National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-08-31
SHERMAN ON THE STUMP.
An Exhaustive Speech on the Issues Of
The Day.
Tlie Records of tho Two Parties Contrasted
--Democrntic Had Faith In
Former Years.
An Enthusiastic Reception at the Opera
House.


House.
CINorNNATI. Aug. 30--Hon. John Sherman,
secretary of the treasury, delivered his first
speech in tho campaign at Pixies opera.houso
tonight. Maior A. r. Goshoru presided. The |
opera.houso was profusely and most tnstefully |
decorated with flags and flowers and was
crowded with people long before the speaking |
began. Tho secretary had an enthusiastic |
greeting when he was introduced
Secretary sherman proceeded to contrast |
the record Of the republican and democratic |
parties, and pointed out what had been dono |
BY the republicans In tho past four years. It
had brought about resumption and refunded |
the public debt paid large amount OF the
debt and reduced the interest charge nearly
$sO,000,000. 1t had faithfully collected the
revenue, reduced public expenses and restored
prosperity to business. In relation to the
cause of our prosperity he said il was certain
that we owe no part of our prosperity to the
democratic party. In support of this he
quoted legislation by that party, which could
only be considered Ns distractions to tho re-
turn of prosperity. Referring to tho cry Of
fraud" lie said:
The two great frauds attempted in that election
were, first the completion of the conspiracy the
rebel element of the south to deprive the republi-
cans of the south of their rights and privileges as
American citizens, and the second was the attempt
TO bribe electors for president to vote for Tiden
instead of Hayes. IL Is to divert public attention
from lhese admitted frauds that this cry OF fraud
Braised. Let US look for moment at these ad.
mitted frauds. Shortly after the war there were
organized IN nearly all the southern states secret
political bands, composed entirely OF democrats
and mostly of rebel soldiers whose object was to
ovcrawo the freedmen of the south, to deter
them from enjoying the civil and political rights
couferred by the constitutional amendments and
whose methods were terror, whipping. wOunding
and murder, committed by armed bands Of disci-
plinod and disguised men, at night upon poor
ignorant aud undisoiplined negroes There Is
nothing recorded I'm history more cruel and COW.
ardly thnn the organization, objects and work Of
these clans; you can read IL In great volumes of
testimony taken year after year by committees of
congress. There you will find the pathetic stories
OF the victims of these atrocities and tho number
of the dead VINO pershed by them. There You
will find tho confessions of the guilty. You can
read the story IN ''rhe FOOLS Errand, by of the
Fools" narrative written by union officer, and
who presents with the atrocities committed all the
paliialing circumstances as claimed by the clans
You may read It In the eloquent denunciations
oil Keverdy, Johnson aud Henry StGnbery, sent
south to defend members of the clans. No
man can honestly deny that this conspiracy, its
existence, its aims aud It's crimes, have been
proven and are true aud yet the strength and
power Of the democratic party In the south this
day rests upon the success Of this crime, culml-
nation Of crimes. 1t Is this that gives them the
solid south. These crimes entered into the title by
which Tilden claimed TO be elected president. II
was III $50 mat the Mississippi plan Of terror wa,
enforced IN that state with savage barbarity; and
in 1876 Mississippi with known republican ma.
jority of25OO, was helpcssly in the power of riha
clubs, who cast It's vote for Tilden. In Louisiana
and South Carolina the same plan was
attempted, but only in comparatively few
counties, and In these the same terrible
Were inflicted by disguised democrats, and solely
with view to prevent republican votes, Don't
tell me you don't believe these things for the man
who would not believe upon such testimony as
has been furnished would not believe his own
mother who testified to his birth; IT'S fortunate
that this conspiracy was defeated by the faithful
aud loyal performance OF public duty under the
law by the election officers OF Louisiana and South
Carolina, in spite Of efforts 10 brbe them But for
been Installed whose title rested upon murder and
bribery aud the blessing Of God never could have
rested upon such an administration
DO you want Inc to prove to you thesecond crime
connected with the election Of 1901 namely the
attempt made by the agents of Mr.. Tilden to brlbe
electors from the discharge of their duties? The
cipher telegfams which were deCiphcred and
published 10, the world, written and signed by
leading members of tho democratic party, speaI;
for themselves. They show the most reckless and
shameful attemps at bribery Of the officers of
the government charged with important duties
in connection with the returns of electors. Great
brlbes were offered 10 electors 10 violate the hon
orable duty intrusted to them, and returning OIL
GERS were tempted with promises Of money aud
Office If they would make false returns 1t is to
the honor Of our country that this movement ut
terly failed. Not single officer accepted II bribe
aud, to use the Language OF Mr.. Tiden, the whole
resulted in futile dalliance.' So much for the
great cry OF fraud.
