The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1872-07-20
speech of Hon. Win. A. Wallace
Good Advice 10 Democrats.

burg a few days ago. Hon. VIM. a Wallace
took occasion to define the duty of Democrats
in the present crisis. He was one of those
who did not vote for Mr.. Greeley in the
Pennsylvania delegation. and his words will
have weight with all who held similar views
Mr.. Wallace spoke as follows:
Amorg the political revolutions of the oast
fiGty wears no more significant singular
spectacle has been presented than that which
eliminated at Baltimore, in the nomination of
GreeIey and Brown, for the Offices of President
and Vice President, by a Democratic National
Convention with all the solennity and in per-
feet accordance with the rules and usages of
the organization. True 1t is that we have in
our own davs seen a British Premier bow his
head to the fat of progressive public opinion
and deliberately reverse his position upon grave
questions of State policy. but he had upon him
the robes and obligations of Official station and
was bound to aid in crystalizing in law The will
of the people whose servant he is That
great political organization, whose highest
boast has heretofore been that of devotion to
principle whose membership has been cohered
and strengthened by that very devotion, and
which with caim dehberation accepted obloquy
and scorn reproach and contumely during
bloody civil war rather than surrender or WELD
a single syllable of the opinions that were
passed upon the doctrines of the constitution
and the plain principles of free government,
should by its chosen representatives, with un-
exampIed unahiTity, place the standard of
their faith and their Organi Zation in the hands
of one who during al those years was ver
foremost in th cir denuncia ton and who by hi6
persistent anita gonism to the cardinal tenets of
that faith had won tor himself among the mass
es of their party an unenviable place, one
who sought to destroy and not to heal. may
well be said to be singular spectacle. o. the
reason for this result il is my purpose TO speak.
and willis st in my place Senn torial delegate
representing the Democracy Of the State, | did
what | could in honor to resist the tide, and
voted ith the twenty three men from Ponn>
sylvania who composed the minority of the
delegation and voted against Mr. Greeley, yet
| can appreciate the arguments that were so po>
tental in accomplishing the end. More than
two,thirds Of the Convention and majority OF
your own delegation, having in solemn form
Welded their assent to those arguments, fur; her
opposition would have been but factiOus, and
in obedience to the Instructions of your delegl-
ton. which had so honored mean avowed
antl>Gree.ey man-as to place me at its head,
| accepted the result. singular ss il was. and
moved aid voted to make it unanimous What
has produced this most marvellous change
W hat potent influences or un,nsw erabe argus
ments achieved so momenIous a purpose
Why has the Democracy passed BY their own
men OF intellect, OF culture and of statesman>
ship and chosen one who has been an alien 20
their views, their thoughts and their purposes
lie periods Of peace that Immediately follow
times of great social cUmmotion or of interne>
cine have invariably been those during
which the liberties of free people are in jeop-
ardF LaXlty OF morals, familiarity with
bloOdshed. habi's of luxury and the subordina-
ton OF civil To military power breed neglect OF
legal and constitutional restraints, and thIt
which before a war wouI have been a crime
meriting deposition or punish ment passes after
IT Gs but venal offence or a trifinC Irregular
ity, and the maH in official station who is bold
est in despi-iI z its legal and moral obligations
l. lie a no receives the highest plaudits of a With
a'ed and debsuche ed public sentiment. To such
- CONDITION has his. our unhappy country, cone
| eed not stop to point you to these evi,s-you
know and see them you heSr them criticised
r"uiemned or condoned in every hour of your
waking m omeuts- No sane man denies their
Existence: none can justify excuse them
They strike at the very yitals of the political
aud social fabric. They sap the foundation of
free government. and if not arr rested will des-
troy our institutions and sacrifice our liberties
To put an end TO these and restore to the
republic period of purity of official morals Of
stsict Obedience to official ob igatiuns of relief
frC Ia oppressive tnXatiOn. aud from unneces sa-
~ prescription. was the desire OF all within our
organization and many thousands without its
pale. The union of these forces for the at
tainment Of these ends. all conceded 70 be en-
:Eeuntly fit and proper. That this unity could
only be effective by the action had at Bati>
produced the nomination of the ticket and the
endorsement of the platform. Our own states
men were passed by because it was believed
that an effective union could net be had on any
OF them. In word, it was beiev ed there and
so acted upon by a vast ms iority of the Com
vention, that the only way TO defeat Grant was
to nominate Greeev. My judgment ard cons
Victious did not reach this conclusion, nor do
they now, but when a majority OF our delegas
ton declared for this result, although our State
is universally regarded the pivot on which
all will turn, We were powerless to enforce our
view upon the convention. Pennsvlv ania uni
ted could have turned the scale and controlled
results; divided and in minority could but
vote our opinions and aCquiesce in the will of
two-t thirds of the COnv enliou formally declared
Distasteful as ] know this nomination to be to
mary thousands of our people, we must yet ac-
cord to the candidate the possession of puri'v
OF character and integrity of purpose. That
If elected he will administer the oyernment
purely and hoH"stly, and will so far as in him
lies protect, preserve and defend the Consti
tstion OF the United States" we can scarcely
Couht. Whilst many of our people believe
that he is one Of the causes ef the many ills
that have come upon us within the last twenty
years, We must RENE ember that there is a place
OF peniience for all. Since the war, upon the
important questions that affect the peace and
prosperity OF the republic that tend to restore
local sell government and the subversion of
the military to the civil power, his record is as
goou as Is any OF ours, and Tor those things
which rankle and tester in the memories Of
many OF our most ardent brethren, we must re-
member that he is the candidate of the Demo
cracy OF the Southern States, with scarcely IA
dissenting voice. and that when the ieuds of
Cesar and Pompey had well nigh DESTROYED
the Roman State. and the Rubicon was pn ssed
the patriot Cato, that "nObest Roman OF them
all" when called to counsel for its safety nj.
though the bitter antagonist of Pompey, prompt
ly advised that all power be given to him, for,
said he, 1.-THE authors OF great evls knoa best
how to remove them"
These candidates are our candidates; the
standard of the Democracy for veal or for
woe, is entrusted to their hands and none Who
love lis grand organization. its proud aud glo
rious record, who desire its success or it's per-
petuity can refuse 10 follow. We must sacri
flee our personal prejudiees and sentiments and
opinions upon the altar Of tho eountrys good.
aud following the banner whose folds We love