Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1874-11-18
Senator Bayard on the "Situa-
tiOn,''

dressed by Samuel }. Iilden, the Gov
ernor-elect Senator Bayard, of Dele
ware Senator Thurman, of Ohio {;
Senator Eaton, of Connecticut and
Others
Below we give an extract from the
speech of Senator Bayard, upon the
occasion. 1t contains so many truth
full and decided hits as it regards our
present and future prospects, that we
earnestly hope no Democrat will pass
it over without reading.
Senator Bayard said -
We should be grateful rather than
joyful. There was much to consider
if the Democrats would hold the lease
of political power. Let us take and
form some little conception of the re.
sponsibilities that come with the
powers that are likely to be entrusted
to our hands We should especially
bear in mind that this is not mere
party victory. The man who thinks
so has, | fear, a limited comprehen-
sion of the truth. Let us learn from
it this, that however admirable and
necessary party organization may be,
however excellent or powerful the
machinery may be, it is as nothing
when popular confidence is estranged
from it. What party in the country
was apparently as powerful than that
which we have seen overthrown IN a
single day? Never was a party more
thoroughly organized, and what has
caused the final crash ? Simply popu-
lar confidence was estranged from it.
If we would perpetuate the power
likely to come to us gain and keep the
confidence OF the American people.
[Cheers, This is the great work we
have before us to-day We have gam
ed the votes of the people and their
confidence, and we must retain it,
Great things are to be expected from
the result of this election. One great
result for the victory is that it shall
revive the hopes Of our people and
their trust ON the reality and perma-
ncnce of our form OF Government. |
have been watchful and hopeful and
obseryant Of the events Of the strug-
Gle, and during the last six years l
occupied a positioe where | could see
the working of the Government; and
/ have noted the great anxiety grow
inc out Of the distrust and doubt OF
the reality and permanenco OF the
form of Government under which we
live This to me has been the most anXi-
Gus question Of the day. We have
seen despotism So triumphant and
tyranny so intrenched, right so often
trampled upon, choicest hopes OF our
ancestors brought to shame through
the popular vote from year to year
and election after election, till most
sacred rights of the people almost
withered up and died. Now, thank
God, all this has been changed. The
hopes of the people are revived, and
the lesson thus taught to our people
that no abuses, however supported, no
intrenched power, and no wrongs in
ficted can stand in the way Of the
public sentiment of the country when
once justice is aroused. One fact,
one conviction will stand, a determin-
a.ion, the result of these elections TO
sustain the republican system of gov
eminent under which we live
Cheers. All great epochs in history
have been distinguished by some cul
minating event. | believe that the
election which took place on the 3d
OF November last will be as marked a
day in the annals OF the country as
was the 18th of June. when the battle
of Waterloo was fought. 1t was in
fact, the note which sounded victory
in the Presidential election OF 1876,
when Democratic President would
succeed the present Incumbent
TCheers. 1t was not the clash OF
armed men it was more--it was the
clash of moral force airayed under the
form of law. Cheers Late events
have shown our people that as long as
we can preserve even the mere form
of voting so long we have the power
in our own hands rescue ourselves
from the suterings that ignorance and
bad government may plunge us into,
There is the lesson of the future. l
confess feel revived and strengthen
ed. ] believe our Government will be
perpetuated, because the American
people have shown that when they
choose to withdraw their confidence
from any party, however strong and