But, fellow -ctzens, this cry Is now the shccrest
hypocrisy. If the democratic party believed in it,,
why was not Mr. Tiden renominalcd? Then the
people could have tried the alleged fraud But
the fraud prGctced by the democratic party IN the
south is a continuing fraud-two years ago, last
year and this vear-coninued openly with grim
south, and by the oequiescence of the democracy
the north. II Is only by this fraud That that
party hopes for success. II now there Is change
In the executive branch of the government 1t WIN
be caused by the grave and startling fact that the
rebels of the south have, bv bloody means, sue
Ccedcd In OVerthrOwlng The constitutional rights OF
b0l000 of freedmen, and the democratic party OF
The north eager for power and place co operate
with the rebels of the south in this crime, by shar-
ng In the power aud places secured 10y II.
Aftor reviewing the question of state rights
versus national rights, aud quoting tho declar.
RtiOns of Senator Thurman, Wade Hampton
lnd Others Secretary Sherman continued:
And now, fellow-ctl2ons, suppose a change Is
made; suppose the restraint OF II republican pges
dent is Withdrawn, what viii the democratic party
do under the doctrine for which Judge Thurman
and General Hampton plead? on the day Of tho
Inauguration horde OF greedy uliiCe-seelcTs hun
cry in search Of Office, Will come down upon the
heads Of departments with their claims for rewarl
for party services, and inexperienced men will bC
thrust In 10 discharge the most dlricult functions
OF Official iie Trained and experienced officers
whose capacity and ldelity are recognized every
where, win be turned out and the great Operations
of the government be placed at once In ineXperi
euced hands.
now haunting Washington, already keen for plum
der, and yersed IN all the tricks Of the trade WI
seek TO open the doors of the treasury to tho brood
ofsouthern claims which, despite our overhowlnl
revenues, win bankrupt the treasury In year
Thu far, during this administration, the gate hai
been put down AMI barred against nll these claims
The statute of limitations and the decisions OF tn,
department have cut them off; but, under a domo
cratic administration of the treasury department
how easy II would be to break down this barrier.
know from my personal knowledge number O
clNim-ageuts influential men, who Will vote fO
Hancock ON the ground that his election viii en-
able them to recover claims now barred. All tina
is needed to cause the refluding of the cotton tax
amounting to SOS O00O 900, is an appropriations Mos
Of the members Of the south through their con
uituents, are interested IN these claims.
A slight extension Of the period Of limitation, a
10 claims for captured and abandoned cotton vii
open UP tons OF millions Of this class of claims Al
Enlargement hy half dozen words of the law fo
The payment OF qu0Itermaster's stores win bIu
upon the treasury demands for more than 100000
go for food consumed by our army In the war o
The rebellion, taken from dlslOya people, and TO
damage done 10 them as u natural result or con
sequence Of the war Experience has shown tina
to swell these claims, ten-lold or even u hundred
fold testimony can be manufactured with tn
Character, Should this be acted upon by an ollce
friendly to the object no man can estimate the de
mands that IN this way, under cover Of right, ma
be lcised upon the people OF the United States AM
why should not this be dOnG2 Ii the principles o
tho democratic party are TO be again adopted bl
the votes Of the people, aud the very men VIII,
fought for them are to be placed In power, vii,
should they not be Unidentified for their losses
Wly should they not be paid for their slaves
Wby should not the brave rebels who fought 70
their principles be placed on the pension roll
Even a change IN decisions by the secretaries &
war aud treasury would bring upon The govern
ment tens of millions Of dollars Of southern claim
But ag0iu, II the principles OF the demoGral
t,Yt.l NNl IN finn %