The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-05-08
SPEECH OF GRAFT BROWN,
He Responds to a serenade at JEFF.
ferson City.

AOhO"AuH 70 Wv oEoWn speech deliver
ed tonight in response to a serenadc:
Ellow. Citizens, Friends and NeiQh6o1
Many thanks TO you for this kind greet
ing and congratulation, which l know d
be sincere and not merely formal, because
ofthe multiplied evidences Of good will II
the past. The result of the Cincinnati
Convention has not been exactly such A,
your partially would have dictated am
well aware, and yet we must frankly ad.
NIT that SO far as Missouri Is concerned
the compliment to our State first In tbt
selection OF Senator Carl Schurz to preside
over the largest and ablest political Con,
ventiOn that ever assembled In America
and second in otteriltIa nomination by 80
iiatterlng unanimity for the second office
In the government to one OF your
citizens, In my own humble person, leaves
no excuse for quarreling or discontent on
that score. The first and most impera.
tive object to be obtained Is success, in
order to rescue the administration OF the
national affairs from utter wreck-an
object to which many minor considera.
ton tons must necessarily yield, and in that
light. my deliberate Judgment is that the
selection made for the head oI your ticket
Is the strongest that could have been
fallen upon. You will not expect from
me any extended speech this evening on
that. l should enter at large upon that
argument which will be sci forth during
the campaign to convince the people that
such is the TACT, not only in the interest Of
success, but equally in that of honesty and
honor. This, understand, Is designed as
a personal compliment. Such being the
case, let me hope that you will not take il
amiss II l refer very briefly to some per-
sonal matters. Before going into action it
Is usual to clear away all underbrush,
so as TO leave no cover for concealed enc.
mics. 1t is not very hard to work, and
yet 1t may be none the less opportune as
well as needful. For nearly a quarter OF
q century, have been citizen of this
State constantly, and acrimoniously in.
volved in all those political contests which
by some strange destiny have ever given
shape and character TO tho advent oil
national politics controlling the govern.
ment. That during the fierce heats of
partizan bitterness | should be assailcd in
all ways, and by all means, in purpose,
in method, in reputation, was not to be
wondered at. With tho frankness of our
western life, when the contests were end.
ed, calumnies were also buried. Thus 1t
has fallen out that with so many tokens
Of unchanged confidence and regard, l
recognize even in this hour, that have a
character which l. prize above any
preterment and honor which has been
unstained by any blot, and place in the
affection Of this people that could not
have come TO me had any of those vile
ISLANDERS been true. And now as it will dc.
volve upon me again TO go forth into bit.
terness in still wider and more enveno.
med conflict than any OF the past. l have
only to say that you my friends and
neighbors who know so well the conduct
of my daily life, and can testify whether
it consists ofpurity, virtue and selt.respect
and to the people OF Missouri, who have
with ever increasing confidence honored
me 80 highly andso often I shall leave the
defense Of my good name against any
toe that may assail it. And now
to another point l see already the press
OF opposition are seizing upon some OF the
incidents OF the late Convention distort.
ing their Specification and seeking to SOW
the seeds Of jelousy and mistrust between
those who have been co.workers thus far
in the course Of liberalism.
The attempt has been made to place
the most distinguished and brilliant
champion OF our cause, Senator Schurz.
in an attitude of humiliation and defense,
and to imply that as between him and
myself there has been some bad faith. |
know this is delicate ground 10 travel
over, yet feel 1t due TO him that Justice
should be done, and by no one can that
be with more knowledge than myself. l
have, therefore, to state TO you all, who
are our mutual friends, that such reports
are utterly without foundation. AS to
the policies and platforms there has been
perfect accord, and holding the conspici.
Gus position which his genius and energy
assigned him-carnest, first Of all, in tie
success Of the Convention, he did not feel
at liberty to make himself the advocate
Of any candidate, and least OF all, one
from his own State. appreciated and
concurred in the elevation Of the senti-
ment which dictated this course,
and have to say that in all
his bearing so lar as know it was manly
and sincere. What he contributed to the
Inauguration Of that magnificent Assem-.
blage Of the independent thought oil the
Republican party the world knows, and
in the hour Of such achievement there
can be no iail. To those who
know so well that when he enters upon
the arena OF apopular appeal one blast
OF his buglc horn is worth a thousand
men, to those who fear. the effect of his
eloquent pleading, l am glad to be able
to give his assurance that from now till
November he will be found in front
Of the fight upholding the nation
and the choice Of the Convention.
Although, not intending to enter upon
any general discussion, yet there is one
matter Of sufficient interest TO US at home
10 demand moments reflection. Itwas
thought by many that the question Of
revenue reform would be shaped into
some practical form as part of the plat
form, and surprise has been felt at It's
omission. But am sure that all doubts
on this point will vanish when it Is consid.
cred that the action OF the Convention in
referring this industrial topic 10 the peo.
pie in the Congressional districts, pledging
the Executive to respect that will, was
the necessary and logical consequence OF
an opposition to the centralizing tendency
OF the general government. II Is, there.
fore, such matters that should be decided
unbiased and uninfuenced by federal in.
tluence; and 1t Is thus, and thus only
that the people can best indicate the
reforms they desire and as entitled to have
carried out. National parties are in large
measure types Of federal authority to the
subordinate. Thus, in the expression Of
tariffs or any Of those inter.d domestic poll,
cies, 1t Is sure to be at the expense OF al
truth ni ntteranca A denomination