Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1868-06-03
Grant,s First SpeecI,.

O0 rLuay evening Aa5b q very laf ge
crowd, embracing many members Of
Congress and other prominent men,
Fserenaded the Republican candidate
for President of the United States, at
his private residence in Washington,
and in response to repeated calls, Gen
eral Grant came forward and spoke as
follows:
'GENTLENES.-Being entirely unac-
customed to public speaking, and with
out the desire 10 cultivate that power,
it is impossible for me to Gnd appro-
pirate language to thank you for this
demonstration. All that l can say is
this, that to whatever position I may
be called by your viii, I shall endeaVor
to discharge its duties with fidelity and
honesty of purpose. Of my reetitude
in the performance of public duties
you viii have to judge for yourselves
By my record before you"
This has the two important elements
Of a good speech it isshort and sensi-
ble. He declares that he will discharge
with fidelity and honesty of purpose
the duties of whatever position he may
be called upon to fill. This is all the
best of men can promise. And 10
judge Of the rectitude of his acts and
Intentions he refers his friends to what
is found upon record concerning the
past.
The large procession then moved to
the residence of Speaker Colfax and
our candidate for Vice President haV-
ing been called out delivered the fol-
lowing admirable speech:
''My friends, thank you with all
the emotions Of grateful heart. for
this iattering manifestation of your
confidence. | congratulate you on the
suspicious opening of the eYentful
campaign on which we are entering
In the Chicago Convention, represent
ing the entire continental area of the
Republic, every State, every Territory,
every district, and every delegate, from
ocean TO ocean. declared their first and
only choice for President, was Ulysses S.
Grant. Brave, yet unsssuming, reti-
cent, yet when necessary, firm as the
eternal hills, with every thought and
hope and aspiration for his country /;
with modesty only eqaalled by his
merits, it IS not extravagant for men to
say that he IS to-day the man Of all
other men in the land first in war, first
in peace, and first in the hearts of his
countrymen.' His name Is the very
synonym Of victory, and he viii lead
the Union hosts to triumph at the
polls as he led tha Union armies to tri-
umph in the field. But greater even
than the conquerer Of Vicksburg and
the destroyer Of the rebellion Is the
glorious inspiration of our noble pFin-
ciples, animated by the sublime truths
of the Declaration of Independence.
Our banner bears an inscription more
magnetic than the names Of its stan
dard-bearers, which the whole world
can see as it floats to the breeze-liber-
ty and loyalty, justice and public safe
ty. Defying all prejudices, we are for
uplifting the lowly and protecting the
oppressed.
History records, to the mortal hon
or Of our organization, that it saved the
nation and emancipated a race. We
struck the fetters from the limbs of
the slave, and lifted millions into the
glorious sunlight Of liberty; we placed
the emancipated slave on his feet as
man, and put into his right hand the
ballot, to protect his manhood and his
rights; we stsked our political exis-
tence on the reconstruction of the re-
volted States, on the sure and eternal
corner stone Of loyalty, and We shall
triumph.
81 know there IS no holiday contest
before US, but with energy, zeal, with
principles that humanity will approve,
and that believe God viii bless, We
shall go through the contest conquer
ing, and on the 4th day of March next
the peoples champion Will be born BY
the peoples votes to yondeF White
House, that I regret to say is now dis
honored by its unworthy occupant;
then with peace and confidence we
may expect our beloved country TO en-
ter upon a career of prosperity which
shall eclipse the most brilliant annals
of the past. 1 bid you God speed il
this work, and now, good night.D