The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1873-10-09

Mr.. CHAIRMAN There are many rea-
sons why appear before Rochester audi
ence with feelings of peculiar satisfaction.
The second speech which ever made in
this State upon political questions was de-
nVered here, and since that time I have
twice addressed this people; not upon po-
litical occasions, but upon subjects which
have within two years come to have an init
mate and permanent relation with political
topics. Upon each of those occasions my
reception here has been most friendly, and
dissenting criticism has been generous In
its expressions. Nor can I be unmindful of
the hearty support which was given me by
this county in the last Republican State
guished fellow citizen, Gov. Armstrong, had
been withdrawn.
This year is what is known as the 'off
year" in politics. The delirium of the last
presidential campaign has passed away.
The overwhelming expression Of public
sentiment which decreed last fall that the
Republican party should hold the reins of
power for four years more, aas settled the
'sues of that campaign, so that for the pre-
mt heir interest is merely historical. This
dience, so exceptionally large for year
ch as this one is, is drawn together, not
cause matters of national moment are to
he subject of discussion and elaboration,
beca Sc the people are gravely interest
matters of the deepest concern to our
- State, matters with which, as yet.
1al politics have little or nothing to do.
convention which lately met at Owa-
has declared in its platform that the
g issues which have hitherto divided
Ople OF the country into political par
We ceased to exist and it is therefore
Q to continue ths old pc itical organ
IS. The Owatonna Convention, as
iinary to its work Of resurrection, de-
the dissolution of all former parties,
'es them dead and gives them Chris
urial. fully subscribe to the propri-
If this sentence as to the Democratic
y. In law disappearance for seven
rs raises in all courts presumption OF
tn, and no one can object to the heirs
ling out letters of administration, and d.
Iding the estate.
But, seriously, it is fallacious to maintain
that because the original questions upon
which party was founded, have been set
tied in its favor. the party itself deserves to
cease to be. The test is, do the principles
upon which the party was originated con-
tain such appliances of universal applica-
ton as tit it to deal with new questions as
they may arise? If this question is answer
ed affirmattvely, then so long as any party,
IlCpUDl1Ctu VI DCuOCldI4C3 ACAldlAS IL uC w
the automatic principles out of which it
was constructed, that party will survive to
deal with new questions as they arise in the
endless progression of political events.
And the Democratic party does not by any
means consider itself corpse. In other
States it is remarkably lively for a mummy.
In New York it has betaken itself to it's an
Gent Businesses under its time-honored
leaders, and has refused to c0nsort longer
with its unnatural allies OF last year, the
Liberal Republicans. In that State the De-
mocracy has held its convention, and the
deserted Liberals have met also in conven.
ton at Elmira, dispirited band of one hun.
bred and forty, deserted
"By those in former bounty fed"
In Kentucky the same process Of separa.
ton has been witnessed. So In Wisconsin.
In Ohio, under the lead of their ablest cham
pion, Senator Thurman, the Democratic
party as a party have withdrawn into its
former intrenchments, and has reformed its
disorganized ranks upon the old lines, re-
pubiitiDg the concubine Haear of Liberal.
ism with her Ishmaelitish sons. It is only
in States like Iowa and Minnesota, where it
has no hope Of success by independent &C.
ton, that the farce Is kept up OF alliance
with the dissatisfied members Of the Repub.
lican party. The Democracy of Minnesota
is q paradoxical kind of corpse. Ovation
ma says it is dead: the corpse says so too,
and sits upon Its coffin to read the epitaph
which has been written for it by stranger
. hands, says sit is good" lies down again
rolls itself up In its shroud; its members
moaning 1--WE are ghosts, we are ghosts
This party has simulated death in the hope
of future advantages, and the Owatonna
convention was manipulated by Democrat
&c politicians in the interestof party which
still lives, notwithstanding its protestatt0ns
of decay and death. And whenever there
shall be in Minnesota, as in New York and
Ohio, the hope of success by the dislntegra
ton of the Republican party by It's prodiga
waste of strength In these unnatural ALLAN
ces, between these parties of many mar
riaqes and no offspring-the phenomenon
now witnessed in New York and Ohio viii
be exhibited here, and the Republican VIII
has abandoned his party will find no refug
except in captivity to his ancient foe.
The pretense Of the Owatonna conven
zion, that parties have ceased to exist, is
false one. Both of the parties which hav
striven for the last fifteen years for supre
macy, still live. The one so strong as to b
wasteful of its strength, the other weak bu
hopeful in the use of those last resources Q
weakness, fraud and cunning.
have said that the issue of this canvas
are purely matters of State concern. Wha
are these questions2 They consist in tn
consideration ofwhat are the precise rels
lions of the railway companies to the State
what is the foundation of this extraordinar
claim ofthe companies that they, the cres
lures of the State, are superior to thei
creator and beyondits control; what powe
does the State retain; has 1t any power, Q
has it irrevocably abdicated its SOL
ereignty BY = proaigate and wanto