The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1870-11-30
Revenue Reform.
Speech o. B. Gratz Brown, Gov
ernor elect of Missouri.

pcstuenCc, III 1idS5oWs place, corpe
q Sheridan and Webster avenue
he serenade was given under th'
auspices of n number Of prominen
Democrats, and the occasion was rem
dered quite an interesting one. Th'
Governor-elect spoke as follows:
FsHou citizens and Democrats of III,
State # AissOuri-for 1 presume J
can include representatives of all YOU
number in my address, wish to say
to you that ] thank YOU from the bet
rom of my heart for the support you
have given me in this canvass that ha:
ended in so magnificent a triumph
{ heers. / assure you, moreover,
that ] do not take that triumph to
myself personally, but only the
principles that have been so emphati-
cally indorsed -those of equal free.
dom for every man in this nation by
right of his birthright. We have
gone through this contest, we have
made no appeal to party, we have
made no discri nation against men,
and yet we have made a distinctive
appeal TO the common sentiment of
the common country, in behalf of the
right of every man to exercise the
franchise Of a freeman, and we have
won upon that principle. CCheers-)
Now 1 have to say to you without any
hesitation that 1 have to thank the
Democratic party of the State of Mis-
souri-(cheers)-for the cordial sup
port'they have given me in that posi-
ton, and I say furthermore that no
yarty has ever shown moro perfect
command of self, more perfect disre
gard of past traditions, more perfect
devotion to the patriotic welfare of
the common country than has the
Democratic party in the last election
in this State of Missouri. (Cheers.)
I a say to you frankly, my fellow
citizens, that I am the last mar in this
nation to disregard the obligations I'M
der which 1 stand, and that in this
election / recognize that my obliga-
tions are in the largest measure due to
the Democratic party Of the State Of
Missouri. CCheers.) Now, my friends,
let me tell you anothe. thing. l re-
cognize the fact that the Democratic
party of the State Of Missouri has
done this thing-it has elevated itself
upon a higher platform than it ever
occupied before; it has gone for the
rights of all men, and in so doing it
has made an initiative of the future
that will go through all the tates OF
this Union. 1t has cut itself loose
from the formulas and the distractions
of the past. and it has made a plat
form upon which the young men of
This nation can stand disembarrassed
of all the anteccdents that have gone
before Observation-Disclosures of all
that routine ct party machinery that
has kept them down heretofore. and
where they can move forward in the
spirit and in the light of a pure De
moc:acy, advancing to the conquest Of
tho future. (Cheers Fellow citi-
:zens. so far as this question concerns
our W State, 1 desire to say to you
that I recognize this as the triumph
of new ideas; that 1 recognize this as
the initiation of a reconstruction of
our State from its bottom upwards
(Cheers.9 That I recognize it as the
initiative of a new convention to re-
organize our fundamental law. pro
longed cheering.) And accepting it
in that light, I wish you all good
cheer IN the future, hoping and trust
ing only, in addition to that, that the
lesson which has been taught by this
election to the nation at large will be
received and accepted, and that the
national representatives who have
been sent from the Western country,
when they understood the force and
significance of all your votes, will un-
derstand that it is proper for them to
c~oalesce and combine and consort
with anybody and everybody that
will reduce TO the nearer approxima-
ton of justice and truth that immense
tax which is now levied upon us I'M
der the false and fraudulent guise of
a revenue tariff. CCries of THAT'S
Democracy" and ."1hat is what we
want" and cheers]. Now, my fellow
citizens, I have only to say to you, in
conclusion, that l have the honor to
be your Governor-elect for the State
of Missouri. I will promise you fur
thermore, that / will permit no rings
around the State House or out of it,
so Tar as I can.help it, to sap the life
and wealth out of the community ;
and will say furthermore, gentlemen
that in making that administration 1
will endeavor to predicate it upon
live issues, and l will endeavor to
call young men to the support of fit
[Great cheering].aB oFf