Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-09-05
Con. Washburn's Speech.

publicans OF Wisconsin with the ioi-
lowing remarks:
Mr. Chairman and gentlemen Of This Convention;
| sheuld be greatly wanting in
sonsibility did | not deeply feel and
gratefully acknowledge my obliga-
tons for this manifestation Of your
confidence aud regard. A commit
tee of this Convention has informed
me that it has been your pleasure to
Mace me in nomination. as your cans
didate for Governor. La appearing
before you to signify my acceptance
of that nomination, beg TO return
you my most cordial thanks-thanks
That can find poor expression IN
words. | accept the nomination in
the confident hope that | may be OF
real service to the people Of the State
in the event Of my election and
pledge you my best efforts to serve
The State aud promote its prosperity,
honor and happiness aud, SO far as
depends on me | can promise equal
and exact Justice TO all mon, OF what
ever State or persuasion, religion or
politics applause. ! am well
aware that to fill position that has
been so ably and satisfactorily filled
heretofore is not an easy task; but
sustained and guided by your gener-
GUS confidence and support, ! shall
hope to so act, in case OF my elec~
ton, as TO cause mono OF you to regret
this days action. applause.
But, gentlemen, you have other
duties to perform, and here ! ought
to stop and permit you TO finish the
work you have begun and ! will
detain you but moment, that |
may congratulate you on the gener-
al prosperity Of the country and the
brilliant prospects of our party, both
state and national, 10 the future.
The administration of our state Gov
eminent has been such that / hear
DO complaint anywhere outside Of
the Democratic platform. Every
department of the state government
has been filled ably, honestly and
efficiently, aud the people desire no
change. (Applause) The national
administI alton, in ali its essentials
for which the public care has been
a great success for though it may
be true that there are persons, and
good and true, that feel agrieved be-
cause their counsels have not receiv-
cd the consideration TO which they
were, perhaps, entitled, the public
care little for matters of personal
character. They look for results,
and those results are eminently sat>
sfactory, and satisfy the people that
the administration is wise, humane,
economical, honest and efficient.
| Applause | need not recall what
It has accomplished The whole
country, save 10 few districts where
the Klukiux Democracy predomin-
ates, is ut peace, prosperous and hap
by. All the States are restored to
their proper place in the Union, and
the Government is 80 strong and so
firmly established in the affections of
the people that it can defy all as
sauts, either from without or with
in, and can now, in spirit of char
ity, without weakening and without
hazard to the principles OF universal
liberty, proclaim universal amnesty
throughout all our borders. ZAP
plause.)
Our relations with foreign nations
are of the most satisfactory charac.
ter. and never Was our country more
honored and respected abroad than
now. The Alabama difficulty, which
threatened the peace OF the two
most powerful nations in the world,
has been settled in a manner entire
ly satisfactory and in every way hon
orable TO us. Applause. The pub
lie burdens have been lightened by
constantly diminishing taxation, the
revenues honestly collected and APP
piled, the public debt largely reduced
and the public credit largely advanc-
ed and constantly improving. Our
Indian policy, wise and humane, by
promising Indian wars are avoided
and the great drains on the public
treasury TO maintain them the laws
faithfully executed for the protec-
ton of the weak and powerful alike
these are some of the fruits of q
Republican administration. Is it
any wonder that the people are sat
isfied and desire no change? ? La a
word, our administration has been
so wise, so just and satisfactory, and
the principles Of our party are so
much in accord with the enlightened
spirit of the ago, that we have seen
our adversaries in many places en-
deavoring to slough off their disloyal
coverings, abandoning their rotten
platform and their principles, accur-
sed of God and man, and making a
"new departure" (Applause.) 1t
is time for them to depart (applause),
and those who are honest in taking
leave Of their principles and their
sins will no doubt be found acting
with us and helping TO swell our ma
iorities Those who are not honest
will endeavor to cheat the people into
the belief that they have met with a
change of heart. CLaughter.) Can
it be possible that great party can
change its principles in "a moment,
liz the twinkling of an eye,and be hon
est? TO state the question is to answ-
or it. You might as we'll expect the
Ethiopian to change his skin or the
leopard his spots. The disguise is
too thin. The people will not be de-
ceived, but will adhere to the party
that has proved equal to every emer-
gency. (Applause.)
The Democracy, having nominal
ed candidate for Governor, a gentle
man for whom | have warm per-
sonal regard, who, it is understood,
proposes to canvass tho state, | shall
lose no time in inviting him TO meet
me in joint discussion, Cloud sp>
plause,) and, as he is gentleman OF
great experience and eloquenco, and
has seen many sides of many ques-
tions, (laughter) | shall hope that
we may have canvass that will BIO
both interesting and instructive.