Year: 1872

On tie 18th inst, a large Grant and
Wilson ratification meeting was held
in Washington The following is 8
letter addressed 10 that meeting by
the HON. Ben Wade:


WAsHINGT0N, June -, 1S72


IFHi. 4. Cool, Esq, and GcHHemel


Ojtbs COHlmitcce Of Arrangements:


very much regret that I shall bs
Obliged to leave the city before you
ratification meeting takes place, and
therefore must decline your kind anC
complimentary invitation.


II would have afforded NE great
pleasure to have been present To test
if in person to the true and intelIi
gent Republicans Cf Washington my
Uuwavering devotion 10 the princi.
pies OF the Republican party, and Z
declare how heartily 1 approve the
action Of their great convention al
Philadelphia We do not expect the
Democratic party or the mare hang
ers-On of the Republican party to ap-
prove the action of that convention.
It is as natural for that party to nate
/ Gen. Grant IS it is for all true Repub-
! licans to honor and admire him AM
why should not that party hate him
above all men-yea, and fear him
too Did not the Republican party,
under his leadership in the field, meet,
overthrow, and utterly destroy that
party organization with the only
principle that party ever had-that
is to lord it over, and tFample down
the weak and oppressed, and to ex-
tend the curse OF human slavery over
the entire continent, and thus erect
all OdiOus Oligarchy on the ruins OF
our free and glorious republic?


No wonder they hate the man and
the party through whom their nefar-
iOus hopes were crushed. The civil
administration OF General Grant has
been as beneficial and successful as his
military career was efficient and de-
cisive. When was the country more
prosperous in every department than
now? Look at the reduction of the
taxes and the public debt at the same
time, and then tell me, grumDler, Oi
what you have to complain. Where
is the man since Washington who has
rendered greater or better service to
the republic than General Grant
Name him if he is to be found, aud l
will help to make him President. But
if no such man is to be found, then l
am for Grant against the world.


As to the second man on the ticket,
Henry Wilson, he is we'll known to
US all. He is an old soldier in the
cause of Repubiicanism. He served il
faithfully and efficiently from its Or
ganizatiOn. He is the very incarna-
ton of the genius OF America In no
other soil under heaven could such u
plant take root and flourish. Born
and nurtured in poverty, Obscurity
and destitutiOn, experiencing IN his
own person all the hardships and
privatOns incident to such y cOndi-
ton, lie knows we'll how to sympa-
thiZe with the labOTing portion OF the
people, and to his eternal honor be il
said that in the days OF his prosperity
he has never for = moment forgotten
his associates in poverty or ceased tc
labor for their elevation and prOsperi-
tY.


When we reflect upon what the Re-
publican party has accomplished since
its organization we may well be proud
No other body of men within the
range of history has done so much tC
advance the welfare Of mankind, To
establish the great principles Of JUS
tice, liberty and equality. Yet theil
mission is by no means accomplished.
There are many important govern
mental questions yet to be settled, ,and
no other so competent to the task. To
doubt the success Of such party, when
pitted against q e broken cohorts of
the old slavery party, is an insult tc
the intelligence and virtue Of the
American people.


When q great political party has be-
come so consciously depraved thai
they feel there is no hope Of reform
suicide may, perhaps, in such case
be virtue, and such seems to be the
condition of the Democratic party al
this time.


By adopting Mr.. Greeley as th9il
standard-bearer they deliberately ad
nit (if they are hOnest) that the poor
est, weakest, most vacillating, anC
uncertain Republican is an improve
ment on anything TO be found ia thei
own party. But let us stand by Oul
own noble candidates as faithfully a!
they have stood by the principles 0
Republicanism, and our triumph i
certain. b. +. WADE.