Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-05-02
Speech OF ME-. BILLINGS.

/ chair addressed the Convention as fol
| lows:
SPEECH OF MR.. BILLINGS.
| The Republican party of Vermont is
| not afflicted with the divisions which,
/ in some States, give 70 conventions con-
/ f1icting delegates and troublesome pre-
liminary questions and, SO compel the
selection of skillful presiding officer.
Indeed, so easy always is the Organiza-
ton of a convention here that when, in
addition, the work to be done, as in the
present instance, is simple, any member
of the convention can perfectly well pre-
side over its deliberations. AS | partici-
pate, however, in the dOings of politi-
cal convention of my native State now
for the first time for nearly quarter of
a century. | cannot help treating my call
to the chair as token of kind remem-
brance, and beg leave to give you, as
do give you, my thanks for the com
pliment you pay me.
have said the work of the cOnvcn-
ton is simple, and so it is. To be sure,
this is the Presidential year-a year of
conflicts and conventions, of proposed
new departures and new organizations /;
and, what with the conspicuous names
heralded at times in connection with
new movements, to one shutting both
eyes and listening with only one ear, it
may be a serious question if the old fOun-
datiOns are not all broken up, and, then,
what are we all to do? This very day
there assemble in the Garden City of the
West two conventions, and with one are
associated hOnOred names, high up on
the roll of the history of the Republican
party. There have been other cOnven-
tons There will be others still. But
the Republicans of Vermont, while keep
ing eyes on all and praying that no evil
may come from any, look to the con-
vention to be held in Philadelphia. on
the 9TH day of June, for the authorita-
Icy of the Republicans Of the nation,
and the selection of their candidates for
the Presidential struggle.
And they do so because they are hon
estly and intelligently convinced that the
highest political welfare of the nation
demands the continued ascendancy of
the party that fought the war for the
salvation of the nation, carried it success
fully through, and then, graphing with
the imperious questions resulting from
IllC wal, HAS bN)IIlt NIi It's SIlOuIUCIS IIlC
work of reimbursement to the new life
They believe that III no other course is
there safety; that vital questions not
yet permanently settled make it foolish,
if not criminal, to try experiments.
No one can claim that the Republican
party, as such, is to live forever ON the
old issues alone. 1t grew out of the
avowed will of Slavery to dominate the
republic When the Great War came
there was a fusion of parties. All were
enlisted under the old ba%er who were
determined on the preservation of the
Union, to the defeat Of Slavery. Every
thing else was secondary. And 50, in
the National Army, and the people who
stood behind it, there was no division of
opinions as to the policy and admins
tratiOn of the Government in peaceful
times, because of the great overshadow-
ing question, shall there be a Govern
ment to he administered in peaceful
times at all.
And | have always thought that when
the war was over. and slavery eXtermin-
ated, and the government was safe, and
there was no chance of jeopardy to the
achievements of the war, no risk of ViO-
latiOn of obligations resulting from the
War-when the necessary amendments
to the Constitution were made, and I'M
Qualiedlv respected, and equal rights
were in fact as well as in name secure to
all. and every dollar of the Nations
debt was, as some one has said, las
sacred as the soldiers grave"-When the
Republican party had accomplished its
original object and great deal more,
then, have thought, the original ele-
ments of the Republican party would.tO
a certain extent, re-assert themselves,
and because of this, and new issues arts
ing, there might be a readjustment
somewhat of party platforms and party
lines.
l say of new issues arising, because
they arr arising, have already arisen,
and will ever arise. And the nation,
standing in the presence Of new aims and
aspirations, new hopes and duties, must
meet these issues, nor attempt to deride
or evade them. The world moves. and
the men and the parties who do not
move too will be run over and crushed |
out. But while have thought party
lines would be constructed somewhat |
anew, | have hoped the Republican
party, sloughing off the useless old, and |
taking i'll and inspired by the vital new.
would be substantially the party of the /
long future. 1t was such a noble party |
1t represented such indispensable ideas |
of justice and equality. 1t went so
bravely under the cloud and through |.
the crimson sea" 1t did its work 50 |
well 1t is such a noble party Has
such a grand constituency-has such |
vantage ground Is so capable of car
rying out the best purposes of the wisest
men. 1t seems to me that such a grand |
historic organization has not yet done |
its work. and is not yet to pass away |
Certainly, not yet are the pall-bearers at |
the door. And if it is not to be the |
party of the future, it certainly is the !
party of the present. Where else is /
safety?
| reJOIce at every sign of a new depar- |
ture by the Democrats, every token that, |
their old positions, they ac-
cept the new situation and begin new
life. But whatever they may do as in |
dividuals or in individual States, what /
title have they, as national party, to \
the confidence of the people and the (
control of the government As party /
they were tainted with disloyalty during
the war, and have never been frankly, gen
timely loyal since the war. In the last pre-
sidential struggle they virtually inscribed
on their banners reputation Of the ma
tional debt and notification of the CON
,titutional amendments The party, as
i has been, is unworthy to exist. 1t
ought to die and be buried. 1t can really
i've again only on new platforms and
lnder new watchwords. Its most sa-
yacious leaders so understand it. The
new platforms and watchwords are COM
ng-have already come in some quar-
ers. And the nearer they are to those
# the Republican party the better it will