Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-09-30
ROSCOE CONkLING.
His Eloquent Tribute to Gen
eral Garfield and Gen.
eral Arthur.
Grant, and the Place He Fills
in History, as Well as in
'r the Affections of the
People.
Desperate Determination Of the
Democracy to Ruin the
Nation.
Arguments that Cannot be Answered
and Facts that Cannot be
Denied
The Great Senator's Address.

Senator Conkling opened the campaign in New
York at the Academy of Music on the l7th inst.
The following is the full text of the senators adj
dress. ,
FELLOW CITIZENS: Whoever is given greeting
and audience in such presence ought indeed to
have something worthy, something fit, and wise to
say. inadequate in all save only grateful and re
spectful appreciation must be my return. We
citizens of Il republic. We govern ourselves here,
NOpOmp of eager array in the chambers of royalty
awaits the birth of the boy girl to WELD an
hereditary scepter. Whenever death or revolution
pourS on the oil of coronation we know scepter
except majonty's constituted will. To WELD
that scepter in equal share is the duty and right,
nay the birthmght of every citizen. The
preme the final the only successful arbiter here
is the balot-boN and in that return should be
gathered from it, should be sacredly recorded the
conscience, the judgment the intelligence of all.
The right of free self-goyernment has been in all
ages the bright dream OF oppressed humanity.
The sighed-for privilege to which thrones dynas-
ties and powers have so long blocked the way.
France seeks it with forced marches and daring
strides. Mr.. Forster secretary of Ireland, tells
| the peerage of England it must take heed lest it
fall and Westminster and England ring with
dread echoes of applause but in the tullness of
freedom the Republic OF America is alone on the
earth alone IN its blessings alone in its promises
and possibilities and, therefore, alone in the de-
votion due from its citizens. The time has come
when law duty, and interest require the nation to
determine for at least four years, its policy III
many things. Two parties eXist-parties should
always in government of the majorities and to
support and strengthen. the party which most
nearly holds his views is among the most laudabe,
| meritorious acts of an American citizen and this
whether he be IN official or III private station.
| Two parties contend for the management of ma
tOnal affairs. One or the other of these two CON
| testants is sure to manage the nations concerns
| for some time to come. The question is which of
| these two Is 1t the wlSeSt to trust! 1t Is not
question Of candidate. The candidate, if he be
an honest, genuine man, will not seek and accept
a party nomination to the presidency, Vlce-presi-
dcncy, congress and after he is elected become
a law unto himself. Few things are more de
spIcabie than first to secure elevation at the
hands of the party, and then, in hopes of win
ming pretentious non-partlsan applause, to effect
superior sanctity and meanly to imply that those
whose support and confidence were eagerly and
deferentally sought wanting in purity, patr-
otism, and other titles of respect. The higher OBJ
legations among men, are not set down in writ
ing and signed and sealed They reside in honor
| and good faith. The fidelity of nominee be-
longs to the exalted class, and therefore, can
didate of a party is but the exponent of a party
The object of political discussion and action is to
settle principles, policies and issues. 1t is pal
try incident of election affecting fifty millions of
people that decides for occasion the aspra-
tons of individual men,
is the democratic candidate, and | am against the
ticket and all its works. The general issue con-
fronting is in itself and in its bearings section
al. | would and you would it were not so, butt
| is so. If one portion of the country one party
| outnumbers the other even by overwhelming
odds, the fact need not be blamable nor proof of
sectional aggression; but if in any section any
| party gains and keeps control, not by numbers,
not by honesty and law and then sitting free
discussion and action, attempt to grasp the gov
| crnment of the whole country, the proceeding is
sectional guilty and mOnstrouS. In twevcs states
of the union the approaching election is to be no
more than Il farce, unless as has sometimes hap
pened TO be. turned into tragedy. There is to be
no free debate, equal rights, no true expression
in these states and in several states the clear ma
jority is to have no deciding power, not even a
| chance in rattle such that i'll which lots were
east and the booty divided the other day between
| Tammany hall and the upper air and solar walk
reform democracy. Senator Hampton largely
promises 40 600 democratic ma Ority in South Ca
rolina, where the actual majority is 40 900 the
! other way. In several southern states there is Il
! large, well-known and often ascertained republi-
| can majority. but all southern states alike, with
out exception or doubt, are relied ON to count on
democratic side, and to score l3S electoral votes
lacking but a of a majority of ali. The causes
| of such condition and the consequences if it
| succeeds are matters which no sane intelligent
man can put out of view and yet he who discusses
them must be told, in the coarse parance of the
day that he waves the bloody shirt" 1t is re-
lief to remember that this phrase and the thing
it means is no invention of our politics. 1t dates
| back to Scotland, three centuries ago. After a
massacre at Glentruin, not savage as has
stained our annals, 220 widows rode ON white
| paIfreys to Sterling Towers, bearing each
spear her husbands bloody shirt. The appeal
| walked Scotland Slumbering sword, and outlawry
and the block made the name of Glenfruin terri
| bic to victorious Clan Alpine even to the third
and fourth generation. | am not going to recite
horrors nor to allude to them nor to the chapter
of cruelty they fill nor to retry the issues of the
| war. My purpose is quite different 1t is to show
| if can, what is actually at stake now; who and
| what the cOntending forces are; how much the re-
suit may mean, and which way prudence and Wis
dom point. .-..----.
| .s-- GENERAL GRANT.
| on have listened to a letter from one to whom
| at least as much as any other man. the nation
| owes its preservation, prosperity and supremacy
This letter, full of common sense hit the nail
the head. Its writer generally does hit nails
| rebellion and pretenderS-on the head. He says
| This meeting should awaken the people to the
| Importance of keeping control of the government
| in the hands of the Republican party until We
| can have two national parties, every member of
which can east his ballot as his judgment dictates
| without fear OF molestaton ostracism, and
have 1t honestly counted-parties not differing in
! opinion as to whether are nation, but as to
the policy to the greatest good to the great
est numbers of its citizens. Sincerely believing
that the Democratic party, as now constituted and
controlled is not fit party to trust with the
troll of the general government, believe it to the
best interests of all sections south well north
| that the Republican party should succeed in No
| vember. Yours very truly L. S. Grant"
Lord Chesterfield said that a letter shows the
man it is written to, well the man it is writ
| ten by. This letter bears Lord Chesterfield out.
1t is written to General Arthur and it reveals the
| confidence and esteem in which the writer holds
him, informed by many years of intimate ac-
quaintance. General Grant knew and felt, as we
know and feel, that he was writing not only to a
friend, but also to one of the most genuine. patr-
otie, and honorable of men,. This letter furnished
a text for many sermons. The Democratic party,
as now constituted and controlled-how it is con-
tituted, how controlled There is a vast number
lC "pright, patriotic men in it; a vast number of
who gave all and did all they should have
given and done to uphold their government and
their flag in the supreme and dire hours of trial;
a vast number who imperiled their lives as other
Democrats laid down their lives for their country.
Many northern Democrats who east all their
weight and sympathy on the nations side, after