National Republican., 1880-04-01
SHERMAN FOR SHERMAN.
A Speech at Mansfield, Ohio, Last
Evening.
He Publicly Proclaims His Canddacy-C Con-
dition Upon which 1t Dopends-Import-
nnce of Having n Good Candidate
The Issues mt Stahe-Somo
Remarks About the FL
nnnces, ETC., Etc.
Secretary sherman's speech Mt Mansfield.


by the force of rccert events and not by
my self-seeking my name Is mentioned among
those from whom the Republican party will
SOLICIT one TO carry it's banner in tho approach.
ing Presidential contest. 1t Is not ogotism to
state this fnct, aud IL is not manly to shrink
from the criticism and scrutiny which such -
choice necessarily invites aud provokes | aC.
ccptcd the position without prctense of mock
modesty, because did not think 1t right TO
allow friends to put themselves to trouble on
my account without u frank avowal that WAS
willing to accept ind without delaying until
certain of success [applausel; but with firm
determination not to detract from the merits
or services OF others, nor TO soSk this lofty
elevation by dishonorable means or lying
evaSions or preteuses. Applause In this
way and in this way only am candidate,
but with great doubt whether If nominated,
l would meet the expectations of friends, aud
resolved that i'll case of failure / will abide
choerfuly and kiAdly by the choice of the
convention. [Applau5c.1 There is one con-
dition, scarcely necessary to state, upon which
my cnndidacy depends, and that is, if the Re.
pubIcans Of Ohio do not fairly and fully in
their convention express u preference for mo
and support mo with substantial unanimity
in the National Convention my name will no.
DO presented to that convention with my con.
sont. This, fGllow-citizcns, Is about all and
perhaps more than ought so say about present
matters, for in the great contest in which wo
are about to engage, the hopes, ambitions and
oven the lives of men are of but little account
compared with the issues involved, aud when
American politics are so tranquil thst n mora
choice OF mon i;;.;;!. ret ..sas principles is the
bone of contention between parties, then it
is matter of comparative indifference who
is nominated, but the contest this fall be-
tween the Republican and Democratic narties
will present for decision questions of the
grRyest Importance, and the candidates chosen
for tho Republican party must be those who
Will not only fairly represent our side of these
great Issues, hut who will probably bo most
certain of election. Tho Republican party is
tho party of principle, and the Democratic
party is tho party of opposition. The Repub.
lican party wins only upon its bold leadership
on questions OF public policy. 1t proposes
now to maintain the policy of resum ptlon and
refunding which has boon SO successfully exc
cuted thus far, but must be supported here.
aftor by the friendly action of the Govern.
nent. 1t proposes 10 maintain aud enforce
tho constitutional amendments with all the
power Of the National Government. to the end
that every man, poor or rich. white
or black, may DO secured full enjoyment
Of civil aud political rights. [Anpiauss
1t proposes TO foster and extend the system ol
| free common public schools, both by the State
and National Governments, TO tho end that
every child of the proper age may receive in
struction In tho primary branches of oduca
tion, and thus give poor as we'll rs rich n fail
chance in life, 60 that opportunity TO win an
| honorable position in life may not be confined
to any favored or fortunate class TEnthu
siastc applause. / believe the Republican
| party Is the only party in this country that
has the courage ana ability to carry out the
great objects Of national desire, and that tho
controlling elements OF tho Democratic party
cannot and ought not be trusted to secure
either Of these primary conditions of good gov.
ernment. Though there arc many men In
that party whose friendship highly prize,
have profound distrust of the principles, ten
doncies and aims OF that party, and now NOR,
than ever would regard its success in gaining
control Of the executive and judicial branche!
of the Government as an unmixed calamity ,
After alludng to the marked change in tho
condition Of the country since 1877, when the
| Democrats began 10 come into power, he'said
"rhroe years ago our financial condition wa
rs desperate and dangerous as 1t has beer
from the foundation of tho government
Great bodies of discontented men, deprived o
making livelihood by honost labor by tb,
| hardness OF the times, wero trampirg through
the country, stopping railroads and adding I,
the general calamity by riots and violence
| Our paper money was below par, and uni
yersal distrust pervnded all classes Of men, ant
| ONI pNullC Gltult uuo DSOu wen Il'llU
| tanned by the strict observance of public obi
| cations, yet our bonds, bearing four and
a.half per cont. interest, were sold ut pai
slowly and with difficulty. | call yuui
attention now to the views expressed in my
speech here on the 18th OF August, 1871, upon
the policy of tho Administration in respect u
resumption aud refunding. Mr.. Sherman her,
read extracts from Il printed copy Of th,
speech referred toll Every promise and
prophecy therein mndo has been literally ful
| filled and tho conditions then existing are now
| happily chaugod from surplus lpvonues, with
ont any increase Of taxation, our debt Is now he
| ing rapidly reduced, and this very month TIA;
reduction is greater than in any former month
since the creation Of the debt, being 81 100000
| [Groat appause,l Hundreds Of millions o
| our bonds have been sold, bearing four POI
cent interest, Gt or above par, and our creai
| is so advanced that they cau now be sold il
| future operations at a very large premium
aud bonds at still lower rates 6, interest may
| be, perhaps, successfully negotiated, and ou
political condition vastly improved"
Confirming, the Secretary said 1T Is th,
! nciicy of the Republican party, firmly main
| tanned and enforced in the midst Of doubt, dis
aster aud partial defeat, that is the chief hu
man cause of the great change In our affairs
and now the question for the people Of tn,
| United States TO determine is whether they
will allow this policy TO be changed and tn,
Democratic party 10 be placed in control o
the Executive aud judicial branches OF Iht
| Government for tho judicial branch will fol
| low the flte Of the Executive branch The Su
premo Court ofthcUuited States, which has beer
tho bulwarS OF equal rights aud fair elections
will in the natural course Of events be changed
| In q single Presidential term so MS TO place the
ideas of the Democratic party in control o.
tho supreme Judicial tribunal Of the land
| This Is to be the first great Issue Of the cam
paign, and the second is like unto II. How
can the equal rights of all American citizen,
be supported and maintained 1t Is manifest
that this will not DO done by the Democratic
party. The rebel element now controls that
| party In every Southern State, whero alone
ii is secure In It's political power The
triumph Of this element is The dis
grace of American civilization. II will
rc I'd strangely in American history that th,
very men who wagcd an unsuccessful WA
against the Union, who were the cause of tht
| loss of five huadrcl thousand men aud hy,
! thousand millions Of treasure, are nov BS
nearly in possession Of all tho powers Of The
| Goyomment, and only want success in thC
election next fall TO enable them TO rule tn,
| Government they sought 10 destroy ant
| disregard and reverse all the guarau
| tees won by tho Union armies Will
such costs. If they carry this election
| tho rebellion Of 1851 Is success. Ii they
! fail now tho dominant classes will see thai
they must submit TO the equal rights of all
classes, OF if they do not the courts and laWi