Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-10-26
GRANTS REASONS.
WHY HE VOTED WITH THE RE.
PUBLICAN PARTY.
One of the Very Few Speeches Made
by the Great General of the
Union Armies.

AT Warren. Ohio, on the 2Sth of Sep
temDer, 1880. the Hon. Roscoe Conkling
addressed Republican mass meeting. and
General U. S. Grant presided. Before in
PRODUCING the Senator, General Grant said !:
Ia view of the known character and
apiilty OF the speaker who is 10 address YOU
To-Day, and his long public career and
association with the leading statesmen of
TINS country for the past twenty wears, il
would not be becoming in me to detain
you with many remarks of my own. But
1t may be proper for me to account TO Won
on the first occasion of nv presiding at
political meetings for the faith that is in me
am Republican, as the two great
polltical parues are now divided, because
the Republican party is national PARTY
seeking the greatest good for the greatest
Aumoer OF citizens. There is not a pre-
clhcI 10 thls vast nation where Democrat
cannot cast his ballot and have it counted
as cast. No matter what the prominence
OF the opposite psrty, he can proclaim his
political opinions, even if he is ONLY one
among a thousand, without fear and without
prescription on account of his opinions
There are fourteen States, and localities in
other States where Republicans have not
this privilege.
Ihls is one reason why am a Repub
lcan. But l am a Republican for MANY
other reasons. The Republican party as
sures protection TO life and property. the
public credit and the payment Of the debts
OF the Government, State, county, or NUM-
cipalty, 50 far as 1t can control. The Demo-
cratic party does not promise this: if i;
uoes II mas broken It's promise to the extent
OF hundreds OF millions, as many Northern
democrats can testify TO their sorrow. lam
Republican, as between the existing Dar-
Ties, because 1t fosters the production If the
held and farm and of manufactures. and il
encourages the general education of the
poor as well as the rich. The Democratic
party discourages all these when in abso-
lnle power. The Republican party is a
party OF progress and of liberality toward
lis 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 il
secures an entire equality before the law of
every citizen, no matter what his race. na-
uoDallty or previous condition 1t tolerates
no privileged class. Every one has tn,
opportunity to make himself all he is
capable OF.
Ladies and gentlemen, do YOU believe
thls can he uuthtully said in the greater
i'N'Nt - ACN-ANNil va lHc OlditS OI lDlS Union
to-day which the Democratic parry control
absolutely? The Republican party is a
party of principles; the same principles
prevailing wherever it has footbold.
ne Democratic party is united in but one
Lhlng, and that is in getting control of the
government in all its branches. 1t il for
internal improvement at the expense of
the government in one section and against
TINS IN another. 1t favors repudiation of
solemn obligations in one section and hon
est payment of its debts in another. where
pubic opinion will not tolerate anv other
view. 1t fa7orS fiat money in one
place and good money in another
Finally, 1t favors the pooling of
all issues not favored by the
Republicans, 10 The end That If NAV cure
the one principle upon which the ,rrtv is
most harmonious uui:. namely, letting
control OF the GoveTn!u 1T in AL its
branches.
have been in some part of every State
lately in rebellion within the last wear.
was most Hospitality received at every
place where l stopped. My receptions were
not by the Union class alone, but by all
classes, without distinction. | had a free
talk with many who were against me in
the war and who have been against the Re-
puoncan party ever since. They were ia
all instances reasonable men, judged b,
what they said | believed then and he
lieve now that they sincerely want a break
up III this Solid South political condi
ton. They see that it is to their pecuniary
Interest as well as 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 a party name. They
want pretext that enough of them
can unite upon to make it respectable.
Once started, the Solid South viii 90 as
ku-kluxism did before, and is SO admira-
bly, told by Judge Tourgee in his Fools
Erraud." 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 onIv been
waiting to see some one take the lead.
This desirable solution can only be attained
by the defeat and continued defea, of the
Democratic party rs now constituted.