re a little weak on this question,
or perhaps I should say a little strong, the example of the Union
men of the country during the war. Abraham Lincoln thought, in
1862, it was wise to proclaim freedom to the slaves. Many good
Union men thought it was unwise--thought Mr. Lincoln was going too
far or too fast--but the sequel justified the wisdom of Abraham
Lincoln. Again, he thought it was wise that colored men should be
placed in our armies. There were good soldiers and good Union men
who thought it was unwise. They feared that Mr. Lincoln was going
too fast or too far, but events justified it. Now, everybody agrees
that in both cases Abraham Lincoln was right. Now, the example I
commend to our Union friends who are doubting on this great
question is the example of those Union men during the war who
doubted the wisdom of these other measures. Greatly as they were
opposed to the proclamation of Abraham Lincoln, strongly as they
were opposed to the enlistment of colored soldiers, I say to you I
never heard of one good Union man, in the army or out of it, who
left his party because of that difference with Mr. Lincoln. I
commend that example to the Union men who now doubt about colored
suffrage. The truth is, that every step made in advance toward the
standard of the right has in the event always proved a safe and
wise step. Every step toward the right has proved a step toward the
expedient; in short, that in politics, in morals, in public and
private life, the right is always expedient.

I thank you, fellow-citizens, for your kind attention.

_Speech of_ GOVERNOR HAYES, _on his re-nomination, delivered June 23,
1869._

Twice since the organization of existing political parties the
people of Ohio have trusted the law-making power of the State in
the hands of the Democratic party. They first tried the experiment
twelve years ago, and such were the results that ten years elapsed
before they ventured upon a repetition of it. Two years ago, in a
time of reaction, which was general throughout the country, the
Democratic party, by a minority of the popular vote, having large
advantages in the apportionment, obtained complete control of the
legislature in both of its branches. They came into power,
proclaiming that the past ought to be forgotten; that old issu