Charles Sumner: his complete works, volume 20 (of 20)Sumner, Charles
History
Charles Sumner: his complete works, volume 20 (of 20)
Sumner, Charles
Slavery -- United States; Speeches, addresses, etc., American
Each was nominated by a Republican Convention, one at Cincinnati
and the other at Philadelphia; so that in this respect they may
seem to be on equality. But it will not fail to be observed that
the Convention at Cincinnati was composed of able and acknowledged
Republicans, many having acted with the party from its first
formation, who, without previous organization, came together
voluntarily for the sake of Reform and Purity in the Government;
while, on the other hand, the Convention at Philadelphia was composed
of delegates chosen largely under the influence of office-holders,
who assembled to sustain what is known as Grantism, being the
personal government and personal pretensions of President Grant,
involving nepotism, repayment of gifts by official patronage, neglect
of public duty, absenteeism, quarrelling, military rule, disregard
of Constitution and Law, with general unfitness, and indignity to
the colored race,--all of which is so unrepublican as to make its
support impossible for true Republicans. Therefore the Convention at
Philadelphia, though calling itself Republican, was less Republican
in reality than that at Cincinnati.
THE TWO PLATFORMS.
The two platforms, so far as concerns especially the colored race,
are alike in substance; but that of Cincinnati is expressed in terms
more worthy of the equal rights it states and claims: “We recognize
the equality of all men before the law, and hold that it is the duty
of Government, in its dealings with the people, to mete out equal
and exact justice to all, of whatever nativity, race, color, or
persuasion, religious or political.” In other respects the platform
of Cincinnati is the more republican, inasmuch as it sets itself
against those unrepublican abuses which have been nursed by the
President into pernicious activity.
SUPPORTERS OF THE TWO CANDIDATES.
From the two nominations and two platforms I come to the supporters
of the candidates; and here I look, first, at those immediately about
them, and, secondly, at the popular support behind.
Horace Greeley has among his immediate supporters, in all parts of
the country, devoted and consistent Republicans, always earnest for
Reform and Purity in Government, on whose lives there is no shadow
of suspicion,--being a contrast in character to those rings which
play such a part in the present Administration. The country knows too
well the Military Ring, the Senatorial Ring, and the Custom-House
Ring, through which the President acts. Such supporters are a poor
recommendation.
DEMOCRATS TURNING REPUBLICANS.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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