Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-08-02
The Great Leader of the Western DemOe-
racy Makes the Best Speech of his
Life. at South Bend, Indiana,
and Furnishes
Coming Canvasses-He Exposes the
Hayes Administration, and In
dOrses the
Potter InvestigatiOn-Clear Cut Criticism
of the Radical Party-Finances,C Civil
Service Reform, Rebel Claims
and Pensions Discussed.

SOUTH BEND, IND July 27.-The follow
lowing is the full text of the great speech de-
livered here to-day by Senator Dan w. Voer-
bees, a speech that was greeted with the
widest enthusiasm, and is hailed as sound
ing the key note of the coming canvass:
SENATOR VOORHEEs'S SPEECH.
The value of free discussion cannot be over
estimated Ii is the vital element of human prog
right or unlimited inquiry into the management of
pubic affairs is not only necessary to the creation OF
ence. A government of the people, resting upon
their virtue and intelligence Is only secure when the
people themselves assert absolute control over
their own affairs. This was the problem solved by
the American revolution hundred years ago, and
the American government stands alone at this time
the nations OF the earth on this principle. The
II no enTeT On the s1T in WHICH s exeraseG
Partisan discussion too often degenerates into per
vlduals Is OF but small moment while the triumph
of correct principles and wise policies is of endur
jest entering in Indiana 1t shall be my purpose TO
subordinate all individual interests to an ascertain
midst In doing this it shall be my purpose to In
hict no personal wound on any one; to treat the
ask for my OWL and to appeal In the spirit of kind
ness to the honest and conscientious voters of all
When we look plainly and canddly at the present
position OF political parties we are at once forcibly
national affairs is totally destitute Of Single
issue In the interest of the great mass OF the
American people on winch 10 go before them for
their confidence and support 1 ask your careful
consideration Of this proposition. In whatever d.
Tection you view the political field you find absolutely
| nothing offered by The leaders of the Republican
party calculated to promote the public welfare. In
in the midst of official scandals and debaucheries
connected both with the last and the present adj
t ana aow3 as the people ARE BY
a civilized commonwealth, challenge the prOduc
control the Republican party which has in it the
elements of popular relief 1t is true when the
promises of purity and reform in the civil service OF
| the government were proclaimed to the world. 1t
his advisers to institute contrast with the admin
istr 4ton which had Just expired. 1t was given out
engaged in the service of the government should not
/ be the mere henchmen of the administration in
the public on an Independent and self-respecng ba-
sis. You all remember now the puoiic ear was cap
should be displaced as long as he hon
| estly and efficiently discharged the duties of
the repeated announcements made by MT
Hayes and his cabinet. that the odous and corrupt
for fSe nf U sacons
was thenceforth to be utterly and In!irely aban-
offices OF the government belonged to the people,
and that while the duties in which alone the people
| bent should not be molested; nor should he like
slave be compelled to pay tribute TO the party man
ager Tor his places nor was he TO be required per-
itted to seize upon the control of local politics by
by virtue of the influence of his Office How long
|
| than months after its proclamation the old arts
and devices of INSCRIPTIONS politicians we're again
| in the ascendant The Federal office-holder again
| resumed his practices. He again chief of the
| caucus, of the ward meeting, and the controlling
| ings of the administration we're openly disregarded
and despised, and had not the courage of selfre
spect to make them needed Among the best officers
| also, many were displaced, or sought to be dis
placed without cause and in defiance of the rules
laid down. while those who have violated every prn-
cpe of the code of cvil-ser Ice reform have In no
| instance been punished or even TeDuked. Worse
following circular has been issued at Washington,
| In the immediate presence of Mr. Hayes and his
cabinet, and with their knowledge and consent as
| it plainly states:
WASHINGTON, D. c., May %, 1873.
| SIR-This committee, charged with labOrlng fol
the success or the Republican cause in the coming
campaign for the election of embers OF CONGRESS,
| call with confidence on you Republican for
such contribution In money as you may be willing
| to make. hoping it will not be less than - dol
lass; The committee deem 1t proper in thus ap-
pealing to Republicans generally, to inform those
| who happen to be in Federal employ that there
will be no objection in any quarter to such voluntary
This circular, after giving some false Tor
such an extTaordinaTy measure closes with the fol-
Please make prompt and favorable response to
this letter and remit at once by draft or postal
| mone7 order to Sidney +. Austin, Esq, treasurer,
By order of the committee
| GEORGE C.. GOTHAM, Secretary.
