New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-05-29
Addre.. nr Pre.ldent Hnwler.

This is the address of Mr.. Hawley, the
President of the Republican National Con-
vention at Chicago, on taking the chair;
Gentlemen OF the Convention-I tender
you my most grateful thanks for the high
honor you have conferred upon me. Deep
T. impressed by & sense OF the responsibility
OF the position, | earnestly solicit your in
dulgenCe and your aid. We come together
charged with the momcntous duty of select.
ing the chief rulers Of the great nation
which leads the world in the promotion
Of freedom and equal rights. The
indications OF your purposes and spirit
slready given assure Us that you will
maintain the noble character of the Repub,
liCan party. We unavoidably recall at this
time the Convention of 1860, with its pro.
found anyieties, its fresh, pure, and glow
ing devotion to liberty, and its enthusiastic
acceptance of the wager Of battle rendered
by slavery and secession. 1t now seems
clear to US that God then ruled our council.
He made our declaration of principles
manly aud severe. He gave US Abraham
Lincoln to- President. God send us like
wisdom and success today. He tested US
in manner and to an extent which the
liveliest Imagination could not havel antiCi
pated. POsterity, we hone. will decide that
we stood that test with q spirit worthy of a
free people. Countless treasures and three
hundred thousand lives offered were the evil
denoe that we were sOlemnIy in earnest. We
offered our lives and our property; but it
was not enough. We laid our preiudices of
race and class on the altar, and the con-
sCiOusness that we at least deserved success
redoubled our nerve. The same high re.
solve rules to-day, and the honest men of
this country are ready for equal and even
greater sacrifices, if they be Indispensable
to the declaration on this continent of lib.
erty and equal rights to all. We learned
the first lesson when we found that We
must make all men free and call them to the
battlefield. We learned the second lesson
when we found that we must still move and
give impaItially to all men & share in the
government we were endeavOring to restore.
With clear aud fearless expression on the
essential and important questions at issue,
which the people well understand, and
which 10 ingenious device, no words can
obscure, passing by all personal and tempo
rary controversies, working in perfect con-
tidenCe that the American people mean to
feel sure of triumph. TAcpower OF nation
of 40 .000 900 must be behind the lust claims
of the poorest working man, OF whatever
race, and to recover the Just wages its
majesty must SG .ciitt SIC AG22hlest
loyal man appears against personal violence
and oppression. Every dollar Of the national
debt the blood OF o solder Is pledged Tor, q,
Every bond in letter and spirit must be as
sacred as . soldiers grave. We must win,
gentlemen, and VIC shall wiz. 1t is the old
tight Of liberty, equality, and fraternity
against oppression caste, and aristocraey.
It is the old night to make the world better
with malice toward none and with charity
for ell. We may halt for a mo
ment or change the direction, but
the good cause always goes steadily for.
ward 1t is related, and whether it be true
or not Il c incident is well invented, that
on the evening of that awful battle of the
Wilderness, when the legions Of the Union
army had fought all day rather by faith
than by sight, in the wild woods and tangled
brush, some man asked General Grant
to step back q little and reorganize, and
that he replied, I'VE have done very we'll,
gentlemen; at halfpast three o'clock in the
morning we move forward We accept
this spirit and his words. Perhaps | am
not anticipating in saying that we shall
accept him again il person as our leader.
Thanking you again, gentlemen, very
heartily for the honor conferred, l await the
further pleasure of the Convention.