Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-10-21
Mr.. Macveagh's New York Speech.

Mr.. WAYNE MAcvEA6B had magnificent
audience TO hear bis speech at Cooper
Union. New York, on Wednesday night
last. And no fully repaid his hearers for
having turned out ct night and so near the
end OF the campaign. to hear him define
his position and give his reasons for OPP
posting. the election OF HARRISON and advo-
eating the election of CLEVELAND.
Mr.. MAcvEAaH no doubt surprised his
audience when he boldly declared IN the
beginning Of his speech that his principal
object was to persuade intelligent, self-re-
speeding men that the Republican party no
longer merited their confidence, having
changed so radically its policy in legisla-
ton that il had earned the phrase not
"praise." as our telegram had 1T yester-
day } of being revolutionary party"
He added that unless checked. the Re-
publican party's course would surely lead
TO the destruction of the right OF private
property. This language was deliberately
chosen by Mr.. MAcYEAaH to express his
meaning. and should be pondered by all
good and true Republicans. The right OF
private property is the foundation OF
our civilization; and the party which
assails that right or advocates policies
which lead towards Its disregard ought
to be buried ten thousand fathoms deep
in the sea of oblivion. No freeman, no
American, no lover of liberty, should lend
his aid to such revolutionary faction.
This revolutionary faction has for years
been known as the Republican party; but
il no longer deserves its war-name. IL Is
mere faction now. 1t is striving by re-
sort 10 all sorts of Objectionable courses to
perpetuate its existence. though 1t no
longer merits the support of any patriot.
We say IL is q faction; but It is powerful
faction. 1t Is 30 large that such men as
Mr.. MAcvEAoH feel it to be their duty TO
warn the people of the dangers in their
pathway, and try to induce them to put
the seal of their disspprobation upon the
efforts Of this revolutionary party" to
destroy the fabric of free government
erected by our fathers and by them left to
us us q priceless inheritance.
"A force bill is too high a price to pay
for any benefits it is likely to secure" to
the people. It would destroy absolutely
the freedom of elections. Under existing
circumstances il the Democrats gerry
mander New York. that gerrymander will
be Offset by one in Ohio or Illinois or some
other State. And if there be unjustffiable
methods resorted to by the Democrats in
one State, these methods will be neutral
lied by the methods of the Republicans in
some State which they control. But put
the force bill in operation. and the party
controlling the Federal Government will
gerrymander all the States and carry all
the elections. The force bill, says
Mr.. MAcvEAaH. involves an abso-
Lutte reversal of the underlying princi-
pie OF our government--that of local
pelf-goyernment in the matter OF elections
IF the people cannot be trusted nobody
can be trusted" Certainly it would be q
notable result of the labors Of our fathers
and ourselves to have eighteen Republican
circuit judges of the United States ap-
pointing officials to see that the Repubi.
can party carried all the elections in all
the States at the point OF the bayoret.
"All respect for elections would thus be
DESTROYED, all confidence in the pretended
results reached at the polls would disap-
pear, and presidential election must re-
cult IN very brief time in resort TO force
by one party or the other" Is not every
word OF this extract true? Can free gov
eminent and the control of our elections
by Federal officials coexistp 1t would be
impossible.
Mr.. MAcvxAoH then argues that il this
government is to continue to be repub-
lie our elections must be free. IF there
is not sufficient virtue to be found in the
people to conduct their own elections fair
~ II 10 not likely to be found in the APP
poiptees Of political party"
And 80 on to the end Of this most telling
speech. which viii surely prove to be q
capital campaign document. 1t is well for
the southern people TO learn how the force
bill is regarded by the thinkers Of the
North. Mr.. LINCOLN said this country
could not continue to exist part slave and
part free. No more coull it exist with
force bill operating only upon the South.
Whatever rights OF liberties the southern
people have at stake the northern people
likewise have OF stake.