Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1872-08-30
remarks Of Hon. John Ritchie.


date for Congress, from this District. That
duty performed, Mr.. r., accompanied by the
committee appeared 10 convention and made
the following remarks, as reported in the
Cumberland Times
Gentlemen of the Convention ITO have been
once honored with your confidence would fill
the measure Of high ambition, but TO receive
the tribute Of swell done ~ and be again
selected as the representative Of your principles
| and interests, with the unanimity which has
characterized yonr action, awakcns a graft
tude and sense Of obligation that language Is
inadequate to express.
BE assured shall endeavor to prove not
wholly unworthy OF a distinction so dispro-
portioned TO my merits, while cherishing the
spirit in which 1t has been conferred as my
appeal and refuge whenever shall fail in the
effort.
Happily for me you have not deemed il your
duty at this time to critically weigh my abiliss
ties against those of other and distinguished
friends who might have been Damed. Other
considerations including generous impulse
to reward what faithfulness your partiality
has impaired 10 my past course, have spared
me comparison in which must have failed.
The harmony and self-forgetfuness display
ed in according unquestioned this re-nomina-
tion, imply no superior excellence in its re-
cipient, but rather, a devotion 10 the cause
itself that does not stop to dwell upon indi-
viduals; singleness of purpose in which we
are fortunate, and that gilds our prospects as
the sure omen Of success.
Gallant Carroll has been taken from US, and
old Montgomery added, trust TO our mutual
satisfaction. think itproper here 10 drop
tribute 10 those who have gone from us since
e last met Would that Roman and Baugh-
man were with US as in the last campaign. So
far as it pleased the citizens Of Allegany TO
refer to my course I return my thanks, and
will always hold them in grateful remem-
brapce. This district is one that any man
should be proud to represent; rich in intelli-
gence and resources.
Gentlemen, we enier upon this contest under
remarkable circumstances. The spectacle Of
Democrats uniting with Liberal Republicans
to elect a lifelong opponent 10 the Presiden-
tial office may well challenge scrutiny. lis
import should not be misunderstood. What
does ii signify2 Does it mean that Horace
Greeley has ieDented of his past political life
and become democrat? Does it mean that
Democrats have iecanied their former princi-
Piles and become Repubiicans2 II means Meth
err. It means simply this that democrats in
consideration that g eat and pressing evils
Lay yet be 'enedied, il The 70 :niuable powers
in which ssihev are ent .enched can be over
may be made available have determined to
waste no strength upon past issues, where they
have hardened into accomplished and ire
verslbe facts, but to cooperate wi b Repubt.-
cans of like purpose as a common effort to
rescue the Government fsom further subve
sion, restore all sections to one u othe, hood
and bring back the administration to the
salutary restraints and iofluence of better days.
A portionof the Republican party intend
hat tHa uyar OH h. Al
years after it was so in fact ipat there shodid
be an end of the hostile spirit and oppressive
legislation belonging to state OF war; that
the South should no LONGER be virtually Kept
out of the Union, and v:ctimized by Garnet
bag robbery and negro domination That the
people and States should be restored to tie
rights and relations that belong to . time OF
peace: and that the tendency TO centraliNation
the nepotism, corruption and extra yagance
engendered by an era of strife, swoliel reve-
nues and an uninter. upted party reis1 of
twelve years should be checked and cor, ec,eG;
and finding themselves in this p aisewo.try
work of reconciliation and reform es'sie6 ~
the present Administration, whose spirit AMI
impress has beer APPLY portrayed ard deemed
as Grantism," periodically organ ed nem-
selves 10 expel this baleful usurpa,ion cor the
h.gh places of power, and with horace Gree
lev at their head made their appeal for sup
port TO the country.
To that appeal the Democratic pc ~ has
RESPONDED.
In so doing-whatever may he thoagos or
wished--it has neither recanted Is prs . no.
we trust committed self-destrrc;'o,
Regarding itself insufficient TO nile s'r-
.e-panded with the adversary, t.,ts ,oases e,
cooperate where its numbers M. nj hf sc
eateed it to lead, ard to accept a 81 e. Ic FOR
SO much Of public good as il deemed n ..cticalv
attainable, even though made be'ow own
former standard of aspiration.
! am frank TO admit that should ba:e o.
ried in the adoption Of the Demce ic pc
as the appropriate Instruments tie neorie 10
accomplish the reforms and eTsct The econ
Citation for which the popvls wee hes so
long yearned and TO have see !, i1sri cd
with ambition TO restore tie Cons;lc ION to
lis fair proportions before ma ed ~ arc,
violence and war. But in is desc, ca wa:on
demanded no such preference. add dec eed
for itself less comprehensive, lsoleh SOL
honorable mission. All Democ ccod rot
think alike, and the few mr 81 ali De he We eic,
of the many. Fora portion now still to essay
what the voice of the party hes autJo Ia sev
pronounced imnracticable, and n so u. onourc-
ing has made so, if not so othe, wise wociG De
but 10 destroy an organization; and im3e il
what of noble achievement is yet possible.
it became evident TO me eighteen men rs ago
from my observations in Congressman ! nav
add against my wishes and enrea so.s-,bai
the Judgment Of Northern Democrats and Inc
calling expressions of the South we fas,
leading the one and goading the one into an
acceptance of much which our party ia ae
OF 1868 sought TO avoid a,c i
soon became apparent probably that b. he
methods of "New Depar6s e. a'sass. sism"
and like conceptions of ,ol:cy. Inc campa;o
OF 1872 was TO be one of CO ope iol be,~eon
Democrats and Liberal Eepuo'icans on The
basis of an acceptance of re endorsement
to the Constitution diseo,h 'ment of Ire
white people of the Soc : anc he estay,ise-
ment of local self sese.p rent. When th.s
to me what particrlsr iadiv;ooel LIGHT be
selected as its expouep Having w cesse,
the sowing of the seed ca w Ieco ,cied nv
self 10 accept its inev aole re. rest; snu my
chief concern now is, ha. we ia' not to
gather the crop by wpich alone we pust be
nourished if at all.
While it does not ss,or .sh me that some
Democrats are relucsa >. 10 Sumo | Eo ace
Greeley, on reflection taev VIII perceive Il 20
be their only true course. : hey nos asled
to sustain him for whit he epresen ed 10
tn the past, but for what he zen esee s nov.
Those who support Grant can unde's and ms
Let US as practical men ado ess OF selves 10
the memorable situation. II is mo a',v &c
tain our next President will be Grart or c ee-
lev. b who fails 10 voie for he L., = &c
tically aids The forpler-;s1o ibis eonpla .ioa
it mast come at last.n
Ett wife we may not pase all we wou.a
mech s We. a'tauaoie If we with wisuom
aru u,isv. Ii is oos6i.ion ,eseders 20 ne
i3s 22 arston of relief PM e orm that Grant