Year: 1876

Duiidlo' 1ne IollOwlng magnanlmouS trib-
ute to the loyalty of War Democrats. and
thrilling appeal to the memories of the bows
IN blue, in behalf of the cause for which
they fought and so many of their comrades
died will be found to be good reading:


Let me not be misunderstood. | don't
arraign the great Democratic Party as be-
ing disloyal. | am here willing to admit
that the great body of that party is just as
patriotic and honest, as the party to which
| belong. Applause. I don't forget that
when In 1861, the bugles of war were
sounding, there came from every hillside
and valley in this land tens of thousands
patriotic young Democrats, who shouldered
their muskets and went and fought side by
side and shoulder to shoulder with us and
that many made the last great sacrifice
which freeman can make-laid down his
life for his country. Loud applause |
should do great injustice to my own sacri-
fees which these Democratic soldiers per-


formed and made on behalf of an imperiled
country but, my friends, it is also crafty
ing to me to know that the great body of
these boys in blue, these Democratic sold
iers, are now standing side by side with
me, and | have no doubt tonight, if should
look over those before me, | would find
many an old comrade. [Cheers1 But while
these Democratic soldiers were helping to
save the country, | beg to ask what IT,
leaders of the Democratic Party were doing
to sustain our imperied cause, or sustain
our Government, when called to grappls
with rebellion? They nominated a convic-
ted traitor for Governor of Ohio, and did
they not, from the beginning to the end,
year after year, call us 'Lucoln'S hirelinge,'
when we were fighting the battles of our
country, and even after Grant went into
the Wilderness and Sherman was march
ing from Atlanta to the sea- did they not
continue to call us such names ? Applause.


And then they went into national con-
ventlou at Chicago, and there they declared
the war a failure. And | beg the pardon
OF my Democratic friends if have to re-
mind them that the chairmcn of the sub
committee who reported the Infamous re-
solution was Samuel j. Tilden. Loud APP
plause. Now, gentlemen, suppose the Re
publican Party had taken the same view of
affairs in 1851 that Samuel J. Tilden and
the Democratic leaders took at Chicago,
where would have been your country-rent
asunder, divided into many small con-
federacies or principaities, without honor
at home or respect abroad Applause. Is
it nothing to have saved ones country
When Democratic politicians said there was
no power under the Constitution to do it,
Abraham Lincoln cheers God rest his
soul-fnds power to coerce the rebels, and
thanks to him and the boys in blue who
rallied to his support, we have now coun


try prosperous at home and a Government
that commands the respect of every civilized
nation on the earth. Cheers. Now, when
the war was over and we had recognized
the South and reunited our country, from
the lakes to the gulf and from the great
river to the sea- from that time to this there
has not been one single drop of blood shed
for the crime of treason. There have been
no disabilities imposed, except very few, and
these have been nearly all removed Cheers.


Can you say that we have not been magnani-
nous? Believe me, the history Of the
world shows no such magnanimity. Cheers.


Some time ago | went to Washington, and
[ had to 90 on my wooden LEG, which some
how have come to have a sort of pride in
-[applause1 perhaps pardonable in me
but at least it was a sort of refuge from
that unpleasant conspicuousness which Grip
pies have to endure However | went to
Washington, and l was there ushered into
the House of Representatives by the Ser
geant at Arms of the Confederate Congress;
and when got inside and looked around,
and looked all over, who were there filling
the subordinate places formerly filled by
Republicans, in many instances by crippled
soldiers? Not Northern Democratic sold
iers IF had seen them there [ would
never have uttered a word Of complaint. |
would have made no objection to Democra-
tic soldiers had [ found them filling the
places of those turned out but / found
their places supplied by ex-members of the
Confederate Army? looked over the floor
of the House, and | found seventy three
Major and Brigadier Generals of the late
Confederate Army sitting there making
laws for the country which onl eleven years
ago they moved heaven and earth to de-
stroy Loud applause Then [ heard
Ben Hill Of Georgia rise up and excuse the
atrocities Of AndersOnvIlle and Libby
prisons. | know some in this audience
know all about them. | heard him arraign
the Northern people for atrocities which he
said were worse than those of Libby or
Andersonville. / saw him advance with
his finger raised and warn the Northern
men to abide by the Constitution, which
they had so often violated, and | saw Sam
Cox, of New York, come and congratulate
him on the speech he had made. / was
not proud of it and are you, my Democra-
tic friends Voice, 'No.) Is there
Democrat in here whoiikes it (? If we look
at the Democratic papers, what will they
say about it? They say demagogue got
up and waived the bloody shirt? Well,
gentlemen, it was no disgrace to Ruther-
ford B. Hayes to wear the bloody shirt