The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-10-02
DAN. W. VOORHEES,.
A Speech by the Tall Sycamore Of
the Wabash.
The Democratic Senator from Indiana
Presents a Mastery Review Of the DEM
ocratic Issues of the Current POlis-
ical Campaign.

aIOr OOTHeeS spe6CH I6CSHtlN OClIfCICO
at Worthington, Ind. He said:
THE dominant issue in the present canvass
is made up by 4 demand for Change, Tor Inc
purposes of reform and purlhcatlon, on Inc
lone hand, and by strenuous determination
to remain in the enjoyment OF the emolil-
ments of power on the other. The people
who seek no offices, and expect TO hold none,
are interested only in the work of reform and
in good government. To them Il matters not
what party IS N power, nor mat lhdlNlduals
are in place. so long as the popular viii IS eX-
ecuted in upright laws and in their honest en-
forcemcnt. The great body OF the people are
only partisan for the pub ic good they I'M
derstand il, and whenever they distrust their
agents, their public servants in the affairs Of
government, although OF their own party,
name and creed II viii be seen t1at party ties
are speedily disregarded, and parry leaders
repudated and overthrow.
There is abundant evidence of this fact all
around us at this time. 4 large number of by
lar the ablest Republican newspapers in the
United States. those great Journals which
have heretofore led their party to victory, are
now supporting the Democratic candidate for
President, because they have lost faith in the
present leaders and methods OF their own
Organization. Many o! the best known names
OF tie Republican party are pursuing the
same course and from me same motives As
sCc.ations OF gentlemen hitherto dcYOtcdly
attached 10 that party have also been organ
lied as clubs in almost, If not every, Stale in
the Union, t. aid in the elevation OF one EOt
of their political faith to the Presidency. so
great and widespread is this movement IN tine
Republican arty in favor of independent
voting at the coming election that my co..
league in tie senate, General Harrison. felt
the neccss ~ of dwelling extensively upon il
in his speech Al Indianapolis, on the I'D OF
August. Nearly one-third of his elaborate
and careful y-prepared speech on that Occi-
sion was taken up with crIIical assignment
Of the reasons why Republicans sICud not
leave their party under the lead Of George
v illiam Curtis Card ScnErZ and other proni-
ncnt men. lie also INDUCED in an earnest
and anxious appeal to the members or EiS
Iarty not to desert, At least not just nOE, bug
wait unti. in tie order OF things il was the
proper time for the Republican party 10 die.
This is curious language for Il General to no d
10 his followers Ga the eve Cf battle, but wI1a
conspicuous eject ons in every rank ard on
al s.dcs, Il was the best perhaps, he c0uEl
. use.
Il viii not stop 20 indicate the Democratic
party in is re StiOnS with slavery by aSking
whether WASHINGTON Madison, .lac lson. Clay,
ana All the mighty nos o. the earlier and
puycr days of the EcpUD IL were immoral and
dishonest LecauSc they naked IN friendship
with il. No such vIndica'iol i noeied; BuJ
Will pause to ask scnat or Harrison no" h.,
OF al Cther men, dalcS 10 h come the accusC:
OF the Ecmocr:>1i> pariy J. or of any other par
" or indiviGuai. Oh that subject, il has nj
ways been undcrs.o that he las AT / asst i
proper pri'ie Il ancestry. 7 ne portrait Of his
hOncrcd grand ,Stler hams on the walls Of
the White House. and reminds the visitor Of
tie IOundIcSS tide Wh!cn carried hlm there
only little more tnun forty years ago. ana at
tEe swift, untimcy stroke of death which 10 e
him AWAY. General William Henry Harrison
times 10 his sens" OF duly, and free from
every faint OF Political immortality. But his
descendant, the present kePuhhean
his name and cOnsign HIM to Infamy in
order to StigmatiZe the democratic
party. William Henry Harrison not only
walked in friendship with slavery all his life,
but while Governor OF the NOrthw eStcrn Ter
TitOry he favored the abrOgatIOn of the Ordi-
nance Of lIs7, in order 10 introduce slavery
into al the territory subject to his jurS lie
zion. Indiana and Illinois, and perhaps other
States of the Northwest. would have COM
menccd their careers with slavery fastened
upon them if his welFknoWn policy had pre-
vailed.
