Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-04-07
SECRETARY SHERMAN AT HOME.
An Enthusiastic Reception-.-His Position Re-
specting the Presidential Nomination.
A Review of the Political Situation.
What the Republican Party Has
Done for the NatiOn--The
Questions at Issue.

Secretary Sherman arrived at his old
home in Mansfield, Ohio, on the 31st
ult., and was met at the depot by great
crowd of people, and welcomed with
music and other marks of enthusiasm
and respect. In the evening vast audi
ence assembled in the public hall, and
the secretary addressed them as follows:
FELLOW CITIZENS AND FELLOW TowNsMEN:
L have noticed, in coming here, that some of
the papers are discussing why [ came to Mans
field. When year ago [ visited you I inno-
Gently said came to repair my fences. This
was the simple truth; but thanks to my very
good friend before me, Mr.. Knight, my fences
are now in very good repair. Considering that
have had my home among you man and boy,
for forty years, I have lived in peace and con-
tentment with you, [ can hardly give any better
reason for coming here than that wanted to.
L cannot trust myself to speak in the language
my heart dictates my thanks for the kind man
ner in which you always receiveme on my return
home. If | say anything to you, now in re-
spouse to the declaration of Mr.. Hedges, I must
refer to personal politics, and that is always
be read by many who do not sympathize with
you in your generous partiahty. But it
is due to them, as well as to you that what say
shall be frank, manly and truthful.
By the course of recent events, and not by
myself seeking, my name is mentioned among
those from whom the Republican party will Sc
lect one to carry it's banner in the approaching
presidential contest. 1t is not egotism to state
this fact, and it is not manly to shrink from
the criticism and scrutiny winch such course
necessarily invites and provokes. I accepted
the position without pretense of mock modesty
because I did not think it right to allow my
friends to put themselves to trouble on my ac-
count without frank avowal that l was will
ing to accept, and without delaying until certain
of success [applausel, but with firm determi-
nation not to detract from the merits of the
services of others, nor to seek this lofty eleva-
ton by dishonorable means or lying evasions O.
pretences. [Applause.l In this way, and in
this way only, am l a candidate, but with great
doubt whether, if nominated, / would meet the
expectations of my friends, and resolved that
in case of failure I will abide cheerfully and
kindly by the choice of the convention. Jap
plause.l There is one condition, scarcely neces-
sary to state upon which my candidacy
depends; and that is, if the Republicans of
Ohio do not fairly and fully in their con-
vention express preference for me, and sup
port it with substantial unanimity in the nation
al convention, my name will not be presented to
that convention with my consent. [Applause.]
This fellow citizens, is about all, and is perhaps
more than l ought to say about personal mat
ters; for in the great contest in which we are
about 10 engage, the hopes and ambitions, and
compared with the issue involved. When Amer
lean politics are SO tranquil that mere choice of
men and not great principles is the bone of con-
tentlon between parties, then it is matter of
comparative Indifference who is nominated. But
the contest this fall between the Republican and
Democratic parties will present for decision
questions of the gravest Importance, and the
candidates chosen for the Republican party
must be those who will not only fairly represent
our side of these great issues, but who will
| probably be most certain of election.
| The Republican party is the party of princi-
! pie, and the Democratic party is the party of
opposition. The Republican party wins, only
upon its bold leadership on questions of public
| policy. 1t proposes now to maintain the policy
Of resumption and refunding which has been SO
successfully executed thus far, but must be
supported hereafter by the friendly action of
| the government. 1t proposes to maintain and
enforce the constitutional amendments with all
the powers of the national government, to the
end that every man, poor or rich, white or
| black, may be secure i'll the full enjoyment of
civil and political rights. Applause 1t ple-
! poses to fasten and extend the system of free
public schools, both by the state and national
! governments, to the end that every child of the
proper age may receive instruction in the princi-
| pal branches of education, and thus give to the
poor well the rich, fair chance in life; SO
| that the opportunities to win an honorable posi-
! ton III life may not be confined to any favored
or fortunate class. Enthusiastic applause.l 1
believe the Republican party is the only party in
this country that has the courage and ability to
carry out these great objects of national desire,
and that the controlling element of the Demo
| cratic party cannot and ought not to be trusted
| to secure either of these primary conditions of
| good government. Though there are many
men Ill that party whose friendship highly
| prize, yet [ never concealed from them or from
| you my profound distru It of the principles and
| the tendencies and the aims of that party; and
| now moro than ever T wOuJd regard its SI1ocass
in gaining control Of the executive and judicial
| branches of the government as an unmixed
| calamity.
| I do not intend to make you long political
| speech on these numerous topics, which will en-
ter into the canvass, but there are some matters
connected with the present state of affairs
| which think l should bring briefly to your at
| tention. What marked change has taken place
| in the condition of our country since I spoke
! to you in the summer of 1867. At the begin
| ming of the present administration the Republi-
can party had lost control of the great central
states. Democratic senator's ana legislators
| had been elected in Connecticut, New York,
| New jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and
even Illinois sent the "Independent party " to
the United States senate. and the national house
| OF representatives was strongly Democratic.
| When President Hayes was sworn into Office the
! local governments of Louisiana and South Caro-
lima were in the possession of legislature elect
| ed by the most shocking crime and violence:
From the LIST of January, 1877, to the 4th of
March, 1877, the whole power of the state gov
ernments was absolutely under the control of
Hampton and Nicnols. The president was
powerless to correct this great wrong, and al
though his course in this matter has been the
subject of more criticism than any act
of his administration, yet I believe it
is now the considerate judgment of
| the majority of all parties that what he did do
was wise, prudent and for the best interests Of
ali classes, both white and black. He d1d not
attempt the impossible, but he did do all that
could be done according to law to secure peace
| and order where >uccessful revolution had
overthrown the popular will. Three years ago,
our financial condition was as desperate and dan
gerous as it has ever been from the foundation
of the government. Great bodies of discon-
tented men, deprived of making livelihood by
honest labor by the hardness of the times, were
tramping through the country, stopping rail-
roads and adding to the general calamity by
riots and violence. Our paper money was be-
low par, and universal distrust pervaded all
classes of men. Workshops and manufactures
were idle. Capitalists boarded their money.
Prices were lew. Production had been re-
duced to its minimum for want of q market
And a1th01ph orr r1uhlic credit hos beon we'll