 wrong as great and as deep
as /. l"Morew Applausel Not one of that
minority who did not give US their votes, but,
in the resulting consequences OF this act, VIII
share In the miseries, ii 1t Is not tedren:ed and
punished. [Applause.l 10 every man of
the four and quarter millions who were de-
frauded Of the fruits of their elective fran
chlse II is as great wrong as it is 10 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 them.
selves voluntarily. They can never be limited
except Ivy external forces.
II the men In possession of the Government
can, in one instance, maintain themselves in
power against an adverse decision at the cleo
tons, such an example will be Initiated
Temptation exists always. Devices to give
the color of law, and false pretences on which
to found fraudulent decisions, will not be
wanting. The wrong will grow into prac-
tice, ii condoned-if once condoned.
In other countries, in the Old World,
changes in the succession Of governments
have usually been the result Of fraud or force.
We felcitated ourselves that here, through
the skill and patriotism and philanthropy of
our forefaihers, We had established a system
Of peaceful change through the agency of 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 that anybody has ever pretended that
the government Of this great country Was
handed over TO any set of men through fraud.
Applause.
The question now is whether our elective
system, in its substance as well as its form,
Is to be maintained.
This is the question Of questions. Until il
Is finally settled there can be no politics
founded on inferior questions of administra-
tive policy. II involves the fundamental
right of the people. 1t involves the elective
principle. 1t involves the whole system of
popular government.
The people must signally condemn the
great wrong which has been done to them.
They must strip the example of everything
tina, can attract imitators. They must refuse
a prosperous immunity to crime.
This is not all. The people will not be
able 10 trust the authors or beneficiaries OF the
wrong to devise remedies. But when those
who condemn the wrong shall have the power,
they must devise the measure which shall
render repetition CT the wrong forever I'M
possible. Applause.l
II my voice could reach throughout our
country and be heard in its remoiest hamlet
| would say: abe of good cheer. The re-
public will live. The institutions OF our
fathers are not to expire in shame. The SOW.
erugn,y Of the people shall be rescued from
this peril ana re-cstablished." Applause.
Successful wrong never appears so trium
plant rs on the very eve of It's tall. Seven
years ago a corrupt dynasty eliminated in
lis power over the million of people who live
IN the city of New York. II had conquered
or bribcd, or tla,tered and won almost every
body into acquiescence. II appeared 10 bt
invincible. 4 year or two later its member.
were in the penitentiary or IN exile. History
abounds in similar examples. We must be
lieve in the right and in the future. A grea
| from its moral life"
! Mr.. Tllden's address was eagerly listened
to, and a, its close was loudly applauded.
On the same occasion Mr.. Hendricks mad,
a short speech, in which he thus alluded 4
the great fraud:
THE result THE counting in of Hayes l
not, and cannot be made, satisfactory 10 Ia
country, for the obvious reason that il wa
not true. \ great and sincere people will res
their final Judgment only upon truth, an
never upon fraud successful through techn
caliiy. The people cannot allow the selet
ton Of their Chief Magistrate 10 become
thing 81 chance, or OF sharp practice. Til
= fraud FIRST triumphant in American histor
mus, be assigned TO It's proper place anon
The crimes agslns, popular government, an