American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-07-27
Mr.. DOOlittle's Speech.
On taking the chair as permanent Pres
ldent of the Democratic National Con-
vention, Mr. Doolittle spoke as follows:


N.sH
On taking the chair as permanent Pres
ident of the Democratic National Con-
vention, Mr.. Doolittle spoke as follows:
Gentlemen Of the Convention 1 thank you
Tor this great honor, words cannot tell how
much, but you will allow me at once to pass
from what is personal, to speak of the great
occasion, the duty and purpose which bring
us here. Two years ago, nearly live years
after the bloody period of civil war had
closed, the Liberal Republicans of Missouri
Ispplausel feeling keenly all the evils of pro-
scriptive test oaths the passions of war had
left them, long after the war itself had ceased,
and feeling keenly the Executive Federal
dictation in their local elections, determined
to organize a movement to restore equal
rights to all our citizens, white as well as
black Iapplausel; to restore local self gov
ernment, and to arrest further Capitalization
of Federal power. lApplause.l They then
said this thing has gone far enough, if not
too far. The time has come when all honest
and patriotic Republicans must say Halt, :"
and reassert the vital doctrine of Republican
Government, that under the Constitution the
powers of the Federal Government are de-
fined and limited applause and cries of
.'goodl goodr'l, and that the people of the
States have the right to govern themselves
in their own domestic affairs upon the basis
of equality of all the. States before the higher
law, before the Constitution, and equal
ity Of all men before the law
tapplausel; universal loyalty, amnesty,
suffrage, and peace; taking no step
backward; taking no right or no franchise
which had been secured o the blacks, pledg-
ing themselves to support them all in their
full vigor- They, at the same time, demand
ed, in the name of peace, in the name of lib
erty, in the Dame of republican government
itself, that freedom and equal rights should
be restored to the white people. iGreat ap-
plause.I They organized nearly 10000 strong,
and called upon Gratz Brown IapplauseI to
head the movement; they placed him in
nomination for you, and then what followed?
Eighty thousand Democratic Republicans
lcheersl looking upon the success of that
movement as above any party triumph
whole strength. Love of country, love of
republican liberty, love of equal rights of
all men, inspired that union and taught men
to act together who had been politically OPP
posed to each other all their lives, upon
other questions and in times, without
violating either honor, logic, conscience or
consistency on either side. The patriotic
union was based upon higher grounds than
ordinarily control political action. lGreat
applause. Even those who had fought
against each other in battle, clasped hands
over the bloody chasm [renewed applause
beating in unison, beating with the same
high purpose, they helped to bear its flag on
to glorious liberty.
That, gentlemen, is Liberal Republicanism,
[cheers] and that is Democratic Republican
ism lgreat applause]. The victory which
came from that union was the end of pro-
scriptive test-oaths, of pain and strife, and
Of all dislOyalty; in word, the real end of
the civil war came with that victory, and did
not come until then in Missouri. Intense
applauseI. 1t redeemed that State, it gave
the right of freemen to &C, 600 men, who had
been bound and fettered. Missouri is now
q free State in this Union, with all her rights
and dignity and equality, under the Consti-
tuition, and not one murmur of dislOyalty is
anywhere heard. By that union Federal die
tation in Missouri in their local elections was
overthrown, and by that union strife and
hate have given place to peace and good
rights for all, has given to the State un-
bounded prosperity, and her people a joy
almost unspeakxble. So great was their joy
and SO complete their success, the Liberal
Republicans in that State were not content
without making an effort to extend the same |
union of Liberal and Democratic Republi- |
cans, and with it the same blessings of iber- |
ty, peace, and fraternity, to all other States. |
Rounds of applause Accordingly, in State |
on the oath of March last, they |
resolved to invite the Liberal Republicans in |
all the States to meet them in National
Of May That INVITATION on wa ase a lst
copied There was, indeed, a great re-
Spouse. They came by thousands, in such
vast numbers that Delegate Convention of
the representatives Of all the States was
formed, both from principle and from neces- |
sity, to give form to its proceedings. Many
Of the ablest men of the country, lately leaders
in the Republican party, were there and took
part in its deliberations. They were assured
in every State, and from all parts of the |
stood behind ready to sustain them, |
and they were morally certain that the mil |
lions whom we this day represent lcheers]
OF Liberal Republicans would reach half a |
million or more. lGreat cheers That Con- |
vention presented platform and presented
candidates to the cOuntry-for President, |
anx,ffv rhn
for Vice-President, B. Gratz Brown, more |
cheers], andthat Convention, for the promo
ton and success of the principles declared in |
that platform, there enunciated, and the sup |
port of the candidates nominated by that |
have invited and cordially well
come the cooperation of all patriotic citi-
zens, without regard to previous political affil-
lations- Those principles were clearly and
stated in the platform itself, and
restated in the letter Of acceptance of Mr..
Greeley [more cheers], and they are so well
known to you all that will not restate them.
For weeks that platform and these candi-
dates have been before the country. Mean
while the Convention called to nominate
General Grant [hisses], and to indorse and
continue the principles, practices, and policy
Of his Administration, has done its work.
NE followers of the Grant Administration
the issue is now clearly made. 1t is Grant or
Ireeley. [Great cheers, and cries of Gree
Ieyl While these events were passing
sent, held their Conventions in all States.
The Liberal Republican movement-the ex-
ample of Missouri-the Cincinnati Conven-
lion, its platform and its candidates, with
their letters of acceptance, were all before
these Conventions, which were very largely
by their ablest men, and the para
mount questions before all these Conven-
lions, were Shall we accept this invitation
10 cooperate with Liberal Republicans
Great applause.] Shall we adopt this plat
form Loud cries of Eyes, yes" and some
cries of '.never."] Shall we nominate the
'ame candidates [.'Yes, yes,''l and shall
We elect them reyes, yes, yes,'' and loud
cheering j or shall we refuse to cooperate
{" No,"l and nominate other candidates
"No, no. Greeley, Greeley,'"l and strive to
elect them over both in the field.
Gentlemen, these are the questions which
Tou are to decide here, and that you will de-
Tide wisely 1 cannot doubt, nor can any one
1Oubt who looks over this body of men,
representing, they do, three millions of
:itizens, and who feels, as every one must
Inspires you. Gentlemen, what means this
.reat uprising which you everywhere see?
What means this proposed union of three
Millions of Democratic Republicans with a
million, it may be, of Republicans? What
means this unison upon common platform,
md this proposed union upon the same can |
lidates. A union so sudden, SO compact, SO
arrest as to surprise its friends, and to con |
ound its enemies? IApplause.] Which comes
V the winds come, or which, to borrow a
igure, ovcrwhelms ordinary currents of
,ublic opinion, great streams always run
ounter to surface currents. What means
II this? There are some things, gentlemen |
: does not mean- 1t does not mean the |
of what is true, OF what is |
lkt, 81 what is good. tApplause.l 1t
cad issues, but the union of the living upon !
wing issues of the present. lApplause.1 1t ! )