Year: 1872

INDIANAPoLIs, June 23.-The Repub-


licans opened the campaign by mass


meeting at Masonic Hall on Saturday


night. Addresses were made by Sena-
tor Morton and General Coburn, MEM


Der Of Congress. Republican clubs were


organized for each ward in the city at


the same meeting.


Senator Morton commenced his
speech by saying that on a num-


Der of occasions he had addressed


meetings in this hall since 1861, but
had never been present at a meet
ing when the Republican party was
surrounded by such circumstances of
congratulation and triumph. In the brief
time he should occupy, he would not at


tempt anything like an argumentin in ia


vor Of Republican principles. Lawyers


will tell you that when the defendant


comes into court and confesses judgment


the plaintiff is not required to prove


his case. Laughter and applausel.


When politician has lived to be more
than fifty years old and his most enthu


siastie friends are not able to point to
any good thing that he has ever done in


politics; when all his counsels have


borne only the fruit of blood and mis-
cry; when every measure that he has
advocated has proved either a blunder
or a crime; when all his opinions have


been refuted either by time or expert
ence, it is but natural that he should de-
sire to turn his back upon the past and
ask for new issue when great party
under the leadership of unwise or un-


polite or selfish men has made a ship
wreck Of the nation. 1t is but natural
that the party should try to obtain a
new name and seek to come before the
country upon new questions. So far as
the Republican policy of the admins
tration is concerned, it stands vindicated
by the confession of our political antago-
nists. While they are proposing to
form a new party, and going into con-
tract for the filling of the government
offices, they dare not propose a new
policy, and have nothing to offer better
than what you have. Greeley in him.
self constitutes a platform, which they
dare not re-affirm in their reso-
lutions. He has advocated some
measures of finance for the last four
years, which every intelligent business
man in this audience tonight knows
would bring convulsiOn and ruin upon
this country if they were carried out. He
has advocated in the Tribune resumption
Of specie payment at once. Every in
telligent gentleman tonight knows that
if Horace Greeley was elected, and
should attempt to carry out that policy,
it would result in panic, bankruptcy and
prostratiOn toall business interests. The
people cannot afford to change this adj
ministration. This is the campaign
of business men of all parties. This
country is now prOspering as it never
has before. The Republican party has
reduced taxation, repealed all internal
revenue except revenue on whisky and
tobacco, and yet the public debt is being
paid at a rapid rate. This has been
done by economy in every department
Of the government, and by the honest
and faithful collection of the revenue.
/ do not believe the financial depart
ment of this government has ever been
better administered. The Republican
National Convention has presented to
you again the name of General Grant
as O candidate for President. Enthusi-
astic cheers. He has passed through the
ordeal of calumny and slander as no
man has been since the days Of General
Washington, yet he comes out without
lllc vi DIC NbOn LIS
There are now three principal objections
to General Grant and to his administra-
ton, and they are personal in their
character. They do not go to the merits
of the government at all; they are per-
sOnal, and when you come to examine
them you will say, too, that they are
contemplate. The administration has
nothing new to offer; we simply
propose to go on as we are GO
ing on, of course making reforms,
for reforms are always in order and
always necessary, because from day to
day the necessities grow up that did not
exist before. The reform party is en-
phatieally the reform party. 1t has
made more and greater reforms than all
other parties in this. country put to-
getheT. My friend, Mr.. Hendricks, said
in his speech in the convention here:
ave have this day turned our backs
upon the past, we now stand in the pres
ent, and we look forward to the great
future, the past is gone" Laughter.
Now, in all seriousness, was any
public man ever before called
upon TO make such a humiliating
confession that great party at the end
Of its career can only go before the
country by saying We turn our backs
upon the past; we confess that we have
been wrong; we acknowledge our errors;
we cut loose from the past, and we look
only to the future TIE prodigal son,
after he had exhausted his substance,
came back to his fathers house, asking
to be forgiven, and with promises of be-
ginning life anew and doing better. All
that the Democratic party can say
now, upon entering upon this can
yass, Is that we agree to cut
loose from all our old principles;
divorce ourselves from all our past his
tory as far as possible; we intend to start
in life anew; we accept all the princi-
Piles of Horace Greeley and the Cincin-
natl platform. But, ] ask, have they
turned their backs on the past? Can
they do it? Is it in the possibilities of
party or human nature? They have de-
clared their principles from time to
time for twenty-five years, and that
they believed six months ago they
believe tonight. They cannot help
it. Men can change their minds, but
cannot change their convictions. God
alone can make change of the hearts.
The Senator concluded his speech by an
exhOrtation to the patriotic men of all
parties to stand by the Republican cause,
and that neither business men, laboring
or capitalists, can afford to have the
present policy changed, if they want this
country to go on substantially as it is
now going. The people understand their
own interests, and | believe they will
stand by General Grant.


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