Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-10-16
THE FIELD POLITICAL
Wayne Macveagh Answers Senator
Sherman in Philadelphia.
why HR RENOuNCES RlDlCALISN.
The Outrages Already Committed by the
Repubiicsn Party and the Further
0utrages II Proposes.
fBy telegraph to the Dlspatch.I

paign wM held IN the Academy OF MUSIC
tonight under the auspices OF the Young
Mems Democratic Association OF this city,
who invited Wayne Mscveagh, formerly
Attorney. General under President Gar
fields Administration. TO address the pub
lie In reply 70 Senator Sherman's re-
cont speech, and to explain his rea-
sons for abandoning the Republican
party. Mr.. MsoVeagh's recent letter
announcing that he would vote for
Grover Cleveland created sensation
that had not been forgotten. and in con- |
sequence tho great auditorium was INSULT
cient 10 accommodate the thousands of
ticket-holders who applied for admission
tonight, so that many were turned away. |
The audience was decidedly Democratic in
its sympathes and received the speaker
with great enthusiasm. The orator of the
evening was introduced by Samuel Gus
tine Thomson, well-known lawyer. and
president Of the Young Mems Democratic |
Association, who in Q brief but pointed |
address attacked the Republican system of
protection.
MR. MAcvEiaH's RrMARKs.
Mr.. Macvesgh did likewise at greater
length. The following are extracts from |
his speech:
1.-THE sense Of bumor which / have
never sought 10 repress gives me very |
keen enjoyment of the suggestions which
have been made that never was very |
good Republican, or IL was years ago,
had long ago ceased to be 50. 1t is true |
that was opposed to the attempt to i'm
peach President Johnson. but with that
exception / do not believe that there
was any more stalwart supporter OF
the Republican party than l was. 1t is
also true that at the close of the campaign
of 1876 found myself compelled to be-
lieve that MIR. Tilden was entitled to the
electoral vote of Louisiana, and 1t was
only after the decision of the Electoral
Commission and the constitutional decia-
ration by both houses OF Congress that
Mr.. HAYES had been elected President OF
the United States that reconclled myself
TO his assumption of that great office.
AGAINST RETUBSINo-BoARDs.
ut Is also true that / declined IN No
vember, 1876. TO 20 to Louisiana to be pres |
ent at the action Of the returning board OF
that State when deciding upon Its electoral |
vote: for said then, and / believe stlll.
that in view of the vast advantages the
Republican party had enjoyed in the cleo
ton which had just taken place, it was
our duty to accept the result as declared
by tho ballot-boxes. l stated then that
ON our side there were President
Grant, deeply interested in the re-
suit Secretary Chandler. of Michigan,
for the first time. and / hope for the last
time, managing the Republican CAM
pangn from seat in the Cabinet; Secre-
tary Cameron. with General Sherman IN
command of the troops within the State.
and Secretary Robson, with his gunboats
in its waters. Mr.. Kellogg was Governor,
and a candidate for election TO the Senate; |
MIR. Packard was United States marshal,
seeking al election as Governor. with
host of special deputies at his command.
TLDEN HAD TIE MAJORITY.
I'm addition to these powerful agencies
on our side almost every militia officer In
the State and almost every election officer
in the State was Republican, and yet
when the polls closed Mr.. Tilden had over
1000 more votes in the baliot-boxes than
MIR. HOye1. IL was theref, re impossil ID for
me to be party TO taking the electoral |
vote of Louisiana from Slr. 1ilden, and
when. in the following April. President
HAYES and his CABINET requested me, with
others, TO 60 to Louisiana to reconcile the
political differences existing there, l ac-
ceptei the dlsagreeable task, because ]
knew that the good work General Grant
had commenced of turning tbs State gov
eminent over to Governor Nichols must
be continued until all those State officers
who had majority OF votes IN the ballot
boxes when the polls closed we're placed
in the offices to which they had been
elected.
CITIZENSHIP MORE PRECIOUS THAN PARTISAN
SHIP.
II have had not few other serious diff
fercnces with the Republican party, but OF
course have always held my citizenship
as a far more precious thing than my parti-
sanship. And | have never pretended to
approve any policy or any candidate
whose influence upon'the country seemed
TO me to be evil.
But | have watched with pain and
alarm the steady growth of the corrupt use
of money III our politics, and l have been
constantly hoping that the Republican
party would at least turn its face toward
lower duties upon imports and against
other forms OF congressional bounties, IN
accordance with the teachings of so many
OF its greatest and wisest leaders, and thus
gradually diminish the temptations to that
awful traffic. hateful alike to God and all
good men-the buying and selling OF votes.
REPUBLICAN PARTY TENDENCY DANGEROUS.
ut was because of that hope and of the
very strong reluctance felt TO sever my
connection with the party which had con-
ferred upon me so many and so unde-
served honors and because of my cordial
regard and respect for President Harrison
aud Of my absolute faith in the pledge of
the platform and in his pledge in respect
to the reform of the civil service
that l continued to vote the Repub-
lican ticket in 1888. All my hopes,
however, were disappointed, and from
that day TO this the conviction has been
steadily growing upon my mind that the
general tendency of the Republican party
a%t Nr,lu sVtr oil tn ha hnC int 70
Of the country. but unless checked was
sure 10 result not only In making the poor
poorer, but IN making the rich more selfish
and more corrupt and therefore less
patriotic.
Usrs OF WEALTH.
''I am not of those who cavil at the
presence of rich mon in the community.
Great differences in fortune are inevitable
In the present industrial organization of
society and while / think surplus wealth,
as MIR. Carnegie calls his, sometimes H. |
lures the possessor, in thousands of other
instances II not only does him good but
overhows in countless benefits to the CON-
munity. All that demand is that the rich
shall not use their riches to destroy the
very source of national life and of oil true
respect tor law in free country like ours
an unbought ballot.
HARRIsoN's ELECTION BOUGHT.
Almost as soon as the canvass of 1888
was over rumors began to circulate that
the election had been bought, and that
the gentlemen who collected the money.
as well as those who paid it, were deter
mined to exact such recompense as had
been promised them, and the revelations
which have occurred from time to time
have strengthened the conviction in my
mind that unhapply there was only too
much truth In these rumors.
prominent manufacturer OF this city,
lifelong Republican, has quite recently,
over bis own signature, spoken of the Nc
kinley bill as our bill. because we bought
and paid for it, y"
RKPUBLicAx PARTY oUTRAGEs.
There was no other way but that Of
bargain and sale of legislation of account
ing for the course of the Republican party
IN the last tour years for was unable TO
believe that any man in his senses really
thought Il was Wise to break down all the
safeguards OF legislation in the House of
Representatives, or to inhict upon the poor
the awful burdens of the Mckinley bill.
or 70 debauch voters by Offering them
Mansions To which thav haA ~ ,.i.;.n = |