San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1880-09-18
The Plea Of IN Independent
Voter.
SPEECH OF
HON. GEORGE w. JULIAN,
AT INDIANAPOLIS, AUG. oath.
Calling The Republican Parry and It's
Candidate to Judgment.
IooxSIHusp.l
MORE OF 0RANTIsM.

by its championship Of the rights oi
man, had now only entered upon the
threshold of their career. Nothing
daunted by their record. and holding
fast their theory that the existence oi
the party was absolutely necessary ID
save the country from Rebel asoen.
dancy, these body.guards of the Pres
ident entrenohed themselves behind
its early achievements and previous
good character, while plotting his
nomination and election for second
term. He was renominated as their
standard bearer by the National Con.
vention Of 1872, which incorporated
into its platform the following resolu'
tion:
"Any system Of the civil service un-
der which the subordinate positions Of
the Government are considered rewards
for mere party zeal, is fatally demor-
alizing, and we therefore favor a re-
form Of the system by laws which
shall abolish the evils of patronage,
and make honesty. efficiency and e.
deity the essential qualifications for
public positions" :.
On this platform General Grant
was nominated unanimously. Not
withstandiug the revolving record he
had made, he was chosen by 266 cleo
toral votes, and popular majority
Of nearly three. quarters of q million,
carrying thirty. ono of the thirty. seven
States. while Horace Greeley, for re-.
fusing to follow his party and earnest
" seeking the reform of great abuses
which had found shelter under the
strife of sections, was branded as o
traitor, and hunted to his grave by
political assassins. But what was the
record of the party during Grants
second term? ln comparison with it
his first administration was next to
immaculate. I hope you have not for.
gotten the Republican 'Rogues Gallery
which I painted four years ago. You
will remember that the civil service
rules, which had been framed during
his first term, now became more
glaring political mockery than ever be-
fore. You have not forgotten his dis
pusting prostitution of the civil service
In connection with his brother.in- law.
Casey; the prompt appointment Of
Shepard as one of the Commissioners
of the District of Columbia, after its
government had been abolished 10
order to get rid of him; his sympathy
with the safe. burglary criminals, and
official aid to his brother Orville in
making merchandise of post trader
ships; the disgrace of the Department
of Justice by Attorney General Viii
liams, which was followed by his ap-
pointment as Chief Justice Of the Su-
preme Court Of the United States;
the crime of Secretory Belknap, and
the unsavory performances Of Secreta-
~ Delsno; the Presidents hostility to
Secretary Bristow and his subordi.
mates for their efforts to hunt down
wbisky~thieves, and his undisguised
sympathy for General Babcock and
other criminals; his personal lobby
ing in both Houses Of Congress tor
the passage Of the salary theft his
defense Of the moiety system, by which
the revenues of the country were
farmed out to his favorltes bis friend
ship for the horde of thieves and de-
magogoues who had fastened them.
selves like leeohes upon the people OF
the South, and were backed by the
whole power of the Administration
and the entire system of carpet bag
spoliation and bayonet rule under
which that section was given over to
Iawlessness and crime. I need not
pursue these recitals, and would glad
" draw q veil over the sickening pic.
ture, if the lessons of political wrong
doing could safely be slighted. In
fact, the spectacle Of our public affairs
became 81 revolving under this dynas.
ty of huckstering politics and personal
government; of groveling purposes
and rayenous greed, Of bribery and
uepotism and shamelessness, that be-
fore the middle of Grants second term
all the great Republican States Of the
North were lost to the party, while
leading Republicans began to agitate
the question of remanding the States OF
the South to Territorial rule on &C
count of their disordered condition.
in 1868 the Senate contained Re-
publican majority of ffty-four mem
bers, and the House Of Representatives
IO4; but at the end Of General
second term the majority: in
the Senate had dwindled from fifty.
four to seventeen. while in the House
the msjority of 10i had been wiped
out to give place to Democratic major
ity Of seventy seven, These were the
inevitable fruits or Grantisn, for its
career had been inaugurated in its
overwhelming ascendency. and with
the amplest possible opportunities to
demonstrate its capacity to govern the
country. While they completely vim
dicated the greatly msligned Liberal
Republicans Of 1872, they SUNNI m1ncd
To the bar Of history the party whose
fatal bluuder then brought disgrace
upon the Nation aud stain upon Re
publican institatioss thSozFhoaf the
world.
HAYES As A REFoRHER.