The union. [volume] (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1877-18??, 1877-07-19
MR.. TILDES s SPEECH.

|
of the Manhdtten Club: | accept
ed your invitation under the idea
that this was to be a merry, a So
cial meeting the particular occasion
of which was the presence in this
city of Mr.. Hendricks and of Gov.
Robinson and Lieut.. Gov. DORIS
heimer.
You are aware, I suppose, that
one of your guests, Mr.. Hendricks
embarks tomorrow on an excur>
sion to foreign lands tor rest and
recreation. He will carry with
him | am sure or best wishes for
a pleasant visit and a safe return
| and for the health and happiness
of himself and family. [ Applause.
| have been awaiting myself, for
similar purposes of a brief interval
and myself now, with some relucN
lance drawn away from this priS
vac9 to attend this occasion. But
the occasion itself, and the app
parent general expectation seem to
require that | should say word
in respect to public affairs, and
especially that / should allude to
the transaction which in my judge
ment is the most portentous event
in American history. A hushed
expectancy here restrained the
tendency to applause which was
just breaking out when Mr.. Tilden
proceed
Everybody knows that the re-
cent election the men who we're
elected by the people President
and Vice President of the United
States wee counted out Hear
hear!' and appluase]- and the
men who were not elected were
counted IN ard seated. "Ilelr,
henr!' eyes! Yes!" Applause ]
,lisclaim any thought cf the per-
sonal wrong done to myse f in
this transaction. "Hear, heal
(enorgetically) "Good! Good !"
Applause. Not ty any act or
word Of nine shall that be dwarf,
e or degraded into personal
grievance, which is, in truth, the
greatest wrong that has stained
our annals. Not one Of the four
millions and a quarter Of Ameri-
can citizens who gave US their
votes but experienced wong as
great and as deep as |. "More!
Applause, Not one of that Minis
GRITTY who did not give us their
votes, but in the resulting conse-
quences of this act, will share in
the mischiefs, if it is not redressed
and punished: [Applause. To
e, cry man of the four and quar-
ter millions who we're deirauded
| of the fruits of their elective fran
chse it IS as great a wrong as it is
to me. And no less to every man
of the minority will the ultima e
consequences extend.
| Evils in government grow by
success and by IMMUNITY. They
do not restain then selves volun>
ta'ilv. They can never be limited
except by external forces.
If the men possession of the in
Government can, in one instance
maintain themselves in power
against an adverse decision at the
elections, such an example will be
initiated. Temptation exists al,
ways. Devices to give the color
Of law and false pretences on
which to fraudulent decision, will
not be wanting. The wrong will
grow into a practice, if ocndoned
If once condoned.
In other countries, in the Old
World, changes in the succession
of Governments usually been the
resulted Of frand or force. W.
fslt itate ourselves that here
through the skill and patriotism
and philanthropy Of our eorefather'
we had established a system o.
peaceful change through the agen'
cy of the ballot box. This is tb,
first time in American history tha
this right Of the people has beer
impaired. 1t is the first time il
American history that anybody hal
ever pretended that the Govern
ment of this great country wa,
handed over to any set of mel
through fraud. Applause.
The question now is whether ou
elective system in substance al
we'll as its form is to be maintain.
ed.
This isthe question Of questions
Until it is finally settled there Cal
be no politics founded on infcrio
questions Of administrative policy