Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1870-03-15
Judge Mills Speech of Acceptance.


You have met here to nominate
my successor in the office of Circuit
Judge
| am informed that you do not de-
sire a change in the judicial Office at
present Since have occupied this
responsible position, have tried the
cases OF q great many of my fellow
citizens; younow have the advantage.
and are trying me. If the grand ju-
ry OF the people shall ratify your
/ choice at the polls, | shall not set
aside the verdict Certainly not the
love of office, or of any office, is so
gratifying to me as to know, that at
ter six years of trial, am not found
entirely unworthy of your confidence.
At the same time, | know that owe
my nomination, not to any SUPERIOR
ty in learning or fitness but, with
out arrogance, | may claim the adj
vantage of age-of long practice at
the bar but above all this, for nv
denomination, | am indebted TO the
characteristic modesty ana nagnani-
nifty ofmy profession. Younger men
choose the forum, and are willing TO
make larger room for their genius
by comforting upon their seniors
the honorable exile of the bench. |
accept their kindness; but let my
Junior brethren remember that wheth-
or am elected or not, six years from
now another Republican convention
will assemble here and sacrifice one
OF their number upon the alter of his
country's welfare, even as | am the
present victim.
Our Democratic opponents are in
TINS Circuit at the present time patri-
otlcally and generously opposed to
party nomination for judicial Office
La burst of enthusiasm they would
abolish all party distinctions, and
make the people all in all They
doubtless owe this extraordinary
virtue 10 their numerical weakness
in this circuit, and as this condition
is favorable to their moral health and
reformation, the Republican party
ought to keep them in minority
La fact, the first judicial party conven-
ton ever held in this circuit. in 1852,
| think, nominated my friend Judge
Cothren. He beat Judge Jackson,
an independent candidate, but drew
his support mainly from the then
Wing party. Democrats, if they are
sincere, must believe Their party en-
braces the best men, and best princi-
Piles. Democrats, in this circuit are
not SO humble or so modest as TO
erase this article from their creed -
No dlffidence or distrust in their own
capacity or ability will prevent that
party from taking possession Of all
positions of power and trust in the
government as soon az they are able.
Gentlemen, / can afford to DO beaten
in this contest, but the Republican
party cannot afford to be beaten
The Republican party has saved the
nation from obstruction and dissolu-
ton; it has created new era OF
progress, not only in our own country,
but throughout the civilized world.
Dismember this party and you have
no great, all absorbing issues that
will rally TO their defence the pro-
foundest sympathies of human ma
ture, the religion, the intelli gence,
the patriotism, the consecrate1 choice
and progressive spirits of the age, in
one mighty brotherhood. No finan-
cial questions, tariff, nor free trade,
nor greenbacks, nor gold itself, pos
sesses this magnetic power Through
the unconquerable energy and sense
ofjustice that swayed the Republican
party, the people Of the United States
have wiped on in their own blood
the damning sp0l OF caste and slavery
! haY harm N. zed the federal constitu-
ion with the Declaration of hide
pendence, and now the sun beholds
what il never saw before, "a nation OF
thirty millions of people asserting in
their fundamental law the political
equality Of all human beings, and
possessed Of an executive and admin
istrative power and fidelity that will
make It's practice equal TO its profess
| sions. No wonder that gold itself
with all its haughtiness and aristo-
cratic pride, is now about to give up
the the contest and surrender to that
party whose political economy affirms
that human freedom and national
faith are more sacred and precious
than even that gittering dust. Let
us not be distracted about financial
questions, but leave their adjustment
to the wisdom Of that party which
has conducted US through perils and
trials to which no other people have
been subjected.
Gentlemen, as long as the deadly
foes Of the recent amendments to our
national constitution are organized,
are determined by Withdrawing tho
consent of the several states to those
amendments, to bring as back to the
balcyon days Of Pierce, Treason &
Buchanan as long as that party are
determined, whenever they can get
a majority in Congress, 10 trample
these amendments under foot with
revolutionary fury, so long should
the Republican party stand as firm
and united as Roman Legions or
Macedonian Phalanx.
But, as strong as the Republican
party is, it cannot elect a candidate
who fails promptly to account for
every cent of the public money that
comes into his hands 1t has not the
power to elect a man to Office who
will sell official patronage for money.
As long as we do right, we are ON
nipotent but if we attempt to DO
wrong,our better practised democrat
ic foes would laugh at our imbecili-
ty.
Gentlemen, as fellow citizen, as
a Republican, | have made this plea
for the perpetuity of our organization
because | am satisfied that the pres
eat and future development of our
country depends upon our fidelity
We accede TO all opponents the same
rights that we claim, to advocate the