The weekly clarion., 1872-05-09
The Cincinnati Convention.
Address of Hon. Stanley Matthews
the Temporary Chairman.

the Temporary Chairman.
He said: 1t is no affectation on nv part
when | say TO you that it Is impossible TO
express the deep sepsibIlity with which |
have received this unexpected and most
/ distinguished mark of your consideration.
The honor of temporarily diseharging the
duties OF the chair in the preliminary or
ganiZation of BODY which, / believe and
trust, is to be memorable in the history O.
parties and politics in this country is altof
gether undeServed. and am altogether un-
| prepared by the suddenness of the invita-
tion TO assume these duties properly, or 70
| preface them with remarks which, under
other circumstances. might be considered
| In proper conformity TO the usual custom
Nevertheless wonderful presence inspires
thought or two which, perhaps, / will not
be trespassing TOO much upon your atten-
ton and your time if l venture to suggest
Applause. Or course, gentlemen, it would
| not De becoming in me, nor prudent 10 as
sume at the out o1tset the role of the proph-
ct, for am neither phophet nor the son
OF a prophet and no man yet can tell what
may be the issues of your deliberations, or
the result TO which your conclusions will
tend. And yet without reference 10 any
certain results within the scope of present
prediction. there are, some things which
know can be safely affirmed with pect to
this Convention. The thing which | prize
most in myself as a treasure TO be guarded
and defended, and 10 witness the spectacle
of IL In the breasts of other men. is this /:
That the time has come when il is the voice
of an exceedingly large and influential por-
ton OF the American people that they are
determined that they viii not longer be
dogs
TO WEAR THE COLLAR OF A PARTY.
[Applause.l We have Assem- bled ourselves
together, under call limiting our charac-
ter as Republicans as those who have here
tofore, in the divisions of party politics.
been designated as mem bers of the Repub-
llcan party am not ashamed, gentlemen.
TO have borne that name with thousands OF
others whose previous party affiliations
might have led them otherwise united al
most unconsciOuSly and involuntary by the
oVerpowerlng force of the public. Circum-
stance and history of the country with the
others who constituted that party rallvinp
at the call ofthe country when the integrity
OF the I Mon was assailed by the spirit of
arms and secession for the purpose OF main
taining the integrity of the nation That
was successfully accomplished, and of the
past. at least we are secure. The great
achievement of your struggles has been
embedded not only in the hearts and habits
and the condition of the people. but have
now become perpetually part of our fun
damental laws. establishing forever the
inasSailability of the Union and the inteOri-
~ OF the nation, with the principle OF the
political equality of all citizens before the
law. Applause.l So far gentlemen as the
Republican party under the providence OF
God was instrumental i'm accomplishing
that work, they are entitled to and will
receive the congratulations of this genera
ton, and the approval of generations TO
come. Applause. And now then since
this uprising. if the Republican party has
done so well in the past, why not trust it
this assemblage, in
THIS REBELLION AGAINST THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY,
the highest eulogy that can be pronounced
upon the principles of that party AN
piause.l Because it has conscious integri ty
sufficient left to begin the work of re form
ing itself by itself. Applause Parties,
gentlemen, in this country cannot live on
their reputation, it was remarked, l believe !
by Sir Walter Raleigh-I believe in refer
ence to the pride of ancestry, he said that
those who boasted most of their proienitors |
were like the plant which he had discov- |
cred in America-the best part was under 1
the ground: [Laughter.l 1t is not because |
the Republican party has done good things |
that it deserves TO live, but only as it shows |
a present ability to continue the work of |
reform, by the application of the same /
principles with which it achieved its past |
success. [Applause.l 1t is because those |
who have succeeded in obtaining control of |
its organization and machinery for divert
ing it from its legitimate objects and pur-
poses; that we are here to-day TO call back
those who have wandered ard To recall those
who are willing to work with us TO restore
those principles to their proper primacy
And now, gentlemen, one of the deep and
earnest convictions which has spread uni
versally almost through the hearts of the
American people, and out of which this
movement originates, is this, that the war
THE REBELLION Is ENrED, AND THAT PEACE
Appiause.l And that as the war has ended
20 ought military rule and military princi-
)les. Cries of "Good Good - and loud
heers.l So ought everything that is arbi-
rary; so ought everything that degrades
ace or Individual; so ought everything
hat oppresses. everything that keeps alive
nd fans the embers ofthe dying and ought ,
o-be-dead past. The cry came up four
ears ago. and it was thought to be an omen
1 the coming of that time which we have | ,
)oked for in vain when it was said "Let us :
ave peace" But We have not had peace. /
LOOK AT THE SOUTH TO-DAY. !
What a spectacle. We have the example Of I
O-called civil governments bankluptinQ l.
ne communities they affect to represent, I
he power is usurped by strangers, and NOT @
by the voice of the people, and
OF for the purpose of restoring the pros
Gritty Of those battle e-grazed fields. but for A
Orruptly enricning the men who think
lat power and office belong TO them as
roperty, and not as trust; and So gen
emen, in every department of the govern
tent the slow poison of corruption. only
OF sufficiently slow, seems to have perya-
ed the whole civil and political admins p
aCion of the couRtry, from the head to the n
'ot. Applause. 1t is because Republi- n
ms, with pain. with reluctance, with sor- +
wv and with regret, see, know and expe- q
ence this condition of public affairs that r
ley have felt that they
)ULp NO LONGER AFFORD THE REsPoNsI- 81
BILITY OF PARTNERSHIP IN
SUCH WRONG.
Applause.l But it was their duty to lead II
e column out in order to restore all the n
essings OF a good government, a sound %
'vernment, just government and of an d
'nest government. Applause But, N
l am OBTAINING you much longer a,
an | intended. You have great work ir
fore yOu,a work ofunexam pied difficulty. q,
et us not conceal it from ourselves. You ! al
e called together, contrary to precedent. In
a mass convention. Your first duty is | n.
erefore, to inaugurate and organize your | m
dy so that Il may speak with the authori n,
of just and equal representation of all Fl
Unions anG of all interests. That is the to
1rk to which you are now summoned. n,
ca
peech of Carl SchurZ. u