The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1872-07-17

this Union, With al her rights, Qlg-
nifty and equality under the Constitu-
ton, and not one murmnr Of disloyalty
is anywhere heard. BY that union,
Federal dictation in Missouri in their
local elections was overthrown, and
by that union strife and hate have
given place to peace and to good will
By that union liberty, with equal
rights for all, has given to the State
unbounded prosperity and to her peo-
pie Joy almost unspeakable. So
great was their joy and so complete
their success that the Liberal Repub-
licans Of that State were not content
without making an effort to extend
the same union Of Liberal and Demo
cratic Republicanism, and with it the
same blessings of liberty, peace aud
fraternity 10 all the other States.
[Rounds Of applause.] Accordingly,
in State Convention, on the 24th of
Marth last, they resolved to invite the
Liberal Republicans in all the States
to meet them in National Convention
lin Cincinnati on the first day of May.
The invitation was accepted there
was, indeed, great response. They
came by thousands-in such vast num-
bers that delegate convention of re-
representatives. of all the States was
formed, both from principle and from
necessity, to give form to the proceed
inga. Many of the ablest men in the
country, lately leaders in the Republi-
can party, were there, and took part
in it's deliberations. They were as
sured that large numbers Of Liberal
Republicans in every State and from
all portions Of the country stood be-
hind ready to sustain them, and they
wore morally certain that, if the mil
lions whom we this day represent.
Tcheers1-woufd only come to their
support, the number Of Liberal Re-
publicans would reach half million
or more. Great applause That
convention presented platform and
presented candidates to the country
for President, Horace Greeley-[long
and continued cheering]-and for Vice
President, B. Gratz Brown-[more
enthusiasm and that convention,
for the promotion and success Of the
principles declared on that platform
there enumerated, and the support OF
the candidates nominated by that
convention, have invited andcordially
welcomed the cooperation of all pa
triotic citizens, without regard TO pro-
vious political utilization. Those prin-
ciplcs were So clearly and concisely
stated in the platform ITSELF and re-
stated in the letter Of acceptance of
Mr.. Greeley-[more cheering]-and
they arc so we'll known to you all
that I will not restate them. For
weeks that platform and those candi-
dates havc been before the country.
Meanwhile, the convention called to
nominate General Grant-[ hisses]- +
and to endorse and to continue the
principles, practices and policy Of his
administration, has done its. work.
Misses AS between the Liberal
Republicans and the followers of the
Grant administration the issue is
clearly made up-it is Grant or Gree
ley. Immense enthusiasm and cries
OF aGrecley."] While these events
were passing, the Democratic repre-
sentatives whom We represent held
their conventions in all the States.
The Liberal movement, the examp.s
of Missouri, the Cincinnati Conven,
ton, its platform and it's candidates,
with tho letters Of acceptance, were
all before these conventions, which
were very largely attended by the
ablest men. Tho paramount questions
before these conventions, were: Shall
we accept this invitation to cooperate
with tho Liberal Republicans? I'm
mense applause. Shall we adopt
their platform? Loud cries of eyes,
yes," and some cries Of "Nevcr. u
Shall we nominate tho same candi-
dates-["Yes, yes" land shall we
elect them?-"Ycs, yes," and loud
cheoring]-or shall we refuse to CO.
operate and nominate other candi,
datcs-["No, no." ""Greeley, Greeley, u
and strive to elect them over both
tickets already in the fold2 Gen
tlemen, these are the questions
which you arc 10 decide now
and here. That you will de-
eide them wisely I can have no
doubt. Nor can any one doubt who
looks over the body Of men, repre-.
senting as they do three million OF
citizens, and who feel, as every one
here must feel, the high and patriotic
purpose which inspires you. Gentle
men, what means this great AID rising
movement which we everywhere see?
What means this proposed union OF
three millions Of Democratic Repub-
Leans with q million, it may be, of
Liberal Republicans? What means
this union, upon q common platform,
and proposed union upon the same
candidate a union so sudden, SO COM
pact, so earnest as to surprise its
friends, and to confound it's enemies ?
[Applause.1 Which comes as the
winds come which, to borrow fig
ure, overwhelms the ordinary currents
of public opinion, as the great storms
always run to tho surface currents?
What means all this2 There are
some things, gentlemen, it does not
mean. 1t means no abandonment Of
what is true, OF what is just, Of what