Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1872-06-20
SPEECH OF
GOV. NORTON.
At the Philadelphia Conven-
ton.

iLI-hI--N Of LII. SoN
the enthusiasm which prevails here to.
day l see the unmistakable sign Of vic
tory. This enthusiasm is not manufac.
tured, it is spontaneous, it comes from
the heart of this audience here to-day
representing the great mass of the peo-
pie of the United States. Applause.
You represent the Republican party
and that party has great mission tc
perform, and that mission is no less
than taking care of this country. To
that party the interests of this great
nation must be committed in the future
as they have been preserved and foster
ed in the past. The Republican party
is not worshipper of men. We hold
by the pioneers of Republican princi-
Piles. We do them all honor, but only
so long as they remain faithful to those
principles. [Applause.l " hen pio-
neer falls he falls farther than anybody
else. [Cries Of ''good" and applause
Among several nations Of antiquity the
idea prevailed that the father had right
to kill his own offspring, and some men
have recently claimed that they were
the fathers of the Republican party,
and they claim the right on that ac-
count to kill it. [Langhter and ap-
plause.l As L general thing we deny
the paternity. [Applause.l But if we
admitted the paternity we should deny
the right to kill. What are the things
that the Republican party yet have to
do? know it has been dinned in our
ears for two or three years past that our
mission was performed. Whenever a
man has been beaten for the nominal
tion for Congress, he has generally come
to the conclusion that the mission of
the Republican party was at an end,
and we ought to form a new party. If
he has been turned out of office for
malfeasance, or if he has failed to get
into office, he would conclude that the
duties of the Republican party was at
an end, and that new organization
ought to be formed. [Applause.l
ask you today, What are the duties
before us? First in regard to those
questions which concern the admins
tration. 1t is the duty of the Republic
can party to perfect our national finan-
cial system (cheers), gradually butsu
ly; not by violence, or spasmodic efforts
to bring our currency to par. We are
certainly and safely approaching that
event. We do not propose to accom-
plish it by violent theories, but by using
the natural causes which are now at
work. We shall place the credit of the
nation upon higher basis than it ever
occupied before, and upon higher ba-
sis than that occupied by that Of any
other nation. [Applause.l We shall do
that by faithfully performing all our
promises; by keeping our contracts in
the spirit and the letter; and by the
gradual but certain reduction of the
public debt. [Cheers.l -,"
While we shall carry out to the letter
the present policy we have on hand,
while we have nothing new on the SUBJ
ject, may say in regard to platforms
it is scarcely necessary for this conven-
ton to adopt one. The platform Of the
Republican party is found in its histo.
ry for the last ten years, and it is to be
found in the present policy of the Ad-
ministration. [Great applause
1t is to carry out and consecrate the
reforms upon which this Administra-
ton has already entered. (Cheers.) But
our work is not done in regard to those
great measures which have grown out
of the war.
1t is for the Republican party to es-
tablish the fourteenth and fifteenth
amendments-(cheers); to establish in
the Constitution, beyond peradventure,
that they shall be recognized by al
parties; that there shall no longer be
any considerable party in this country
shall dare to question the legality oil
the validity os these amendments. 1t i:
for the Republican party to establish
fully the rights Of the cOlored men o.
this country. [Applause.l Our worf
is not done until they shall be conceded
by all parties, and they shall have the
full and free enjoyment of their rights
in every portion of this country. Zap.
plause.l Until they shall be in the full
enjoyment not only of all their politi
cal but of all their civil rights.
Our work will not be done until ther,
shall be an equal protection under til,
law extended to men of every race ant
color, and of all men of all politica
views in every part of the Unite,
States. [Applause.l The mission o
the Republican party will not be per
formed rs long as there shall remain
Ku KluX organization in any State o
Union. [Applause.l For that organiza
ton hut sleeps in some of the States. l
will awake to active, terrible life short
ly before the Presidential Convention
there shall not be proper legislation,
there shall not be from bold admins
tration of the Government a power t
grant protection to all. [Cheers.l
Our Government protects the right