Evening journal., 1911-04-14
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Speech That Opened
General Grants Eyes
BY Holland"

The first political speech that Cen
eral Grant ever made-and probably
the only one he ever delivered-was
in support Of the candidacy Of General
Garfield In the Presidential campaign
Of 1880. That speech was one Of thel
most conspicuous features of that cleo
ton. II was delivered at Warren, Ohio,
in September, and there is living to-
day more than one old-time campaign
er who believes fully that Grants
speech marked the turning point Of the
Presidential contest-that but for It
the chances were that General Han
cock and not General Garfield, would
have been elected President
At first, the Presidential campaign OF
1880 was, for the Republicans, the
most difficult political proposition
which the party leaders had met with
since the election of 1860. Enthusiasm
was lacking. II seemed impossible to
stir up the voters. Senator Roscoe
Conkling, who had fought for a third
term nomination for General Grant,
was said to be sulking in his tent The
Democracy In the State of Maine at the
September election had been trium-
phant. All the indications pointed to
a Republican defeat, and it was then
appealed TO General Grant to make one
speech, suggesting that IL be made in
General Garfield's home district
But | have never made a political
speech" General Grant replied Il
wouldn't know how to begin one"
why, General" said the spokes-
man, "all that is necessary for you to
do is to talk to the people exactly as
you would talk TO a friend. You tell
your friends that this is no time to
cultivate resentment; you say that it
is necessary for Republicans TO get to-
gether; and you have pointed out some
of the reasons why IL is of the highest
Importance that the Republicans
should win his election That is all
you will have TO do in any public
speech you make"
Grant considered for a few moments
well" he said finally. "if Roscoe
Conkling will go with me and make
/ speech from the same platform, / will
do the best I can, but haven't much
| faith in my ability TO make q speech"
In few days II was announced that
General Grant and Roscoe Conkling
would speak upon the same platform,
i'm the town Of Warren, Ohio. The bare
announcement that Grant was to make
his first political speech-at least,
upon the stump-changed the whole
aspect Of the campaign. The curiosity
to hear the ex-President, who had been
called the Silent Man." and of whom
1t was said that he couldn't make a
speech, served to focus the attention Of
the entire country upon Warren, Ohio.
People flocked into the town from all
around the State on the day Of the
speech; the great newspapers we're
represented there. Grants speech was
reported in full and. of course, was
read by every Republican voter. 1t
changed the tide from ebb to flood, for
from that moment the Republican
prospectus frightened
Said General Grant to Roscoe Conk-
ling after the meeting: Senator after
had got started in my speech, lost
all my nervousness. Do you think I
was able to make the people hear me7I
My voice seemed not very strong"
"They heard every word" Senator
! Conkling replied.
Mark Twain was chatting with me
few years ago about General Grants
book of personal memoirs, which was
published by the firm of which Mark
Twain was the chief partner.
Il have always thought that Grants
political speech at Warren. Ohio, |
showed him that he had an unsuspect- |
ed gift for writing" said Mark. His |
facility with the pen was as great I'm
its way as was his power with the
sword. He might have suspected II had |
he realized the real literary quality |
and the capacity for terse. epigram- !
matte statements which many Of his
dispatches from the field illustrated. |
But it remained for his Warren speech |
to open his eyes in this respect, and it |
was followed a year and half later by ]