Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-10-01
General Grants Speech.


At great meeting at Warren. Ohio, on
Tuesday. General Grant presided and made
the following speech:
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 this country for
the past twenty years, it would not be be-
coming in me toadetain you with many re-
marks Of my own. But II may be proper for
me to account TO you on the first occasion OF
my presiding at political meetings for the
faith that i. in me.
arm republican, a. the two great politi-
cal partie. are now divided, because the
republican party is National party seeking
the greatest good for the greatest number of
citizens. There il not precedent in this
vast Nation where democrat cannot cast his
ballot and have il counted az cast. No mat
ter what the prominence of the opposite
party, he can proclaim his political opinions.
even if he is OILY one among a thousand,
without fear and without prescription on
account Of Of his opinions. There are four
teen States, and localities in some other
States where Representatives have not this
privilege.
This is one reason why / am republican.
But | am a republican for many other reasons
The republican party assures protection to
life and property, the public credit and the
payment Of the debts of the Government,
State, county and municipality so far as it
can control. The democratic party does not
promise this: if il does it has broken its
promises 10 the extent Of hundreds Of mil
lions as many northern democrats can testify
TO their sorrow. am republican, be-
tween the existing parties, because it fosters
the production of the field and farm and of
manufactures, and it encourages the general
education of the poor as well as the rich.
The democratic party discourages all these
when in absolute power. The republican
party is a party Of progress and of liberality
toward its opponents. 1t encourages the poor
to strive to better their children, to enable
them to compete successfully with their more
fortunate associates, and, in fine, 1t secures
an entire equality before the law of every
citizen, no matter what his race, nationality
or previous condition. Ii tolerates no priv
LEGGED class. Every one has the 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 democratic party control abso-
lutely! The republican party 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. II is for internal Improvement at
the expense of the government in one section
and against this in another. 1t tavors repu-
diation of solemn obligations in one section
and honest payment OF its debts in another,
where public opinion will not tolerate any
other view. 1t fayors fiat money in enc
place and good money in another. Finally,
it favors the pooling of all issues not favored
by the republicans, to the end that it may Sc
cure the one principle upon which the party
is a most harmonious unit. namely, getting
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
where stopped. My receptions were not by
the Union class alone, but by all classes,
without distinction. had free talk with
many who were against me in the war and
who have been against the republican party
ever since. They were in all instances
reasonable men, judged by what they said.
believed then and believe now that they
sincerely want breakup in this ''Solid
South political condition. They see that it
is to their pecunary interest as well rs to
their happiness that there should be harmony
and confidence between all sections. They
want to break away from the slavery which
binds them to party name. They want n
pretext that enough of them can unite upon
to make it respectable. Once started, the
Solid South will go as ku-Kluxism did be-
fore, and is so admirably told by Judge Tour
gee in his Fools 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 waiting to see some one take the lead.
This desirable solution can only be attained
by the defeat and continued defeat of the
democratic party as now constituted.