Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-10-08
General Grant Deilnes His Position PO-
litically.


At the great political gathering in
Warren, Ohio, on the 2Sth of Septem-
ber, addressed by Senator Conkling,
ex-Presdent Grant presided, and, on
calling the meeting to order, read
the following short speech defining his
political position:
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 the leading statesmen Of the country for
the past twenty years, It would not be becom-
ing In me TO detain you with many remarks of
my own; but II may be proper for me to ac-
count to you, on the first occasion of my pre-
siding at a political meeting, for the faith
that Is I'm me-"
am Republican, as the two great pollti-
cal parties are now divided, because the Re
publican party Is a National party seeking the
greatest good of the greutest numbers Of its
citizens. There is not n precinct in this vast
Nation where q Democrat can not cast his
ballot and have IL counted as cast, no mat
ter what the predominance OF the other
party. He can proclaim his political
opinions even II he is only one among
thousand, without fear and without
prescription on account of his opinion There
are fourteen States, and localities in some
others, where Republicans have not this priv
| ilege. This is one reason why am Repub-
| licHn. But am a Republican for many other
reasons. The Republican party assures pro-
lection to life, property, public credit, and the
! payment of debts of Government, State, COun-
| tv or fnuntcipality 80 far as il can control.
/ The Democratic party does not promise this.
| If il does it has broken its promises to the ex-
/ tent of hundreds of millions, as many North
| ern Democrats can testify to their sorrow.
| | am Republican as between existing par
/ ties, because IL fosters production of the field
and farm and of manufactures, and II en-
/ courages general education of the poor as well
/ as the rich. The Democratic party discOurages
all these when in actual power. The Republic
| an party is party of progress and of tber-
ality toward its opponents. II encourages the
/ poor to strive TO better their condition, the
| ignorant to educate their children to enable
/ them to compete successfully with their more
| fortunate associates, and in fine, IL secures an
entire equality, before the law, of every citi-
zen, no matter what his race, nationality or
| previous condition. 1t tOlerates no privileged
! class. Every one has the opportunity to make
himself all he is capable of. Ladies and gem
| tlemen, do you believe that this can be truth
| fully said in the greater part of fourteen OF
the states of the Union to-day, which the
| Democratic party control absolutely? The
| Republican party is party OF principles, tine
same principles prevailing wherever it has
| a fOOthold. The Democratic party is
united in but one thing and that t5
in getting control of the Government in all
! its branches 1t is for internal improvement
at the expense of the Government i'll one sec
ton, and against this in another. 1t favors
Reputation of solemn obligations in one Sec
tiOn, and honest payment of its debts in an
other where public opinion will not tolerate
any other view. 1t fayors fiat money in one
place and good money in another. Finally, 1t
favors the pooling of oil issues not favored
by the Republicans, to the end that 1t may
SECURE Ine one upOu MulCn lle
party is a most harmonious unit, namely.
gaining control of the Government in all
its branches. | have been in some part of
every state lately in rebellion within the
last year. was most Hospitality received at
every place stopped. My receptions were
not by the Union class alone but by all classes
without distinction. | had free talk with
many who we're against us in the war, and who
have been against the Republican party ever
since. They were i'll all instances reasonable
men, judged by what they said. believed
then and believe now that they sincerely want
a breakup in this - Solid South political con
ditiOn. They see that it is to their pecuniary
interest, as well as to their happiness, that
there should be harmony and confidence
between all sections. They want t
break away from the slavery which bind!
them to party name. They want pretexi
that enough of them can unite upon to make
it respectable. Once started, the Solid SOutt
win go as KukluXism did before as Is so ad
mirably told by Judge Tourgee, in his Fool
Errand." When the break comes, those whr
start il will be surprised to find how many o.
their friends have been in favor of IL for
long time. and have only been waiting to Sc,
some one take the lead. This desirable solu
tion can only be obtained by the defeat AM
continued defeat, of the Democratic party a
now constituted.