Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-09-20
THE OHIO CANVASS.
George III. PendIetOn on the
"Grand Old Party

George II. PendIeton on the
"Grand Old Party"
Hon. George H. Pendleton, in a
speech at Canton, Ohio, made among
others the following charges against
the Republican party:
Gentlemen, our Republican breth-
rem have a fashion of crediting to
themselves and their party, and to
their policy and to their action, all
that has ever rcsultedin benefit to the
people Of our country-for all that
God in His infinite mercy has granted
to us; for all that the everlasting COW
enant, attested by the bow in the
heavens that there shall be forever
and ever recurring seed time and har-
vest, has brought 10 us; for ali that
the Democratic party in lis long and
glorious career, whether in opposition
or in the majority, has done for our
people; all these the Republican party
modestly claims for itself. Laughter.
Hear them even at this late period:
I'VE saved the Unionl"
Yes. gentlemen, .and Of million
Democrats furnished the commanders
of your armies and troops in the field.
[Yells and applause.
I'VE reconstructed the Southern
Statesl"
Yes, gentlemen, you robbed, and
stole, and wrecked the finances of
these States until Democrats, both
from the North and the South, res.
cued them from your grasp.
We maintained the public credit
and faith Of the United Statesr'
Yes, gentlemen, you passed a law
which had that high standing title,
and the passage Of the law was made
the occasion for Republican members
Of Congress- Specializing to the amount
Of S50,OOO,OOO in the bonds of the
United States.
I'VE restored specie paymentsl'1
"Yes, gentlemen, you invented black
Friday that involved much that was
pure among women and honorable
among men in the wreck Of that day.
By your legislation you carried the
country through the agonies of ~, '73
aud "a; and then you modestly claim
that you had done to the people OF the
United States the great benefit OF
securing immense crops at home and
small crops abroad. [Great laughter
and applause
1--WE gave TO the country a pure and
honest aud honorable government.
Yes; you invented the Credit Mo-
bilier to catch Congressman to give
lands in large quantities to the corpo-
rate railroads Of the United States
You brought upon the Southern States
a herd Of marauders to pillage them,
and you impeached Andy johnson be-
cause he would not enter into this
nefarious scheme. You speculated in
gold until the pail Of the darkness Of
black Friday" e~nshrouded all the
people OF the land. You protected
and encouraged and failed TO punish
the whisky rings until the possession
eff immense fortunes was thought
to be sufficient compensation
for the loss OF reputation and for the
near proximity oil the yawping gates Of
the penitentiary. (Applause. You
pillage the treasury of the United
States by your Star Route frauds, and
none Of them yet have been convicted
And finally, as a elimination, you
stole the Presidency Of the United
States, and rewarded every man with
high Office who was implicated in that
theft IA volley Of yells. You de
graded the ballot box. You surround
ed the polls with soldiers. You cor
rupted the jury box. You converted
the civil service Of the United States
into a herd.of political emissaries to
sarry the States and.to persuade the
people on behalf of the Republican
party. lApplause. And you levied
forced assessments upon these same
people in order that you might soap
States as you 'soaped" Indiana and
boosted for it for the purpose of man
ipulstiDg the returns.
And yet, gentlemen, in the face Of a
history like this, Republican orators
in Ohio TO day point with pride
to the history Of that grand old
party, You have furnished to US
the most ~extravagant and expensive
administrations which the government
has ever had. last year, according to
the statement Of the committee on
appropriations in the Senate, and Of
finances in the Senate, and OF Mr.
Sherman the appropriations reached
$477 ,0O0, 0O0-more than the whole
government Of the United States had
cost until the time Of James Buoh.
anan-$400, 900, 900 more than IL had
cost in any me year Of the history oil
the government up TO that time. And
this year, while there has been some
reduction in the amount Of the appro.
priations for the river and harbor i'm
p~rovements, you will find yourself well !
off il at the end Of the time your ex-
penses don't come far behind $400,t
0O0, 1000. .fFl az I
Now, gentlemen, it's no great pleas,
ure to me TO be able to lay these
blotches and slurs upon the history Of
party which has played SO conspicuous
a part in the administration Of our gov.
eminent for the last thirty years. But
when these gentlemen exult them
overmuch, and draw compari. |.
sons with the Democratic party,
which has been out Of power during
most Of that period, | say it is well
enough to remind them OF those facts
in their own history, and to remind
them also of that saying that many
years ago was the result of wisdom,
that pride cometh before destruction,
and naughty spirit before a fall"