Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-10-31
vics-fresi5ent Wheeler on the National


FEOM his OGDENSRI IA SPEECH.
Wei do | remember the circumstance:
attending the passage of the act of 1874
when initiation, under the impetus of til,
panic reaching lis highest point, was siaycc
by the veto of Gen. Grant. Hearty cheers.
| remember well how Grant was heleaguerct
in the White House, by old army comradc.
who had been elected to Congress- who be
sought him Ia sign the hill which would
have inflicted on the country Sl00, OOO,O 0t
more, and landed it in irrericvahle ruin
remember how Grant stool-StoOd rs he hat
often stood in the thunder storm of battle
and as immovahlc and silent as the Sphinx.
listening patiently 10 their arguments. but
when the time for action came. with as much
calmnesS n at NickshurE, he wrote: Il re-
turn this bill without approval because it is
in conflict with true principles of finance,
National Interests, Congressional prom,
iscs. party pledges and my personal
promises in my annual messages and
ifnd in each Of my inaugural addresses" iier(
initiation met its AppomattoN, here was laid
the foundation of the act which gave us re-
sumption. Thank God for the modest man
who obcys the INDUCTION of one of the cid
lfblhttS. l-t't NV NbiAlS lh' low III
whose strong arm, study patriotism and in
flexible honesty the loyal maSsCs have a
tower of strength in which in every hour of
peril they can AMI will take 'rrfugt. Great
applause Grant. by his prawcss and mill
tary genius las not only placed Us first in
military achievement. but first in the finan-
Cial policies of the nations.
Fellow citizens, did the verdict at Apo
mattoN SIGNIFY nothing 10 Won. VIII You
stand by it a: That verdict was that the ma
tionalitv founded by our fathers should
stand Till justice equality and the blessing
of liberty shonli he the heritage of all
who piay lie on the face of this con
tinent From the April morning that
left the stain of Loyal blood upon the
rebel hayoncts at Baltimore, to the
close Of the great conflict, St Lawrence
has never waveredon the battle field or at the
ballot box. VIII she wayer now in the strug-
gle with the solid South solid in its hunger
for place and power; solid in lis denial of
the right of the Government to protect its citi-
Zcns at the ballot box; solid in its determine
ton TO control by minority the Government
of the Uniied States Icy force at the South
and fraud at the North; solid in its demand
for s,lf-goyernmcnt through rifles, shot guns
and tissue ballots; solid in the murder of
men, WO'ltn AMI ClllluTcn lbT lnt CTllnc ol
RcpublicaniSm more solid than the Ute In
dians; solid in its reputation of S200, 0O0,-
900 of its indebtedness: solid in its denial of
the right of the Nation TO enter the State eX-
ccpt when its comes with hountics in its hand
10 build railroads AMI canals solid in the ac-
cursed hrrcsy of secession, which we
thought had been done away with, hut
which arin flames up 10 gain by the
ballot what it lost on the battle field.
Who are they: They are minority of
the legal voters, suppressing 10y fraud and
oppression the votes of the emancipated citi-
zcns of the South standing across the path
way of progress. educating to despotism and
violence. \ party which fOrcswore allegiance
to the Government Il party which launched
the Ccnfcd, raCy with slavery as its corner
stone Il party which rewarded the elem
cncy of the Government by opposing each
and every of the Constitutional amendments
and the laws which carry them into effect.
What OF the soidity Of the North: Ask
Maine. Ask California Ask Ohio. Ask
Iowa. Great applause. What of New
York: She alone can bar this solid South
from the control Of the Government She
has been marShalling thearms which rescued
an impcrillrd Mon. Shall she lead now
New York turns 10 our 81. Lawrence-thc
northern star, bright in the political heavens,
and which has led the way through many a
night of gloom to the glorious morning of
victory. Great applause.