The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-05
SENATOR HOAR'S PLAIN TALK.
He Agrees with Senator Sherman and Waves
1.-THE Bloody Shirt" with Vigor.

Speech at the Springfield Convention.
We would repel, and If they were not so
supremely ridiculous, with some little indigna-
ton, two charges which make up the staple of
the arguments of our opponents They Fay that
we are Bourbons, dwelling in the past, not dealing
with the living issues of the present and the
future. They say that we appeal to sectional
prejudice. and are keeping alive the hatreds
generated by slavery and war. The men against
whom these charges are made are the men who
have just conducted the American people
through one of the most difficult periods in
history by new and untried paths, originating,
developing perfecting great systems of legisla-
ton and administration. They are the men
who, in the brief space of a little more than
twenty years, from slavery wrought out free
dom, from disunion wrought out union, accom-
plished the independence of American manu-
facture, contrived the banking system, over
threw the old European doctrine of Perpetual
allegiance, resumed specie payment, made the
Alabama treaty. settled peacefully the disputed
succession to the Presidency and crowned
the close of great civil war with
that sublime clemency which has COM
manded the admiration of mankind. They
are inc men Win Hn0m mas originated every
great measure that has been placed upon the
statute book for twenty five years, and every
great measure proposed and pending, but not
yet accomplished. What measure of reform is,
at this moment, under way in this country that
is not of Republican origin? Why, the instinct
of these gentlemen is surer than their speech.
They bring no suggestion of any new policies
themselves. They get none from their Demo
cratic allies. But they come to us. who are not
to be clothed with executive power for three
l. o1e
the house where all measures of revenue and
finance must originate, and say, Lo, we are look
ing to you for the new and wise laws and sys-
TENS which are to bring the prosperity and
glory of the future. By whom is this accusation
made? A charge of Bourbonism made by the
members and allies of the party that has re-
sisted every great and wholesome measure Of
progress that the spirit of the age has suggested
/ do not now think of any considerable piece of
legislation, either accomplished or proposed, for
the last generation that is OF Democratic origin,
except the Bland silver bill 1t is the first
time in nautical history that complaint of
sluggshness was brought against the engines
and sails by the barnaces
Equally baseless as it is more insulting, is the
imputaton that the Republican party any
person to whom it has given its confidence has
any hatred to the South or would keep alive
any sectional feeling. The better reason of the
South itself is beginning to recognize that the
Republican party of the North has ever been its
truest benefactor. Who gave the South the great
boon of the abolition of slavery which she her
self now comedies was the great incubus on her
prosperity? VINO preserved for her the great
possession or American citizenship ITSELF Every
man born in the South, from 1861 until time shall
be no more, owes and shall owe the fact that he
is born an American to these haters of her peo-
ple Who has held fast to the policies under
which her new manufactures are growing up2
Who has offered her the great gift of the educa-
tion BILL on occasion the whole proceeds of
sales Of public lands; on another the same with
the addition of all moneys secured from patents;
and, more lately, the great sum of $77, 600, 900
from her treasury. to establish her infant school
systems? Her people now gratefully acknowledge
the noble clemency and magnanimity of Grant.
But in all of it Grant was fully sustained
and supported by the Republican party. We
have been touched by the sympathy for the old
warrior of the men whom he conquered. But is
it too much to say that the hand which has
clasped that of the dying Grant has given and
has taken too much honor ever thereafter to
stuff a ballot box OF shoot voter2
Upon what are these charges of Bourbonism
and sectonalism basedl 1t IS because we think
that the only way to effect great public object
is to adhere to it until 1t is accomplished It is
because we think that an offense against the
elective franchise committed to-day or tomorrow
Is none the less an ofense, none the less dan
ger. none the less TO be resisted, that the same
party did the same thing ten years ago. 1t is
because when millions of American citlzens are
deprived of their franchise we say we don't like
it When thirty-eight electoral votes and the
votes OF thirty eight representatives in Congress