The Portland daily press., 1879-10-28
The Ohio Lesson.

| Ohio election. His speech has unusual
significance, coming as it does from one OF
| President Hayes's warmest friends and sup
porters. 1t has a stalwart ring, all Republi-
can speeches have that now. 1t represents
the opinions not only of the administration,
bu of the Republican party Its meaning is
union. We are all one again. The party is
! once more united. There are no longer di-
visions There may be some grumbling,
there are still differences of opinion as to
the methods to be pursued. But there are
no longer differences in regard to the result
to be reached. That is enough to know.
! 1t may not be impertinent, but it is certainly
impolitic to discuss the agencies that have
wrought that union. Let us be content
with the knowledge that it is accomplished,
and, Administration and administration
men alike, accept and rejoice in the opinions
expressed in the following extract from Mr..
Fosters wise and forcible speech:
am frank to say here tonight that hap
pencd to be one of the class of Republicans
who believed in the policy of concliation and
kindness 1 thought the adoption of that
policy would lead to a reciprocaton on the
part of our Southern people. l thought that
under it they would accept the results of the
war in good faith. and they would execute the
Constitutional amendments in letter and
spirit, and that they would accord to the
humble citizens down there all the rights
these Constitutional amendments gave them.
In this have been disappointed, grievously
disappointed. The denial of rights to-day is
more gross and more offensive than ever
before Before this policy was adopted they
set up the excuse for these outrages and viola
tions of rights that they were ruled by carpet
baggers and negroes and by bayonets. To-day
there are no carpet-bag governments, there is
no bayonet rule, they have home rule to its
fullest extent, and yet, repeat, the denial OF
these rights is more gross and more offensive
than ever before. [Applause.l have asked,
What is the remedy? I believe, from my
knowledge of the Southern States, that there
is a class of people down there who do desire
to accept the results of the war in good faith,
who desire to execute the Constitutional
amendments in letter and spirit, and who do
desire to accord to every child of God, however
humble he may be, the rights these Constitu-
tlOlltll gave illIu. Duo uP " eAAS
time that class of citizens have been unable to
assert themselves. The aggressive element
that requires loyalty to the "Lost Cause" as
passport to official position and even social
standing, rules and controls that country. And
why? 1t is made solid for the Democratic
party. And why? Because they hope through
the aid of the Democratic party North to re-
ceive fragment of it sufficiently great when
added to this solid South to rule and control
the country.
/ am not here especially to find fault because
Rebel Brigaders are in Congress 1 wish they
were all good Union soldiers. Perhaps they
have no better men to send. What 1 find fault
with is that these gentlemen come to Congress
unrepentant. They come there asserting that
the side upon which they fought was right.
They come there declaring they never will
make any apologies for what they have done.
They come there seeking to secure in peace
what they lost in war. They come there, men
who with arms in their hands sought the de-
struction of the Republic, seeking to rule and
control it. Why, I ask, why? Because they
believe that through the aid of the Democratic
party they can secure a fragment of the North
sufficiently great to rule and to control the
country when added to those 1873 votes of the
Solid South Now, my fellow citizens, it does
seem to me that there is but one single thing
for these people to do. So long as this menace
exists-and 1 call it menace against the peace,
against the future, against the fraternal rela-
tions-so long as it exists, there is but one
course for the people of the North to pursue,
and that is to remain solid and united against
it.
That, my fellow citizens. is the meaning OF
the great victory we achieved in Ohio on the
14th day of October. And I beg of you, my
fellow citizens, not to belittle that victory. 1t
was not 'boom' for Grant. 1t was not
''boonl'' for Blaine. 1t was not "boom" for
Sherman. 1t was not a 'boom'' for anyone.
But it was boom for the great Republican
party, that will roll on and take in its course
the great state of New York, and make it GER
tain that whoever the candidate is to be i'll
1880, he will surely be elected.
And now, my fellow citizens, right here, per-
haps ought to say word agree with your
chairman that when you have candidate that
is unworthy, scratch him, and having learned
that Mr. Cornell is a gentleman, man OF
honor, of integrity, and was fairly nominated,
l beg of you to follow the advice of your dis
tinguished citizen, Vice President Wheeler,
when he says that "Mr. Cornell carries the flag
go with that flag wherever it goes"