The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-10-30
THAT MEETIN.
THE SPEECH OF SENATOR GROOME
Words that didn't Burn, and Generalities
that didn't Glitter.

TURKEYTowN, Oct. ~, 1880.
Senator Groome's appearance was greeted
by quite an outhurst of cheering. Having
heard that the Senator was charged with
"burning words" moved nearer to the
Senatorial muzzi", to witness the effect of the
explosion. But it was harmless. The hon
orable gentleman introduced his speech by
congratuating his audience on their privi-
lege Of passing in judgment on their rulers
every four years, while other nations We're
Obliged to endure the most oppressive gov
erumentS without remedy, unless they re
sorted To the doubtful and dangerous eXpe-
dient Of revolution. This was all very WELL
but any school hoy who has read the pri-
mary history of his country might have
said the same.
The Senator next said the Republican
party was on trial for its existence; but
here he left the trial and took after General
Grant and ran him round to the evident
delight of himself and the assembled De
mocracy. The President of the club should
have called him to order, by telling him that
Gen. Grant was not the Republican candi
date; but they hate Gen. Grant so, and were
so well pleased to have him Soundly abused,
that the Senator was allowed to have his
own way.
The truth is, the Hon. gentleman had got
out one of his speeches of eight years ago,
when Gen Grant was running, and nothing
could have pleased his Democratic audience
better. After Il while he discovered his mis-
take, and that he was speaking the WT0ng
picce then he slid off from Gen. Grant 10
Gen. Garfield, whom he abused to his heart $
content. The Democracy have such Il way
of abusing the candidates of the opposite
party, and then of praiSihg them when they
are dead, that this sort of thunder has lost
its force. We remember how they SIAN
dered Henry Clay when he was the leader
of the Wing party. Now they have canon
lied him and swear by his name. The abuse
they heaped on abraham Lincoln is we'll
remembered, than whom no purer or more
upright man ever lived: and so 1t will be
with General Garfield when he is out of the
way.
THE CRY OF "FRATD!"
The Senator reiterated the cry of fraud
against the Republican party in the last
Presidential election. requires some cheek
for Il Democrat to charge any party with
fraud and untairneSs i'll elections, when it Is
well known that it is by these very means
that they exist as an organization.
1t may be that my standard of Senatorial
eloquence was too high and for this reason
| was doomed to disappointment: at any
rate, the Senator's speech fell far short of
my expectations. He carefully avoided all
living issues of the day. He had not word
on the subject of the tariff, resumption of Spe-
Gle payments, OF the financial policy of the
Administration; but contented himself with
stringing up generaliticS that didn't glitter.
OF this speech, it may be truly said that its
true things We're not new, and its new things
were not true The only new things it con-
tanned were what the Senator said he be-
lieved about the intentions of General Grant
never to relinquish his hold of power. d" |
believe" said the Senator, that Grant in
tended to uSurp the Government and pro
claim himself Emperor and to leave his
throne TO his son Frederick the First" And
what do you suppose defeated Gen. Grant 5
purpose" None of your readers would ever
guess: so | must tell them, and am almost
ashamed to repeat such twaddle. 1t was
"thc discovery of the Beknap scandal ~
Surely the Hon. gentleman would not tell
such stuff any where else than ut Turkey
town.
/ | pass over much Of this sort of bosh tc
notice the closing eNhortation to support
the Democratic party for the reason that,
under that party, the country had tlourished
in former years, when it is well known that
! the country has made more progress under
the Republican rule than under all the Demo,
cratic Administrations from and including
that of Gen. jackson down TO Buchanan's
\ country of such boundless resources as
ours can carry Il heavy load and still make
some progress: but the heaviest load this
! country ever endured was the Democratic
/ party, which, like Il milestone hung around
its neck, ohStructed its progress and dwarfed
| its proportions. Any man familiar with
the history of the country knows the truth
/ of these assertions. From the Admins
tration of John 9. Adams down. the his
I tory of the successive Democratic Admin
| iStratiOns show but Il record of blunderS
errors, and mistakes, in spite of which the
country made some progress, but nothing
! like it would have made had it not beer
! hampered by the Instructions continually
/ in its way.