1t has been ascertained that the amount being lev.
led upon Federal oficehoders is in instance not
Oftener equals two per cent There are now not less
than eighty thousand persons holding Office in the
to assume that their salaries will average one thou
| sand dollars per annum, making an aggregate of
ees On ns tSe Es snm p
eight hundred thousand dollars, to be used In the ap
| preaching elections. The mission OF this money is
to corrupt the ballobox to debauch far as posi-
BILE, the virtue of the people, and to fasten the
It is raised by exortlon to be used in obbefy and
| bribery: more dangerous movement than this can
hardly be conceived. It'll full OF peril and menace
|
hand seeks to reduce the entire force In the public
attempts poison the very fountains of all free gov
eminent, There are over forty-sx thousand
great army of officials, together with collectors
of customs; of revenue and all their subordi-
mates, we'll the helpless, trembling clerks in
| tIe departments at Washington, whose wives and
children depend upon their places for bread ALL
this hour, writhing under the party lash under this
cruel demand for party tribute, which means COM
pliance with its terms discharge from office. 1t
to Comply with this demand has manifested Itself in
certain official quarters. We therefore ind this same
| more imperative in tone, and more significant of
danger to those who refuse its mandates. This Or
| der closes by saying:
1--WE have, therefore, arranged with the treasurer,
Mr. Austin, to attend to the national bank, of
and Seventh streets, from four to five o'clock In
the evening to receive contributions from those in
your department. who have not already responded. -
The salaries of clerkships under the government
range from seven hundred to fifteen hundred dollars
per annum, and in a few instances higher. 1t re-
9uires therefore no stretch of the Imagination Tor
us to behold each evening of these days, between
|
tration, male and female, old and young, white and
black, vending their heavy and sorrowful way to
meet this Mr.. Austin, the corruption agent of the
leaders OF the Republican party there to contribute
the per cent of their earnings so sadly needed In
their stinted and barren homes. Honest voters OF
Indiana, do you not turn with loathing from such
spectacle this? Men of the Republican party
ton? Has it sunk so low that it has other means
to sustain ITSELF to continue in power, than to
tort from the helpless and dependent of both
ali ages every color and every condition of life
Fallen and miserable indeed must be its once high
lie with so disgraceful an issue; with its broken
pledges of cvilservice reform, with its shameless
port as it toters to its downfall on those who are
so unfortunate to hold official place under It,
arraign the leaders of the Republican party at the
very threshold of this canvass the organizers Of
corruption the assessors of blackmail TO be used IL
destroying the purity of elections and In the over
throw OF the rights of the people If their scheme:
can be made successful and prevalent Throughout
| by the of money, now openly proclaimed by the
party in power shall receive condemnation at thu
government will perish, and our name will become
a kissing and by-wOrd Ia all the four quarters O.
the globe
HAYES'S SOUTHERN POLICY"
claim is sometimes put forth in behalf of thu
present administration by portion. at least of thu
otbeIn nacT which ba commends # S as
| people. The fact that the southern States are ne
longer governed by military power; that their cleo
tons are no longer determined by the bayonet; thai
they have been restored to their places under thu
constitution has been heralded to the world as an
evidence of the craftsmanship of those who are
the head of our national affairs. 1t is difficult Il
| treat such false pretense with patience. When
where in what State aud before what audience from
Maine TO Oregon was this policy ever announced a!
! Republican doctrine? The war closed more thar
thirteen years ago, and challenge the proceeding
of every convention of the Republican party from
that hour TO this to furnish a single speech,
single resolution, in favor OF such measure. Or
the contrary, we find one campaign following an
other, political contest succeeding political contest
all forming unbroken record OF hostility to tn
constitutional rights OF the southern States ant
6 people. Two years ago In Indiana the Re
publican candidate for governor announced
with bitter emphasis that the ensanguine(
symbol OF perpetual hate was the banner unde
which he made his canvass. Every subordinat,
speaker in the State followed in the same strain.
speech made at that time In behalf of the polio
since pursued by Hayes would have at once exclud
ed the speaker from membership In the Republican
party. The entire battle of 1879 was fought every
where by the leaders of that party on their old doc
trines OF rancor strife and blood. The Democr Att