Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-12-12
COngratulaIOry Meeting AT Mechanic,
HAIL

felt enthusiastic over the great vote and great
victory Of the day, this feeling finding some
expression in the building of great bonfres in
various parts Of the city-one being in front
of Mechanics hall. Itwas early announced that
a meeting was to be held at the hall, and the
baud being present, the large gathering was
quickly assembled.
The meeting was called to order and presided
over by Charles b. Pratt, assisted by numerous
array of vice presidents and secretaries As he
read the names several were greeted with round,
Of applause. He read from paper the result o.
the days work, rcmarking as he closed, that
"tbc ring is broken"
Messrs George T. Rice and c. Aldrich were
appointed a committee to wait upon Mr.. Very
and while they were out Capt. j A. Titus was
called upon and made a brief address, in which
he severely criticised the consistency of party
leaders, who last year bolted the nomination OF
one of the fairest conducted conventions even
held, and now shake the party lash over those
who this year take the liberty to act with cit
zen's movement. He gave some figures to show
that Mr.. Very had majority of the republican
votes Of the city, and quoted humorously 4
fight OF rhetoric INDUCED in by a republican at
a ward eight caucus meeting.
MIR. Very entered the hall at the close of Mr..
Titus speech, and was received with tremendous
applause When the cheering had somewhat
subsidized, lie came forward and spoke as fol
lows:
Jh Chairman, Friends, and FellOlo Citizens
We meet for purposes OF congratulation and
rejoicing; and since our lines have fallen in
pleasant places, let us not forget those who
grieve, but tender them our kindest and most
magnanimous wishes for their continued pros
perity and happiness, and satisfactory issue
ont Of all their Affections. ! include among
those who 9rievG the two gentlemen who have
escaped the burden Of this imposition, one OF
whom having been OverperSuaded to thrust him
self into the breach against his better Judgment,
but the other, although by actual count the
preferred candidate OF the nominating cOnyen-
ZION, refusing absolutely TO allow his friends to
"buckle this fortune on his back" not having
desired the position,
For both these gentlemen | have the highest
regard, and if found supporting the onward
and liberal ideas of prog css and reform, they
would always receive at my hands my most
cordial sympathy and support 1t is not to
these ] address any words of coincidence
but to that COtcrie composed pin
cipally of 4 few lawyers and first rate
politicians who have set themselves up as the
gods OF republican political idolatrv, and have
issued their edict that all who believe in the re-
publican faith shall bow down and worship at
their shrine. They need your coincidence; for
While the result Of this election determines no
question Of political policy, the campaign,
though brief, has tended to develope the grasp
iug, tyranucal and ever Oyerreaching character
OF some Of the republican party leaders. 1t has
furnished fruitful evidence of the c0msummate
authority with which these masters have com
mandCd obedience. In this instance their tyr
amy has assumed Il form too bold to be dis
guiscd, too transparent TO be concealed.
One gentleman, layorte in the party, the
first choice of many of lis most active working
members; gentleman Of worth and culture, OF
business capacity and excellent social position, is
compelled by the exercise OF this party tyranny,
offer receiving the votes Of a majority of the con.
yention to 60 down Onh knees and sue for pardon
for having aspircd to be recognized, and to
abandon the field in favor of another gentle
man, perhaps equally well fitted for the position,
N but Il greater layOrite of those sell-consituted
dictat0rs. So also of the gentleman selected
for alderman Of ward eight How disgraCeful
is this dctatiOu. How degrading to intelligent
and thinking men that, like driven slaves, they
should allow themselves TO be bullicd and driven
into acquescence in their demands If this is
rcpublcanism, | thank God that this rising of
the people gives promise that we are to be rid of
il.
Let those Of u.s. therefore, who are republic
cans, take courage in the promise and indulge
the hope that hereafter i'm this community, the
doctrine that republican governments derive
their power from the consent of the governed
and not by the license Of two or three, who as
sumo to be party leaders, is once more to be
recognized in Our midst.
And see in this result the golden promise
that hereafter the wishes, the wisdom
and the intelligence which always has char
l,l I,n nd Hln of tIp &c 10
be respected, and that the party is not TO be
used for the benefit the honor and the cmolu-
mcnt of this ring, who have heretofore assumed
to dictate TO us the way we must 90.
This has been our misfortune for long time ;
and when the party whip has been cracked by
these masters of the ring it has been expected
that we should waltz, and gallop, and walk, and
lie down, and get up like the trained trick horse
of the arena.
| rejoice with great Joy to believe that this
party whip is lost, these party handouts
broken, AM that these would be dictators have
gone dOwnIwhere they bclong-nto their boots.
When look at the fulillment Of the prophecy
Imade you when | accepted your nomination,
that you would 90 on and confirm the dOings OF
your convention by an overwhelming vote,
| believed then that the time had come when
republicans having suffered enough from these
tyranical party rulers, would break away from
them and stand up in their manhood and their
strength and rebuke this impudent assumption
of power and authority.
And, fellow republicans, looking upon your
familiar faces, and hearing the rustic of your
potent ballots, the impotent threat, conveyed to
us i'm such Il mysterious manner, that we are
to be read out OF the party, loses the greater
part Of its terror to me aud falls harmless at our
feet.
Read us out of the party, indeed When is
the reading to begin? Who is to perform this
service? Perhaps the bearer Of the corpse of
that rhetorical bird mistaken for the American
earle, but which turned out to be Il goose,
and was shot before it had reached in its rhe-
torical fight half way to the cerulean vault
above. Or, perhaps Mr.. F. p Bottom" who
enacts p uranus and "roars as gently as a
sucking dove" If he attempts to do the read
ing let him provide himself with some cover
ing. No matter what, that the ass may be as
much as possible disguised.
We have to congratulate ourselves, also, that
the people have determined that our home at
fairs are not to be exclusively conducted and adj
mlnistered by any political party. This is the
true doctrine, and we have to thank our friends
of the opposition for bringing TO our aid the
able and eloquent service of that shining light
OF political faith and integrity, the Hon Alex.
IL. Bullock, who laid down for our guidance his
own determination to scratch the ticket when
ever he should find that scratching would i'm
prove It's condition. This, as | understand it,,
has always been tue guide and doctrine of the
democracy. And boldly and manfully and most
generously have you my democratic friends
come up to the performance of this duty, beng
as you recognized yourselves to be, but minor
ity 0fthe voting population OF the city, although
but slighHy SO, you have demanded only that
your right to Il representation in the city GOV
erment shall he conceded and recognized
am not so cOnceted as TO suppose that this
result has been brought about by reason of any
merits OF my own, for you all know how mex.
perienced ! am in the management of affairs
such MS you haze entrusted to me, and distrust-
fu as am of my ability to serve you accepta-
bly,, bespeak from all good citizens of our
glorious and beautiful city, their aid and
their sympathy and support in my
labors, aud their generous considerations for
my mistakes and shortcomings, and | am
strengthened and sustained in the belief that
you will generously lend me your aid and en-
couragement.
assure you, friends and fellow citizens, that
/ have never sought this Office, although am, |
hope, duly sensible and grateful for the honor
You have conferred upon me. | can assure you
that have pledged myself to no particular