"8ut Senator Harrison in the next specii-
cation in support OF his general Charge of po-
LticAl immortality says the Democratic party
has walked in friendship with treason. If
there - a human being living SO ignorant of
the ciyil war in this country as to believe the
Republican party of itself conquered the
South; that the Democratic party was OPP
posed TO the suppression of the rebellion and
did not contribute its full proportion of men
and money7or the restoration OF the Union,
have no argument TO make at this late day
with such person. twas the politics of the
Democrat and not his disloyaity to
the cause OF the Union which excited
and still eAcites, the Nengeful animosi-
~ OF the political pEarisee. The
heavy reinforccmentS pushed forward 10y
Governor seymour, of New DIRK, in the last
few days before the giant conflict at Gettys-
burg. alone saved the [ Mon army from being
driven back, and yet | have no doubt General
SeymOur-the creates, and most distinguished
living Demrcrat-waS dlSloyal during the war
and walked IN friendship with treason. Per
haps he would say the same of Hancock, who
Oa many drca iiul fieid rode into the Jaws of
death to uphold the flag. OF course lac would
brand the great AMI noble Mcclellan with the
same shameful imputation. The Democracy
OF the whole country have rallied to the sup
port of each one OF these three eminent men
an three President ial contests, and il Is hardy
100 much 40 say that without their great and
patriotic services the Mon cause would have
failed, Or been retarded. and the struggle pro
lOngcd 10 years. Tac truth Is that all classes
OF all par les in the North were enrncsfiy de-
voted to the Union, and poured out blood
and treasure for that object. but q mar
row school of Republican leanCrS deter
mined 10 make the civil war the occasion
Cor he destruction of the Democl attic PARTY
by charging il wi, h infidr,ity 10 the Govern
ment. and General Harr son only repeats an
ca, stale, Worn-out Calumny on this point.
All that he Gni other Republican leaders of
like minds with him, require Of the uecpe 81
dyed traitor. stained 10 the elbows in the
blood OF [ Mon soldiers, IS THAI ne shall vote
the Republican ticket. His treason, though
rank anu smelling 10 Heaven. then becomes
loyalty. | ncurd General MahOn on the floor
OF the senate glOTlfy his services in the con-
feGer;tte army He an bounced in the faces
OF the republican Senators around him .Hat
he had no apology To oher nor regrets TO ut r
for the blood he had shed. lie told them in
sfrill, defiant tones, that for his conspicuous
efforts ia disrupt and destroy the Amer
Jean Union he had no repentance nor
contritiOn of heart He proclaimed his
adhesion, however, to the Republican party
and he was welcomed with shouts of joy
and my coueague ana his party associates
folded hin TO their breasts with all the biotch-
es and stains OF bloody treason fresh upon
him. Until two Years ago there was no other
name in the whole South more eXecrated by
the Republicans than that OF General Chai-
mers, OF Mississippi. lie it was who led the
Confederate forces to the allege inhuman
slaughter OF colored troops at Fort Pillow.
his name was always mentioned by a certain
class in the North with Shudier of horror,
and he was cursed as the mercilcSS author of
an atrociouS massacre committed on people
who had ceased 10 fight and sought to Surren-
der. The Republican party in the last Con-
gfeSS swiftly, and with every token OF pleas
ure, elected him from his seat IN the House,
and put negro in his place. Chalmers ut last,
however, concluded TO tread the weli-worn
pathway to pardon, grace and promo
uon. He knew the conditions of memb ership
In the political church wherein my colleague
worshipS were easy and inviting TO a late
rebel, 10 one who had particularly dis
unguished himself in the extreme wickedness
OF reoellous warfare, He had seen hOSeby,
the alleged guerrilla join, and obtain at once
a rich and lucrative Office, where he still re-
mains. He had seen LongStveet, whose track
was always one of blood. do the same and re-
celVe similar reward. He hal seen an At
JGrney-General in one Cabinet and a Post
master-General in another. both fresh from
deeds OF carnage in support OF the rebellion.
Hundreds more he had seen received. en-
braced and honored for their votes with the
blood scarcely yet wiped from their hands.
No confession of sin is required ut the
altar OF this church; no sorrow for guilt. no
PRAYER for forgiveness, no promise OF a bet
ter future life are here called for or expect
ed. a Republican vote aUoneS for all, and
the hand OF fellowship is at once extended.
General halmerS has given the vote aud r.
ceived the hand. and now the execrations
once heaped upon his head as the murderer
and butcher of Foyt Pillow will be heard
from Republican lips no more forever He
has been restored by Republican votes TO a
seat in the House and. in the estimation of
my colleague. have no doubt he ranks as 4
lar more loyal man than Union soldier who
votes the Democratic ticket. Hand in band.
and in closest friends shin the leaders of the