St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-07-13
VOLUME 4O---NUMBER 2O85.

one who was chosen by our own party,
to convince all who have ever sympa-
thized with the principles of the re-
publican party, that such a policy de-
serves, upon all legal and constitutional
grounds, the condemnation which |
have pronounced upon it.
But when we look further and inquire
what other defences of this policy are
offered, we are lost in a maze of subter-
fuges, contradictions, falsehoOds, falla-
cies and inanities. Conspicuous in this
list is the claim made by the president
himself and echoed by his defenders,
that this presidential policy is in accord
with the platform of the republican
party, with the presidents letter of ac-
ceptance, and with his known views at
the time of his nomination and during
the canvass. l call this the chief of
subterfuges, if not of fasehoOds. con-
fess | cannot understand or measure the
audacity which prompts such a claim.
When, where, by whom, before the
nomination or after it, during the can
vass or during the long agony of sus-
pense which succeeded the canvass,
will you find from President Hayes or
any representative of him or OF the re-
publican party, high or low, hint of
such a pOlicyP 1t cannot be found.
Never till the country heard with amaze
ment the first whisperings of the ma
chinations of Stanley Matthews and the
Ohio clique who stood nearest the pres
ideDt-the basest passage | have ever
read in our political history-did any
portion of the public or of the republi
can party imagine that the president
would enter upon such a policy or
course of action. 1t is impossible to
overstate this general fact. Especially
is 1t impossible to Overstate the deliber-
ate, lOng-cOntinued, unremitted efforts,
made at every stage of the struggle
from November 9TH to March 4th, to
inspire the Southern republicans with
fidelity to the republican cause. If
doubts arose, with electric speed came
new assurances that Hayes, if elected,
would vindicate the rights of those who
were fighting his battles at the South.
Is the despicable suggestion here made
that President Hayes knew nothing of
all this ? Sir, it is incredible. He did
know it; and he stood by, willing to
see men risking, by day and by night,
for months which seemed longer than
years, their lives; aye, losing their lives
| by hundreds, to lift him to the presi-
dency, upon the lying assurances, if
what he now says be true, that he
would protect and rescue them by the
great powers of the Office he should re-
ceive. Every man who stood near to
the president, every man whom the
| public had right to regard as his
faithful representative, joined i'll these
ssurances-assurances which carried
no doubtful meaning-assurances which
meant to the beleagured and fainting
soldiers on those Outposts of freedom,
that succOr and help would come if only
they defended to the last the ground
which they had won. Sir, when think
of these things my heart grows hot with
indignation and curse comes uD hidden
TO my lips for the men who thus played
with the blood of brave men and women
as the gambler plays with his dice.
Such treachery passes my cOmprehen-
sion. | should expect that those who
engaged in it would hear echoes like
those which greeted the ears of the ter
ritied Alonzo when all nature seemed
breaking into voice to herald his crime
80, it is monstrous monstrous
Methought the pillows spoke and told me of it;
The winds did sing it to me- and the thunder,
That deep and dreadful organ pipe, pronounced,
No, fellow citizens, l know not how
long his policy may have been meditat-
ell in the secrecy of the presidents own
, mind. do know that he did not hint
it; he would not have dared to hint it
to the country at any hour from the
time he was a nascent candidate for his
nomination till he sat in the seat of the
president.
Gov. Chamberlain next took up the
claim that the president is only carry
) ing out the republican platform, which
prOclaims the permanent pacificatiOn of
the South to be a great duty of the
party, explains that he wIote that sec
, tiOn himself, declares that verybOdy
knows that "the unanimous voice of
the convention was for the immediate
= and vigorous exercise of all the powers
: of the government in repressing viO-
} lence and protecting the rights of every
man at the South" and INDUCES in this
= renaissance in proof: "The committee
C on resolutions at Cincinnati, composed
l of one member from each state, met for
' conference and discussion. After re-
t naming in session till a late hour, it
= was determined to appoint a small sub
3 committee, to whom should be intrusted
] submitted to the whole committee on
the following morning. / had the honor
S to be named upon the subcommittee,
I and | well remember that the venerable
+ Col. Richard w. Thompson of Indiana,
| now the secretary of the navy, just as
Y the subcommittee were withdrawing
f to enter upon their work, said: "Gen-
g tlemen, | have attended ten consecu-
= tive national conventions, and must
e leave this work to younger men; but
let me say one word to you who are on
: the subcommittee. We must win in
this fight. Deal cautiously with the
e currency question. Give us something,
D if necessary, on civil service. Satisfy
e our Pacific friends, if you can, on the
l Chinese question. But on the Southern
= question let our Southern friends (turn-
E; ing toward mel hare anything they Udnt.
t My people, and the people of the West,
a want southern republicans, white and
:, black, protected, and they want an end
a put finally to the violence and lawless-
a ness which exists at the South.'n
e Gov. Chamberlain equally denied that
e the presidents letter of acceptance fore
n shadOwed his policy, and in proof ap-
= pealed to every man who has any
e knowledge of the spirit and tone of the
S campaign. 81 appeal to the presidents
e own views, expressed often and to many
: persons, that it was the southern ques-
S ton and the republican doctrine OF
e complete protection to all men at the
Y South, which was the foremost issue in
Y the canvass, the question upon which
: the party must rely for success. And