Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1872-09-13

THE DUTY OF DEMOCRATS.

THE DUTY OF DEMOCRATS.
Speech OF Hon. Charles A. Eldridge, of
Wisconsin, at ShebOygaM, ON His Re-
nomination for Congress.
That faithful and clear-headed Demo-
cratic statesman, Charles A. Eldridge, of
Wisconsin, was nominated for Congress at
Sheboygan on 9th ultimo, for his sixth
consecutive term. He made a speech on
accepting the nomination, in which he
spoke as follows of the duty of Democrats
at the present time:
Gentlemen, in view of such a state of
things, in view of all these alarming facts
supported and maintained as they are by
the most undoubted authority, what ought
the people to do? What ought the Demo
cratic party to do? Is there any doubt of
what is our duty-of the demands of states
manship, of patriotism? AS for myself, 1
have no longer any doubt or hesitation in
answering the question. We should sup
port with all our might and vote for Hor-
ace Greeley. I know how difficult this
will be for some Democrats to do. 1 know
what an effort it has cost some of the best
and ablest of our party. Six months ago
do not suppose single Democrat of the
100000 in the United States seriously ex-
pected ever to do any such thing. I con-
fess frankly forone did not. did not
relish the idea after he was nominated at
Cincinnati, and when it began too look as
though he would be at Baltimore felt as
though could never forgive him all he
had said and done against us. I felt as
though we had waited and struggled and
suffered long enough to have an old and
tried Democrat. Thought his nomination
increased the chance Of the Democracy,
and I said when I first heard of his nomi-
nation at Cincinnati land the remark was
caught up by some newspaper reporter and
sent over the country by the Associated
Press) that "it was none of our funeral; we
could beat two Republicans easier than
one" But the Democratic party met by
its representatives in convention at Balti-
more, and
DECIDED FOR MR.. GREELEY.
I thought it all over. I looked the case
squarely in the face and settled the ques-
ton for myself From that moment it was
General Grant with repetition ofall that
we have said of him, running the Govern
ment in the old groove, in his own, person
al interests, with the same set of unscrupu-
lous, defaulting, dishonest leeches around
him-no improvement or reformation; Hor-
ace Greeley upon the Cincinnati and Balti-
more platform constructed and interpreted
by his letters of acceptance, which are
better than the platform itself. The more
have reflected, the more have reasoned,
the better satisfied I have become that we
can make no change for the worse, and
that anything is better than the present
state ofthings. Nor do put it as ques-
ton of mere change. / think we have
much to hope in, the election of Horace
Greeley. I know in times of high party
excitement he has said many naughty,
MANY HARD THINGS.
of Democrats and of the Democratic party.
know we too have paid him and his par
ty back in his own coin-we have given
him blow for blow and have not been very
exact in keeping the account either. But
this I must say kna wing him as have for
more than thirty years: l know of no
thing in his personal or political charac-
ter that leads me to doubt that he will
scrupulously and sacredly keep the pledg-
es and promises he has given in his letters
of acceptance. No one has as yet to my
knowledge questioned his personal honor
and integrity. Ifhe keeps those promises
we shall not be deceived-it is all expect
It is said he has been a man fmany 'isms"
This may be true. Ihave never heard him
accused of "nepotism" or
'PUPPYIsM"
He has advocated some "isms" that
seemed at the time chimerical and Wis
ionary. Who has not9 But many, some
at least, ofhis "isms" have become our isms
They have become the isms of the whole
country. They have been carried into and
become part of our system ofgovernment.
Those that have not he has advocated with
"the pen of ready writer" and has NOV
ed the minds and hearts of men in the di-
rection of higher thought and loftier emo
ton. His labors have been more in the
direction of building up than tearing down.
He has sought to make men better rather
than worse. His ideal has been to improve
and elevate the condition ofhis fellow-men,
to exalt and ennoble mankind in every
condition of life. If his philosophy has
not been equal to his purposes, he is not
the first man who has failed to accomplish
all he willed. He was one of the first men
of the country who advocated and was
largely instrumental in bringing about our
system of
CHEAP POSTAGE.
This instrumentality in the advancement
and civilization of people needs only to
be mentioned to be appreciated. He was
an early and earnest advocate of our pre-
emption and homestead laws. He took
great interest in the settlement of the West.
It is said by way of reproach, believe
now, that he once advised some young
man asking advice and assistance to "go
West" This, though a subject of laugh
ter to the ignorant and thoughtless, shows
the comprehension and goodness of his
mind and heart. He understood as we
here understand, that for young man
without capital and without friends there
is no better place for his industry than our
Western prairies and lands. Mr.. Greeley
has been persistent advocate of
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND ToLERATIoN.
He has never been bigot or opposed to
any man worshiping God according to the
dictates of his own conscience He oppos-
ed Known othingism when almost his
Toartu into hat infarna1 order