, 1872-08-01


applause Instead of negro surre
macy, upheld by prescription and the
bayonet, it means equal rights to all
men, white as well as black. Loud
applause. ] instead Of thieving govern
ments, organized to plunder subjugated
States, it means the domination once
inore Of intelligence and integrity in
stead of strife. hate. and robbery, it
means justice. liberty. peace, loyalty,
and goodwill.
And gentlemen, for our whole coun-
try. East, West, North, and South, it
means, instead of war President,
trained only in military school, and
whose whole character has been formed
in the ideas. arts. habits. and despotism
of military life-instead of this. it means
peace President cheers J. trained i'll
the ideas, arts. blessings, and repnb-
lican simplicity of peace and nniversa!
freedom [lond cheersl; of peace not
enchained, of liberty not under arrest
awaiting trial, sentence. and execution
by drum-head court-martial, but that
liberty and that peace which the Con-
stitution secures by placing the c!vil law
above the sword [loud applau2' |: by
preserving in full vigor the sacred writ
Of habeas corpus. and by the right Of
trial by jury. Applause].
1t means another thing. and perhaps
the most important of them all--it
means to arrest the Capitalization of
power in the Federal Government
[ Loud cheering]. 1t means to arrest the
vital principle of onr republican system,
in which it lives, and moves. and has
its very being. that constitutions are
made by the people in their sovereign
capacity for the exprs IS purpose of retin-
ing and limiting the powers of govern
ment [applause], power of all govern
ment, State or national. 1t means that
we are determined that Presidents and
Governors, Congress and State Leglsla-
lures, and every Department of tn, Gov
ernment. shall obey the Constitution.
[ Prolonged applause. 1t N ans also a
genuine Civil Service reform, beginning
with the Presidential Office. Applause. |
1t means to put an end forever to GER
tain practices which have grown up with
this Administration, which have driven
so many of the abiest Republicans to
join this Liberal movement and which
have deeply wounded the hearts of all
Republicans, rs weil us Democrats, in
this country-7[appiause -practlces
Which never existed under any other
Administration which are but too well
known to ali the world, and which oug
nations good reputation will be best
consulted by not even naming Cheers.
1t means, also, TO give strength aud .,ta-
bility to our financial aft lis and our
national credit by bringing honesty and
economy and fidelity 10 every position.
Federal, State, aud municipal where
public moneys are collected. lCheers.
1t me ms. also, the honest payment of
all our obiiga lons. Renewe ap-
plause.] 1t means to give higher tone
and greater vlgor to the administration
OF our foreign and domestic affairs. 80
as to command the respect and the con
fldeLce OF onr own people and of ali
lhe civilized world. 1t means to place
tn the highest offices OF our Government
men Of whom ali the world will say
They are honest aid they are capable
[ Applause. Gentleman, l have thns
briefly stated the situation, the duties,
and the purpose which bring us here.
A great responsibility rests upon hi,
Convention. 1t its action shall be sucn
land l doubt not IL will be) s.s to III
an end to the nisrale which for the las
few years has afflicted our beloved cuun-
| try. this generation, and generations To
come after us, will remember with pride
and gratitude the Convention at Balti-
more of the 9th Of July, 1872