New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-05-03

| adopted, and, amid great applause, MI. ochurI AZ
vanced. the band playing Hail to the Chief" and
was introduced. He said:
SPEECH OF CARL SEIZURE.
Nobody can survey this vast and enthusiastic assem-
bly, gathered from all parts Of the Republic, without an
emotion of establishment and hope-astonishment con
sidering the spontaneity Of the impulse which mas
brought II together and hope considering the great pur
pose for which 1t has met The Republic may well con-
Graulate itself upon the fact that such meeting was
possible Look at the circumstances from which u mas
sprung. We saw the American people just issued from
great and successful struggle and in the full PRIDE OF
their national strength threatened with new evils ana
dangers Of an nsdlous nature and the masses OF the
population apparently not aware of them. We saw oD-
berry and corruption, stimulated to unusual audacy oy
the opportunities OF protracted civil war; invading the
public service of the Government, as well as almost
saw public opinion most deplSsaSoY eh Ws
saw the Government indulgng In wanton disregard OF
the laws Of the land and resortng to daring assumptions
renty at least acquiescing with reckless levty In tho
trans essons, threatening the very life OF our free m
stitutions. We those in authority with tyrannlcai
nsoences thrust the hand Of power through the vast
machinery OF the public service into local and private az
fairs and saw the nnumerable mass Of their
accept those encroachments upon their INDEPENDENCE
without protest recruitment. we saw men in tine
opportunities for selfish advantage, thus STIMULATING no
Generalization OF our political iie aud by tneir con,
spcuous example, and the loud chorus OF partisWan
sycophancy drown the voice Of honest criticism. we
| part OF common country, winch nau Deen coh-
vulsed by disastrous rebellion most grevous,y suner
ing from the consequences OF the civil war ann we saw
had gone astray and were now suffering by policy OK
generous Cancellation and the staesmanship OF eono
We observed this and at the same time
and greedy party spirit in the Of great organiza-
ton, crowned with the laurels Of glorious achieve
and abuses TO stle the moral sense OF the
people, and TO drive them by tyranncal party dselp
perpetaate 1t, that the political power Of the country 90
preserved in the hands OF those who possessed IT, ne
could not fail to be deeply alarmed, not only the
that had been and we're being perPerated Du.
rise up against them. The question might well have
utterly Indifferent to their true interests, their
national harmony to the purity OF their political ne ~
Of the American name, that they should permit them
selves TO be driven like flock OF sheep by those VINO
found an answer The virtue the spirit Of independence.
the love Of liberty, the republican pride OF the Amer
and that answer is given in thunder by the Con-
venton OF American freemen here assembled indeeu,
with abiding faith that their appeals could not re-
main without response, but the volume OF that response
has far exceeded their authorizations The crust OF
narrow prejudices, of selfish partisanship, which but
yesterday seemed to stop every free pusaton OF the
citizen rises above the partisan. We begin to breathe
again as freemen We dare again call things by their
right We have more the courage 10 break
through the receptions with which mind has
been befogged feel more thatour convictions OF
right and own, and that our votes belong
10 the country and thus defantly set our sense OF
duty against the of power like the buse blast
south and East and West The conscience Of the people
which seemed dead has arisen From every point OF tho
compass the hosts focking together and mere we
are let hope, aye do hope with fearless deterni-
nation to do our whole duty as If nothing could WITH
breath victory the very air which surrounds u.s.
and that victory will not escape from our grasp we arc
true mission, but you must bea- with me II IN
OF enthusiasm when our hearts are big with
proud presentmcnts address to you word OF SOBER
A GRAND OPPORTUNITY OFFERED FOR REFORM.
We have q grand opportunity before u.s. grand and
full OF promise We crush corruption In our public
concerns; we give the republic pure and honess
government; we can revive the authority OF tho
laws; We can restore to full value the con
sttutonal safeguard OF liberties we can infuse
higher moral spirit into political lfe we can re-
animate in the hearts OF the whole people IN every sec
ton of the land fraternai and proud natohal neee'
We can do all this but do 1t only by throwing Pc
hind the selfish spirit OF political trade we OBEY tne
purest and Hottest inspirations OF the popular uprising
which sent us here great opportunity; II IS great as
the nobest ambition might desire, but equally great
nav 10 nv mind fearfu-is the responsibility II brings
with it, an opportunity like this momentOus period III
the history or nation An uprising OF tho people sncn
as we behold, will not occur every day, nor
every year; for it must spring from ,,, the
the hgR Expectations brought forth by
spontaneous impulse and you have not only ios seo
whc s y peoe have in and
long time popular reform movements VIII not rise again
e the1 Is possible that such should
the result OF dongs II Is possible u we 40 not rlse
e d he Sra D Impulse Of the popular heart wo
ATTEMPT to Control and use this movement by the old
small chickering's aud mean, selfish aspirations. We have
come together to give shape point and practical pro-
scence II Is our business to lay down certain principles
and propositions OF policy, and we have to present TO
the suffrage Of the people for the highest onces OF
the Republic who IL elected are to carry those prc
pies and propositions into living reality
coycERNrso PLATFORM AND CANDIDATES.
AS 10 our platform shall be wise enough to keep In
,h,r ich
Of The very fact having come together is PROOF
NJ orr substantial agreement Let US only In what We
nromse 10 the people, be honest and straightforward.
and not attempt to those whom we ask to follow our
lead by deceitful representations AS to the men whom
we shall present for the high offices OF the Government
let US I entreat you, not lose sight OF the facb
that great reforms, the overthrow OF inyeterate
the establishment Of a. better order @.
and declarations, but require the wise and energetic
action of statesmen II this is to Dc truly KeI0rm move
embodied in the trust with the power 10 ln1use
the spirit Of Reform into SeI ook At those %
power You will hardly excel them In the protuson OF
them in the art Of how not to do it. Reform become
in the hands OF those who either 90 not under
trust the work to none but those who understand and
honestly care-and care more for IL than Tor ther
ON this point with freedom and frankness. have
not, 1 assure you, come here for the purpose OF
any one man against all Others have here with
re and ardent devotion to cause and to use my best
have that cause put under the care OF men
.wo are devoted to 1t with equal sincerity and possess
those qualities OF mind and heart which Will make It
safe In their keeping earnestly deprecate the cry we
have heard so frequently, ANYBODY to beat Grant"
There something wanted than TO beat Grant NOT
ANYBODY who might by cheap popularity or by astute
Bargains and combinations or By all the tricks OF poti-
S % not merely
another, but want better President than we now
have. We don't want mere change OF persons
We want the overthrow OF o pernicious system