National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-04-25
MIR. CONKLINGS SPDECH.
[Conlinued .rom Nrsl Paae.l


ought to be pitched into the river.
The draft riots had spread terror which had
never died away. Strong men remembered
the bloody assizos Of the Democratic party
They had seen riot and the mutilation of the
dead. They had seen an asylum for colored
orphans given TO the flames, and the smoke as
conding from the Empire City, attesting the
horrible barbarity of man. Remembering these
scenes, they asked the President to sustain
them in preserving order with the boak and
claws of the national power. 1mprecations
maledictions,and threats were hurled ut Grant,
but with the splendid courage which never
blanched in battle, and which was never dis
mayed by clamor, he responded in the order
which the Senator from Delaware (AIr. Bay
ard was recently pleased to read.
That election was the faircst that q genera.
ton had seen, and when New York came to
crown Grant with her vote, his action in the
historical ides of November, 1870, was not for.
gotten. When New York next has occasion to
express her Judgment on the services of Grant
and his action in 1870, he will not be hidden
away by those who espouse his cause.
Returning to the question of supervisors Mt
elections, Mr.. Conkling said no court had de-
cided the law to bo unconstitutional. The
Democrats had said here that 1t cost 100000
TO execute the law but they should recollect
that it cost moro than $5,000OOO,00O to pre-
serve our institutions and liberties in u single
give up its birthright to save $200000
The interest Of the amount appropriated in
the river and harbor bill wruld execute the
law perpetually. Disporse the White League I;
let the night-rider dismount; let the ballot
box suffers dcsst, and let rufiians and robbers
be no longer employed to carry elections, and
then the expense of enforcing the law will
cease. The party now in the majority wish
the elections to be decided by violence and
fraud. This was the source of their insulting
menace to the President to surrender his con-
victions and consent to unwhOlosome laws, and
this was the condition on which the money of
the people would be applied. Had the present
National Administration been otficiously robust
in checking the eucroachments and turbulence
of Democrats, either with troops or otherwise
He asked the question because the next Pres
ldential election was to occur under tho pres
ent Administration. What was all this uproar
and experiment for? Why not carry your issue
TO the pcople2 If you can elect President
and Congress to your way of thinking you
Will have it all your own way. Why should
there be an attempt now to block the wheels of
Government when the principle can be tried by
the masters of us all? There is but one truth
fu explanation of this dark design. 1t was q
measure, strike for party advantage. With
honest elections the Democrats cannot carry
country. This law for fair elections stands in
the way, and therefore must be broken. He
the Democratic party think that, with fair
election, they cannot carry the State of New
York. While they could give 1000 600 fraudulent
votes in New York and Kings County il would
be idle for the 100000 of that Common wealth
to vote. 1t was struggle for power a fight to
clutch the Empire State. The nation has
tasted and drank to the dregs of the Demo-
cratic party, and, said Mr.. Conkling, we mean
to resist you at every step, and by every law
ful means opportunity may place in our hands.
We believe it is good for the country, and
every man North and South, that the Govern
ment should remain in the hands of those who
were never against it, We believe il is not
worth while or safe to give it over to the De-
mOcracy, governed and dominated as that
party is now. We do not mean to connive Mt
their further conquests. Whatever they gain
must be by fair means We believe these laws
are wholesome and necessary barriers against
wrong, and SO believing, We will defend them
even TO the uttermostly legal and honest re-
sistancc
Mr. Conkling, in his allusion to Mr.. Davis
(lll.). said that after Mrs. Winslow that Sem
ator had an inexhaustible source of soothing
syrup. Laughter. The Senator reminded
him of one slumbering in storm and dream
ing OF a calm. The Senator said there was no
noise anywhere aud one could hear pin drop
that rights were sacred South and North and
that there were peace and tranquility aud the
law obcycd therefore there was no occasion for
apprehension or anxiety. Could rights be sa.
cred when frcsh-done barbarities show that
elections in some portions of the land was des-
potism tempered with assassination when old
and young were flying in terror from their
homes and the graves of their murdered dead ?
| Rights secured when thousands brave cold,
| hunger, and DEATH asking among strangers for
| that treatment OF humanity under a law which
made them citizens, while God made them
| men?
He asked the Senator to read tho memorial
| in their behalf, containing the most shocking
| recitals of modern times-the blackest ever
| recorded in civilized or savage life. There was
| not such faith as the Senator possessed-no not
in Israel. "Frdcr reigns in Warsaw" The Re-
publican party wanted peace and prosperity in
the South rs well as in the North. But dis
| regarding the truth will not bring peace. Fair
words butter no parsnips." This lullaby and
hush had been a mistake from the beginning
1t had misled North and South. In An.
drew Johnson's time a convention was held,
when man from South Carolina and man
| from Massachusetts locked arms aud
walked into the convention, aud with
much sensation and cordiality elasped
hands, when the tune of "Dixie n
was played. Laughter Later q celebration
of battle of the Revolution took place in New
jersey, when there was dramatic spectacular
and hugging ceremony. He remembered that
| General Sherman attended one of them, but
| that soldier, with the hard sense and bravery
| which distinguished him, cautioned the as
sembled multitude not to be carried away--no,
to be fooled. OF all such demonstrations Mr.
Conkling had this to say Honest serious
| conviction was not ecstatic or sentimental in
grave affairs ard lasting purposes. 1t was moi
| expressed in morbid phrase or with sickly sen
| tmentality. This was as true in regard tC
| political as well rs religious duty. The hi
| vine Master said, mot every one that sayetl
| TO me, Lord Lord, shall enter into the King
| dom of God, but he that dOeth the will of NV
| Father, which is in Heaven" Facts were SCI l.
Gus things, but tho better way was to look then
in the face. The Northern people preached nC
! crusade against the South. When the war was
over no man who fought against the flag wa,
punished even by imprisonment; no estate wa,
contiscatcd. Every man was left free to Low,
liberty and to pursue happiness. After the
Southern States were rebuilt and restored Il
their relations 20 tho Union no man was dis
franchised by national authority; not one maj
for one moment was denied the right to vote OF
| hndored in any other way. From the time
that Mississippi was restored there had neyel
| been an hour when Jefferson Davis might not
| vote rs freely MS the Senator (Mr. Davis in tn,
State of Illinois The North was dotted will
| graves, tonanted with the puresU and best men
caused by the greatest and guitiest rebellion
that ever appeared in the annals of the human
| race.
The generosity aud magnaminity of the ma
tion in the hour Of victory was the grandcs