The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1860-08-09
speech of Hon. William NJ. Dunn.

DeAUered at the great Ratification Meeting,
at independence Square, Philadelphia, M0y
&c, 1860. tt
My fellow-citzens | am deeply impressed
with the significance of the popular enthu-
siasm demonstrated here this evening. This
is the Inauguration of the great contest of
1860 in the city of Philadelphia and the
State of Pennsylvania; and, fellow-citi-
zens, am impressed with the idea that
the result of the contest in Pennsylvania
depends, in great degree, upon the result
in this city, and that the result of the contest
in the State will most probably be decisive
of the struggle on the battlefield of the
nation. If there be not in the great
movement which now possesses the hearts of
the American people some great predomin-
ating principle; if there be not some deep
conviction of wrong and corruption in the
administration of the Government, ask
you what is the meaning of this excitement
and these popular demonstrations. The
nomination made at Chicago has struck the
great popular heart. The people realize that
the man whom the times demand iscoming.
They realize that the man who, springing
from the body Of the people, has struggled
his way up through poverty, through all the
difficulties and privations incident to the
settlement of a new country, to be the cam
didate of the great organization in opposi-
tion to the Democratic party, must bea man
of mark must be a main Of talent must be
a man of integrity, must be a man upon
whom the great public trust can rest in Sc
curity. Loud applause. -.
If my fellow-ctizens, there is in the
movement of the Republican party no high
national, constitutional, American aim if
it he not founded in reason, in law, in patri-
otism if all this is an unmeaning hnzza, or
is purposeless beyond acquiring early con-
troll of the Government and its places of
honor andproft then indeed do we behold
singular spectacle and one altogether nm
worthy of the intelligence and patriotism
Of the American people, in that wild en-
thusiasm manifesting itself in cheers aud
shouts, by mutual congratulations, the
booming of cannon, the blaze Of fire. works,
hys illuminations and professions, by the
hasty assembling of vast and excited crowds
which began at Chicago, and has already
extended from extremity to extremity of the
great North and Northwest
1t will, however, be my hurried effort to
show that for the Republican movement
there has been and is II necessity, growing
naturally ont of the progress ofevents, and
that its aim is as free from sectionalism as
it is possible for any concentrated move
ment, involving Federal action, to be- in q,
country of personal interests so varied and
delicate as they are in ours.
Good and great in its purposes, and in its
illustrious names, rs was the old Wing
party, its mission in most matters of mere
policy terminated with that cycle of our his
tory which closed IN the repeal of the Mis-
souri, Compromise. Its principles, however
survive, and will endure to the end of the
Government, in bold opposition TO those ex-
tremes Of radicalism which have ever mark
ed the conduct Of the Democratic party, and
OF that recklessness which hesitates not, in
ITS eager pursuit OF party triumphs, to inn
peril the peace and prosperity of the coun-
try. IfEtE. A Sc
The repeal OF that compromise, which
gave peace to distracted country, was one
of those acts OF reckless partisanshp char
dcterstic OF the Democratic organization
That repeal, and the associated movements
TO subjugate Kansas TO slavery, gave birth
TO the Republican party. Here, in 1856, in
this goedly city of Philadelphia so sancti-
fed in our hearts by its Revolutionary as
sociations, the representatives OF this party
met in national convention. So Irregular
yet so spontaneous was that movement, that
might always say the people themselves
rushed together for CONSULTATION; for if ever
there was a peoples party eminently dis
tinguisbed from party of politicians, this
was such. Like Minerva it burst into be-
ing full formed and ready for action. No
time was had for CAUCUS arrangements or
combinations, for the subtieties of profess
sional politicians; no opportunity for cou-
certed, careful cooperation but our party
rushed to the strife with the esgerness, hope
fulnesS, rashuesS of youth. The old, we'll
drilled, weil-appointed army of our oppo-
nents, with It's hosts OF ofice-holders, With
its baggage trains aud well.6lled military
chests, could not bat be successful in such