Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-10-15
WHY lam A REPUBLICAN,
Speech ofooneral Grant at warren, obi,

Speech Of General Grant at Warren, Ohio.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Il hope we may
be able 10 have quiet and order here. Il Is
not important 80 far as anything that /
will have TO say 10 you is concerned, be-
cause ! shall not be able 10 make many Of
you hear; but afier me comes a speaker
whom know you will all be glad to hear,
and you can do so by keeping quiet and
orderly. Not being accustomed to speak
ing publicly ! have drawn of a few words
which ! will say in advance Of the gentle
man who is to follow me.
Taking roll Of manuscript from his
pocket, the General read "in view Of the
known character and ability Of the speaker
who is to address you to-day, and his long
public career and association with leading
statesmen OF this country for tine mast
twenty years, it would not be becoming in
me to detain you with many remarks of nv
own, but il may be proper for me to ac-
count to you on the first occasion Of nv
presiding at political meetings for the faith
thatis in me, am Republican, as the
two great political parties are now divided,
because the Republican party is the national
party, seeking the greatest good for the
greatest number Of its citizens There is
not precinct in this vast nation where a
Democrat cannot east his ballot and have
It counted as cast, no matter what the pre-
dominance OF the opposite party. He can
proclaim his political opinions, even if he
is one among thousands, without fear and
without prescription on account of his
opinions. There are fourteen States. and
localities in some others, where Republicans
have not this privilege. This is one reason
why am Republican. But lam a Repub-
lican for many reasons. The Republican
party assures protection to life, property.
public credit and the payment Of the debts
OF the Government, State, county or mu-
nicipal, so far as 1t can control. The Dem
ocrat party does not promise this. II it
does, it has broken its promise TO the extent
OF hundreds OF millions, as many Northern
Democrats can testify to their sorrow.
am Republican as between existing
parties, because it fosters the production OF
the held and farm, and of manufactures:
and 1t encourages the general education of
the poor as well as the rich. The Demo-
cratic party discourages all these when in
absolute power. The Republican party Is
the party OF progress and of liberality to.
ward its opponents. Il encourages the
poor to strive to better their condition. the
| ignorant to educate their children to en-
able them to compete successfully with
| their more fortunate associates. and. in
line, 1t secures an entire equality, before
the law, OF every citizen. No matter what
MS race, nationality or previous condition,
it tolerates no privileged class; everyone
has an opportunity to make himself all he
| is capable Of. Ladies and gentlemen. do
you believe this can be truthfully said in
the greater part of fourteen of the states
| Of this Union to-day, which the Democrats
CONTROL absolutely? The Republican par
Ity is party Of principles, the
same principles prevailing wherever it has
foOthold.
The Democratic party is united in but
one thing, and that is in getting control of
| the government in all its branches, 1t is
| for internal improvement so at the expense
| OF the government in one section, and
| against them in another. 1t fayors the re-
| pudiation Of solemn obligations in one sec
| tion, and the honest payment Of its debts
in another LWhere public opinion will not
tolerate any other viewl. 1t favors fat
money in one place and good money in an
other. Finally 1t favorS the pooling of all
issues not favored by the Republicans, to
the end that it may secure the one princi-
pie upon which the party is q most harmo-
ious unit, namely gaining CONTROL of the
government in all It's branches. l have
been in some parts Of every state lately in
rebellion within last year. / was most
Hospitality received at every place where l
stopped. My receptions were not by the
Union class alone, but by all classes with
out distinction. l had free talk with
many who were against US in the war, and
who have been against the Republican
party every since. They were in all in
stances reasonable men, judged by what
they said. l believed then, and believe
now, that they sincerely want break up
in this solid South, in Its political condi-
ton. They see that 1t is to their pecuni-
ary interests, as we'll as to their happiness,
that there should be harmony and conf
dence between all sections. They want to
break away from the slavery that binds
them to party name; they want pretext
that enough Of them can unite upon to
make it respectable. Once started, the SOL
id South will go as Ku-Kluxism did before
and is so admirably told by Judge Touriee
in his "Fool's Errand" When the break
comes those who start it will be astonished
to find how many Of their friends have
been in favor Of it for long time, and
have only been awaiting to see some one
take the lead. This desirable solution can
only be attained by the defeat, and con-
tinued defeat, of the Democratic party, as
now constituted.