The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1868-05-28
SPEECH OF MR.. HASSAUREK, IN THE Ma
TIONAL REPUBLICAN CONVENTION AT
CHICAGO.

SPEECH OF MR.. HASSIUREK, IN THE Ma
TIONAL REPUBLICAN CONVENTION AT
CHICAGO.
MIR. Hassaurek of Ohio, ex-Minister to
Ecuador, having been called out, said:
"Often when travelled over the Ecuadorian
Andes, ascending and descending mountains
In order to pass the western branch of the
mighty Cordillera, it happened that hills
which / was just ascending obstructed my
vision. As I slowly toiled up their steep
activities, saw nothing beyond or above
them. They completely shut out the horizon
from my view. For the time being they
seemed to me the last boundaries of the
world. with nothing to come after. But
when had passed them, when had risen
to higher and more commanding elevations,
they had vanished into nothingness in the
valleys below. Gentlemen, we are in the
midst of a period of transition. Every
period of transition has its difficulties aud
its dangers. These difficulties may seem in
surmountable to the unphiiosophical who
can see nothing but the present The weak
minded and the Respondent may see moth
ing beyond them. But, when we shall have
emerged from the lower mountain ranges,
when we shall have reached the lofty sum-
NIT to which we are slowly hut steadily
ascending, the hillocks below will disappear,
and we shall smile at our faint -heartedness
1 do not shut my eyes to the magnitude of
the problem which this generation is called
upon to solve. The task which has to be
performed is not reconstruction, as some
say. 1t is not restoration, as Others will
have it. 1t is regeneration. There aods a
South with Slavery as the cornerstone of
her social and political institutions, with
labor looked upon as disreputable and I'M
becoming gentleman. Her real estate in
the hands of few wealthy families, WELD
ing irresistible political influence. Her
agriculture retrograding, her cities and
towns decaying, her industry paralyzed, her
commerce languishing, her middle and lower
classes demoralized by the baneful influences
of slavery. Men bred in the belief that they
were born to command, and that traffic in
their fellow creatures was a divine institu-
.tion men who had been taught from their
earliest childhood that State had right
to withdraw from the Federal compact, and
that secession was not treason or crime
These men now firmly believe that they
have been outraged and oppressed by the
Government. Vast armies have marched
and countermarched over the South. The
torch of war has carried desolation into her
very heart. The shackles of the slave have
been stricken from his limbs, and freedom
HIS Dcen pTOCldlLueu dS Iu6 UT !uTlSuC Ol
every individual breathing the air of our
Republic. Here you have two classes
The one educated in the prejudices of a
privileged aristocracy, still smarting under
the bitterness of defeat and disfranchisement,
deprived of what they looked upon as their
property, reduced to poverty and extremity,
and ready to fly to arms again at the first
favorable opportunity, unrepentant because
/ not convinced, and characterized by all the
Id recklesness and ferocity which the
izing relation between the master
i've must inevitably produce. The
ass, brought up in ignorance and hu-
ON, tyrannized and oppressed, and
ing no rights which white men were
70 respect, just emerging from de-
ervitude, with crude and undiges-
of freedom, and perhaps an easy
nagogues, but full of gratitude to-
1ment which broke their chains,
with enthusiastic loyalty to the
as brought them freedom, and
10 defend their new treasure with
Ehe use of which they have learned
bloody field of battle. / admit
lat problem To evoke order out
reconcile the hostile element
awhile party in the North is
tmost, to fan the flames of
tnent, and vindictiveness.
IL be to understand the prob
they do. The next will
per means of disposing Of
II first there must he peace
pvernments are instituted
of life, property, and lib
lal purpose is security. 1t