Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1880-09-15
A CONVERTED RADICAL.
THE CRADLE EoFLIBERTY ECHOES
AGAIN WITH PATRIOTISM.
PASEUIL HALL CROWDED WITH INTER
EsTED PEoPLE-BUTLERs BATTLE
FOR HANCOCK.

! i mere was an lUlllcnHc DCnOcIullS
meeting in Boston on Saturday night
General B. F. Butler was the orator
on the occasion and his stirring speecl
for the Democratic ticket will 60 upon
the record as one Of the most brilliant
efforts of his life.
General Butler was enthusiastically
received When the cheering had
subsided, he began to tell why he had
decided to support Hancock for the
Presidency. In so doing he promised
at the outset neither to detract from
or add one jot or little to that declara
ton of principles which bad been biz
guide in political hfe--equal rights
equal powers, equal burdens, equaI
privileges and equal protection to al
men by law under the Government
He said that he had examined with
care the platform of principles enunci
ated by the Democratic party at Gin,
cinnati and found nothing therein tC
coutravene them. Indeed, they wore
more distinctly set forth therein thar
in the platform Of the Chicago Conven
tion. Neither Of them went so far as
he could desire in specific declaration
of the right Of every man to vote in
the election of his rulers, and to be
represented in his Government simply
because he is man but in this re
gard even the platform of the Cincin
natl Convention was the more specific
General Butler continued;
| unhesitatingly declare that at The
close of the war and during the perioC
of reconstruction | was one of thost
who believed stringent measures nee
essary for the protection of the newl,
enfranchised colored citizens in tn
South. | was of this opinion in 1876
four years ago, and fought the Presi
Dental campaign of that year upol
that issue only. | was IN earnest
desired laws to be passed that shoul,
protect every man everywhere in hi
rights as voter and citizen. But tn
first act, as we have seen, of Mr. Hayes
acquiesced in by his party, was t
abandon all possible claim Of right Q
interference in the South in behalf Q
the negro-to remove q few troop
that were there, if any were necessary
and take pains to turn over the Cox
ernments OF Louisiana and South Car
olina to the Democratic party, dc
stroying the Governments elected b
Republican votes there, which, if the
were not duly and legally elected
then Mr.. Hayes himself was not dul,
and legally elected. The assertion Q
one fact must be the assertion Of tn
other. The assertion of title to hi
office must be the assertion of title L
the Republican State Government {
Louisiana. The denial of the electio
OF Governor Packard to office was tn
denial OF the election to Office of Go,
Hayes. Indeed, Packard had som
bali q score thousands more of a mi
iority than Hayes did.
Nothing has been done, nay, nothin
has been attempted TO be done to aifor
protection to the negro in the Soutl
or indeed anybody else there. Indeed
these States in the South were put
condition so that nothing could be don
by the Federal Government. Ma,
all, both white and black Republican
have had no recognition at the hand
Of tho administration except the fo'
men who were engaged in the falls
and fraudulent counting of electors
votes in the several States. In fac
Mr. Hayes, after his experience wit
them, would not admit there wel
enough Republicans honest enough I
take the census, and his party now al
finding fault with enumerations mad
by his appointees. These facts are to
notorious for comment even, much lei
denial.
We have not heard of any opprc
sion of the negro or interference wit
his rights by any organized body (
: men, except at times Of election
Whyi Because We were asking hi
to then vote and sustain the Republ
can party. But while we were askin
him TO do that we were not defendin
= him in so doing. That raised antag,
nism between him and the white pc
, pie of the South, and that antagonist
/, was accompanied with all the bad r,
suits that arise from such antagonist
between ignorant men who are unr
/, strained by law. But now, in my ow
Judgment, the condition of things hO
changed. Late political events in vi
: ginia show that when the power d
parted from the Republican part
there the two parties in the State d
vided upon other questions and Il
negro enjoys there today as muc
freedom in voting and as much FIRE
dom in other respects as any whit
man enjoys--iar more, 1 am sorry
be obliged TO allow, than does the /
!. boring man of Massachusetts und,
= some of the mill owners of Worcest,
: county, which is the home OF the ju
ior member of the United States Sc
ate, who met him in conclave for thi
purpose.
Believing, as | do, that with Ii
election Of General Hancock, race &C
lisions will be at an end knowing |
| do, that he has the executive powc
determination and steadfastness
right that never has ialtered, | thir
| can trust him TO see that the promi
. of his letter Of acceptance that Il
y thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteen
\ amendments shall be carried out
Is their letter and spirit.
y Under Republican rule our CONNER
" L. Aao.. a. Al l.. L