Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1871-09-20
Whole No. 1865,

tney Know 70 be false, simply TO OBJ
tain votes. Instead Of receiving pub-
lie approval the whole convention
ought to be indicted for swindling.
But suppose that Cornell is wrong
that the Convention was really
honest, and that by their platform
they mean to affirm and approve the
three great Republican measures, and
in good faith carry them ont. Let US
suppose they wish publicly to repudi-
ate their old platform-recaIlt all their
former slaveholding and barbarous
heresies and oec1py 8 position more
in conformity with the spirit of the
age Let us look upon it as a forward
movement Of the party, made in good
faith. If this be so, what propriety
is there in asking for power? Why
should they not dfsband at once2
They repudiate their errors, and I am
glad. They strike their tents, leave
their old camping ground and move
forward. They come tagging along
in the rear Of the great progressive
party Of the nation. am glad even
of this-glad Of fztheir Endorsement,
even though it comes grudgiugly and
reluctantly. When the great battle
Of liberty and equality was being
fought they stood by, giving eneOur-
agement to our enemies; now, when
victory is won they come in and ask
for power on account Of it. Why did
they not helpus fight the battle when
the day was dark and the result doubt
full? Their very position is an open
confession of past errors and present
sin and unc3eanness. They have no.
more right to ask for power than the
trembling sinner who comes to the
altar and begs for the prayers of the
congregation. has to demand forth
with, the minister's robe or the deaf
cons office. By their own confession
they stand condemned and are unfit
to hold the reins Of the Government.
Slowly, painfully, and in the n1idstof
prayers, tears, suffering and blood,
has the great temple Of the republic
been build. Let those whose hands
have laid each stone in its appointed
place-those whose hands are clean,
and whose hearts are pure, minister
at its altars, rather than the men who
stood by and moeked while the work
was being done ~
WHAT OF THE FUTURE.
In this review Of parties, I have
spoken only Of the past and present.
What of the future Which party can
do most for the country and the peO-
pie in the future ?.LThe past with all
its sOrrows and glories, its defeats and
victories will take care of itself. Let
US turn our eyes forward. What are
the wants of the age and the country?
The era upon which we now enter is
to be one of develOpementa and growth
in all the arts Of peace. Our Popula-
ton now amounts to little ever 3S,
100000. If all the territory within
the jurisdiction of the United States,
excluding Alaska, were as thiekly SET
tied as the State of Massachusetts,, to.
the square mile. we should have four
hundred and seventy-six millions of
people. This win indicate what may
be the measure of our growth In that
direction There are within. our
boundaries, millions of acres of the
finest farming lands in the world, yet
u u-oecupied. Our mines of gold, sill
yer, copper, iron, lead and coal are
inealeulable in extent and value.
Our commercial advantages are su-
perior.. In all the elements and sourc-
es Of wealth and power we are unri-
vailed among the nations. Tt seems
to me that America is the promised
land--the Canaan Of the people of the
old world Emigration from Europe.
has been going forward for many
years, with steadily increasing vol
ume. It should be encouraged. Now
the millions WhocOme to Us from 9TH
eF lands, as well as the millions who
are born here, are the majority of
them, men and women of toll. say
this to their honor, for to my mind
the only badge Of nobility in any land
is that which is earned by the labor
of the hands or brain. The whole
power Of the State should be directed
to the building up, strengthening
and growth Of the laboring and pro-
ducing classes in all that pertains to
their moral, intellectual and peeu-
mary advaDtage-and to the develop
ment of the resources Of the country.
We want more men IL orr agricultu-
raj distriets-more men il our mining
and manufacturing districts. These
men must be protected in all their
rights. 1t must be one great object of
alllegislative and governmental action
to make the people prosperous and
happy. We want free men-intelli-
gent men-capable men. What party
can 40 so well for these vast numbers
of people, as the one which broke the
manaeles from the limbs of 4, ,OOO, 900
of bondmen, and by an irrevoeable
decree, declared that ell men in
America shall be free 5Orever Free
dom Is the first REQUESTS Of individual
success or happiness What party
can do SO well as the one which has
provided free homesteads for actual
settlers where industry and economy
are sure of reward ? What party can
do SO well as the one which has de-
clared the rights and principles Of all
men equal before the law in every
State and territory in the Union, and
which now pledges the whole power
of the Government for the protection
Of the humblest and poorest child in
the Republic? -
Think over in your minds what are
the elements and conditions necessary
to human success and happiness.
They are freedom, equality, protection
Of rights and opportunity to work.
All these have been secured to the
people by the Republican party. One
of the strongest arguments in favor of
this organization is that it has estab-
lished and defended the great cardi-
nal doctrines of good government, so
essential tOthe well being and pros
perity of the labOring masses. On
the broad platform of equality we
stand. The Democratic slavery-hold-
ing eristoeracy has passed away.
There are no longer any privileged
orders, and never can be again, so
long as the Thirteenth, Fourteenth
and Fifteenth Amendments stand in
the Constitution. Now, we all start
alike, and merit, not birth, wins the
race. The farmer boy, educated in
the old district school house that
stands at the cross roads, with no
capital to start with but his hands and
brains, leaves his fathers roof and
steps out into the world alone. He
may be poor in purse, but in rights
he is the peer of the prOudest man in
the land. The consciousness of this
fact gives him courage and he begins
right manfully the struggle for sue
cess. This is why orr noblest and
greatest statesmen come from the
ranks Of the labOring classes. When
the storm Of civil war began to be
heard in the distance and thiekening
dangers shreatened on every, hand.
we took the railsplitter Of Illinois and
made him President, and he led the
nation through its years Of gloom. to
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