Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-05-09


Ohio.
The report was adopted with great ap-
plause.
Mr.. Schurz advanced, the band play
ing Hail to the Chief.
CARL sCHURz' SPEECH ON TAKING THE
CHAIR.
Nobody can survey this vast and en-
thusiastic assembly, gathered from all
parts of this republic without emotions
of establishment and hope - astonish-
ment considering the spOntaniety of the
impulse which has brought it together,
and hope considering the great purpose
for which it has met The republic may
well congratulate itself upon the fact
that such meeting as this has been con-
yened in these days of ours (Applause)
Look at the circumstances from which
it sprung We saw the American just
issued from a great and successful Strug-
gle, and, in the full pride Of national
strength, threatened with new evils
of an inSidiOuS nature. and the mass OF
the population apparently not aware OF
it. We saw that jObbery and c0rrup-
ton, stimulated to an unusual audacity
by the opportunities of a protected civil
war, pervaded the public service Of the
government as well as almost all move
ments of the social body: and we saw
public opinion most deplorably lenient in
its judgement of this public and private
dishonesty. We saw the government
indulge in the most WantOn disregard Of
law and resort to the assumption of I'M
constitutional powers, and the people,
apparently, at least, acquiCsCc, with
reckless disregard of law in the transac-
ton threatening the very life Of our
republican institutions We saw with
tvrannical insolcnCe the entertainments
through the vast machinery of the pub
lie service, and the people accept these
entertainments almost without a protest
and without resentment; we saw men
in the highest places of the republican
party employ their power and 0ppOrtu-
mites for self advantages. We see part
Of our common country seriously suffer
ING from the consequences Of civil war:
and we see the naughty spirit Of power
refusing lift up those who had gone
astrav. and who are now suffering for
it. We want a policy Of government, of
generous Cancellation and tLUc states
manship. (Applause.)
We observe all this. and, at the same
time, a reckless greed and partisanship,
in the name Of a great organization,
crowned with the laurels of glorious
achievements. striving to pulIiatc and to
Justify these WRONGS and abuses. to stitlp
the moral sense of the public, to drive
them by tyranuical party discipline, not
only to submit to them for tn" present.
but to pcrpctuatc upon YOU that pOliti-
cal power Of tile country by preserving
it in the hands Of those who possess it.
(Applause.) lie who camly and mpar-
TALLY surveys this spectacle cannot fail
70 be deeply alarmed, not only at the
wrongs that had been and were and are
being pcrpctratcd, but at that subiuga-
ton Of the popular spirit which failed to
rise against it. The question might
have we'll been asked " Have the
American people become 50 utterly in
different to their true interests to their
national harmony and thcpurity of their
political life, to the integrity Of their
institutions and to the honor Of Ameri-
can life, that they should permit them
selves thus to be driven. like a flock of
sheep. by those who assume to lord it
over them p That question has now
happily found an answer. APPLAUSE
The virtue, the spirit Of Independence,
the love Of liberty, the republican pride
Of the American people, are not dead
yet. nor do they mean to die. Cap
plausc.) That answer Is given in thun-
der tones by the convention of Amcri-
can freeman now here assembled.
(Cheers.) Indeed those who. two
months ago first raised their voice, did
so with abiding faith that their appeals
could not remain without response: bet
the volume of that response has now
zone far beyond our most sau9uiuc cN-
pectation. | trust that prejudice or the
selfish partisan spirit which seemed but
yesterday to stop every free pulSation of
the popular heart. is now suddenly
thrown asuudcr, and that true patriotic
principle has risen above party. We be-
Gin to breathe again as free men We
dare again call things 10y their right
names. We have once more courage to
break through those letters hv which
the popular mind has been cntrammclcd
We feel once more that our convictions
are our own, that our States are not to
be given to partiSanS but to the country
(Applause.) And feeling thus. we de-
family set our sense of duty against the
arrogance of power. (Crirs Of good
and loud chccrs.)
Like hugle blast Of doomsday the
summonSis rrsoundin2 Northand South,
East and West, and the conscience of
the people, which seemed dead. has now
"riscd Into new life and from every
point of the, compass hosts are tlochin=
together and feel assured that We are
here with tn" irresistible determination
to do our whole duty to orr country
.ApplHH~'.| It would seem to-day a-
It nothing could Withstand a movements
80 Irresistible and inspiring. and indeed
the breath of victory SEEMS to flo" in
the very air. and certain victory will not
eScap" orr grasp if we are tru" to our
co1Ytcii"hs ct RIGHT You must bear
WIN me; H. III IL" 'i'ho~'aS'n OF tn"
ho"r, when our hearts are biz with
proud sentiments, ] address You in great
earncStheSS an! s"herno%>. We have a
grand opportunity bctor" 'l.. Grand and
f1II OF promise; and, when ! SIC this