The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1856-09-06
meeting ON thursday Evening.

.........H. O'CONNOR.
Meeting ON Thursday Evening.
The Republican meeting on THURSDAY eve-
ming was very well attended. Mr.. Miller
spoke frst,-brieHy, though pointedly and
effectively. He was followed by Mr.. Moss
who has lately announced his intention to
support Mr.. Fremont. There was consider
able interest expressed to hear Mr.. Moss,
and when he took the stand he was greeted
with hearty cheers. He commenced by say
ing that he had not parted with his Demo
cratic sentiments. lie said he was brought
up Democrat, had always been one, and al
ways expected to be one. That in conclud-
ing to vote for Mr.. Fremont, it was not ne
cessary TO renounce his life. long opinions.
He said he had known Mr.. Fremont long
the country had known him long and well;
that he had always been known a. q Demo-.
crat, true and honest as James Buchanan in
his party faith. Fremont was Democrat
to-day he was a Democrat himself, and
should vote for Fremont without feeling
that he sacrificed any Of his principles or
compromised his feelings in any degree; he
should vote for him because he represented
more true and genuine Democracy, a more
entire faith in the integrity and virtue Of the
people, more sincere regard for human
rights and popular liberty, than James Buch-
anan. He said that he did express his WILL
ingness to support the Cincinnati platform,
and to support Mr.. Buchanan upon it. But,
said he, the party themselves have abandon
ed the platform. lie said he Judged thepar-
ty By its Leaders. 1t was fair way to Judge
it. The leaders Of the Democratic party
have abandoned the platform themselves, in
many Of the most important respects. And
If they are not TO be bound by it, are we
content to follow them, we know not with
err if they abandon it, can they censure
others for abandoning it, when they learn
that il is no longer an agreement between
them, upon which all can abide? They had
professed, for instance, to guarantee to the
people OF Kansas the privilege of settling
their own affairs to suit themselves. Yet
since the platform was laid, they proposed
TO legislate for them, to take them under tu-
telage and guardianship completely. lie
said they proposed to have constitution
made for Kansas. But they did not propose
te let the people OF Kansas vote upon the
question whether or not it was such nn one
as suited them. 1t was to stand as the or
ganic law Of the state of Kansas, whether
the peaple wished it or not. Acceptable or
obnoxious to the people, as it came from
the hands Of the convention it was final, and
it was the paramount law. Tho convention
would be the dictator of the people, not its
servant. You, people of iowa, he said,
have Just voted for a convention 70 revise
your constitution. Ii that convention was
10 frame an instrument which was to become
the primary law without being submitted
10 the people for their sanction or dissent,
what would you think Of it How many
Of you would have voted for the conycn-
ton? What sort Of democracy is that
which neither permits the people to form nor
10 ratify or reject their primary law II
was the democracy Of the leading men Of
tina. party which laid the Cincinnati platform,
as they had lately exhibited themselves. Blu,
il was not the democracy in which he had
been Taught. 1t was not the democracy
which he admired, or which had any hold
upon his feelings.
lie said he did not profess any particular
anxiety about the black race. lie even qucs-
toned If slavery had not been on advantage
10 them. But about the white race he wa.
anxious. lie did no, think it was any ad-
vantage 10 tn white race TO be brought into
competi ion, in respect Of labor, with the
slack race. IL. did not think it was calcu-
lated to promote the interests Of the white
laborer, TO degrade his calling and diminish
his reeo.npenso by placing him on an equal
ity with & low and seryile race, and by ex-
tending and terrifying the institution Of
chat.el slavery, which WAS has chief compel
itor. And that, too,-thc degradation Of
labor, and consequently tho degra dalton of
the laborcr, was not species oi democra-
CT IN when me hai been brought ap. Il
nigh. be tie democracy Of the leaders Of the
so-calied Democratic party, bur il was not
his democracy, nor the democracy of Mr..
Fremont.
lie alluded 10 the men. He saw in the his
tory aud character Of Mr.. buchanan nothing
calculated TO inspire him with greater cou-
6dence than he could repose in Mr. AFremont.
Mr.. Fremont was fresh man. But be was
lman Of strong, sound mind, Of unimpeach-
able honor, Of incorrupsible character, Of
intelligence and Grmness. lie did no. know
that he would be better or safer man il
be had spen. his whole life in the muddy
POOL Of politics. lie did not know that be
would make better presidea. for having
had forty years. experience as party man
ager. He did not know that his freshness,