Page:The World's Famous Orations Volume 10.djvu/137

 GRANT

race, nationality, or previous condition. It tol- erates no privileged class. Every one has the op- portunity to make himself all he is capable of.

Ladies and gentlemen, do you believe this can be truthfully said in the greater part of fourteen of the States of this Union to-day which the Democratic party control absolutely? The Re- publican party is a party of principles ; the same principles prevailing wherever it has a foot- hold.

The Democratic party is united in but one thing, and that is in getting control of the gov- ernment in all its branches. It is for internal improvement at the expense of the government in one section and against this in another. It favors repudiation of solemn obligations in one section and honest payment of its debts in an- other, where public opinion will not tolerate any other view. It favors fiat money in one place and good money in another. Finally, it favors the pooling of all issues not favored by the Re- publicans, to the end that it may secure the one principle upon which the party is a most har- monious unit — namely, getting control of the government in all its branches.

I have been in some part of every State lately in rebellion within the last year. I was most hospitably received at every place where I stopped. j\ry receptions were not by the Union class alone, but by all classes, without distinction. I had a free talk with many who were against me in war, and who have been against the Re- 109

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