Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1872-05-16

science of the people, which seemed dead
has arisen from every point Of the com
pass; the hosts are fpcking together, an,
here we are. Let me hope, aye do hope
with fearless determination to do our who'll
duty to. our country. 1t would seem to
day as if nothing could Withstand tn
movement so irresistibly inspiring. In
deed, the breath Of victory is IN the very
air which surrounds US, and that victory
will not escape from our grasp if We ar
true to our mission. But You must beal
IN mind, with me, that if in this hour o
enthusiasm, whan our hearts are big with
proud preseutlments, I address to you Z
word Of soberness, .r,s,,,.
We have GRAND opportunity before ut
grand and full of promise We car
crush corruption in our public concerns
| We can give the republic pure and honssi
government; we can revive the authority
| of the law; we can restore full vigor tc
! the constitutional safeguards Of our hber-
ties; we can infuse a higher moral spirit
into our political Life we can re-animate
in tue hearts Of the whole people, in every
section Of the land; a fraternaL and proud
national feelings We can do all this, but
we can do ut only,iif, BY throwing behind
us the selfish spirit Of political trash, we
| obey the purest and loftiest inspiration of
the popular uprising which sent us here.
A great opportunity at is7great. as. the
no6lest ambition might desire but equal
ly great, nay, to mind, fearful is the re-
sponsibility it brings with.it. An oppor-
4 tunity Like this,is momentous period in
the history of a nation An uprising Of
the people such as we behold will not
occur every day nor every year, for it
must spring from the spontaneous impulse
Of the popular mind. # you disappoint
the high expectations brought forth by
that spontaheous impulse, you have not
only lost a great opportunity, but you
have struck blow at the confidence the
people have in themselves, and for long
time, popular reform movements will not
rise again under, the weight of the dis,
them: sfs 81 Il possible. S .thst sach shoMuld 5s
the result of our doings7 1t is possible,
if we do not rise to the full height of our
duty; it is possible. if instead of follow
ing. the grand impulse of the popular
heart, we attempt to control and use this
movement by the old tricks of political
trade, or fritter away our zeal in small
chickering's and mean. selfish aspirations
We:havs cone'to give shape point and
practical productive force to this great up
heaval Of the popular conscience. 1t is
our business. to lay down certain principles
and propositions of policy, and we have
to present to the sufrages Of the people
men for the highest Offices of the Repub
lie, who, if elected, are to carry those
principles and propositions into living re-
atty as our platform, we shall be wise
enough to keep in mind those things which /
the republic stands most Immediately in
need Of The very fact Of our having
come together is proof Of our substantial
agreement. Let us only do what we
promise to the people-be honest and
straightforward, and not attempt to cheat
those whom we ask to follow our lead by
deceitful representations as to the men
whom we shall present for high executive
Offices of the Government, Let u.s.. I en-
treat you, not lose sight of the fact that
great reforms, the overthrow Of inveterate
abuses, the establishment Of better order
-effuthises and declarations, but require the
wise and energetic action Of statesmen, If
this is to be truly a reform movement,
and it be not merely on paper; but it, must
be embodied in the men we eptrust with
the power to infuse the spirit of reform
into political action: If yon want to
know how reforms are not executed, look
at those now in power. You will hardly |
excel them in the profusion Of high-sound,, |
ing professions, and you will never excel
them in the art how not to do it. Reform
will not come out of office in the hands OF
those who either do not understand it, or
do not care for It. If you mean reform,
entrust the work to none but those who
understand and honestly do love and care
more for it than their own personal ends.
Pardon me if I express myself on this
point with freedom and frankness. have
not. I assure you, come here tor the pnr-
pose of urging the claims or advancing the
interest of any one man against all Others
I have come here with sincere and ardent
.evotion to o. cause, and to use my best
endeavors to have that cause put under |
the care of men who are devoted to it
with equal sincerity, and who possess
those apeljties of mind anu heart which |
will make it safe in their keeping,
I earnestly depiecate the cry we have
heard so frequently, Anybody to beat
Grant" There is something more wanted
than to beat Grant not. anybody who
might by cheap popularity. or by astute
bargains and combinations, or by all the
tricks of political wire-pulling manage, to
scrape togetheriitotes enough to be elected
President We do not merely want an
other, but we want abetter President thsn
we now hare. We do not want mere
change of persons in the administration Of
the Government; we want the overthrow
Of peEniciops system we want the Grad
ication of fragrant abuses; we want the
infusion Of aloftier moral spirit intp our
political organism; we want a Govern
ment which the best people OF the country
will be proud Of Not anybody can ac-
complish that, and, therefore, away with
the cry Anybody to beat Grant" cry
too paltry, too unworthy of the great en-
terpIrise in which we arc engaged. I do
not struggle for the mlye punishment of
an opponent or for q temporary lease OF
power This is to me thihg no less more
important even than our success in this
campaign, and that is that the American
people shall not be disappointed in the
fruits which our victory. is to bear. Il we.
should fail to select man who will carry
out the benefcent reforms we contemplate,
then-let us say i boldly-it would be
better had this movement meyer been rn-t
dertaken. For the continuance Of those
in power who possess it now would mean
only reformatory movement deferred and
an opportunity still; while our failure
now would mean q great reform move
ment sunk to the level Of farce, q great
opportunity lost, and theh0pe of the peo-
pie turned into diseaprag cement and dis
tnnst." Let hs discard at least the fatal er-
ror rS into which many seem to have fallen,
that no craftsmanship is required to con-.
duct the affairs of great government.
candidly believe the people are waking up
to the truth, for, unless 1 greatly mistake