The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-02-23
A POLITICAL PROPHECY.

~ IOl-l HhOFdEC1.
THE SPEECH OF THE HON. DAVID A. WELLS
"A BRILLIANT ILLUSTRATION AND A
GRAPHIC SUMMARY.
The Hon. ID. A. Wells. of Connecticut,
was elected chairman of the late democratic
state convention at Hartford, Cenn.
On taking the chair, be spoke
substantially as follows: Gentlemen
of the Convention-At the head ofo one of the
great stsircases in the capitol at Washing
tor there is q picture which, what
ever may be its artistic merits, seems TO me
to symbolic In the highest degree our pre-
sent political condition. party Of emf
grants are represented, before the construc-
ton of the transatlantic railway, in the act
of going TO the FL Dorado of the Westl
Their journey has bsen long snS
tedious. Days have passed into weeks. and
weeks into months and the still hoped
for goal of their destination has not
been reached. Toll and anxiety are de-
picted upon their faces. At last a point Is
reached where a precipitious ascent viii
give them a sight of that which they nave
long hoped for; and as they row proceed
from rock 70 rock, forgetting all behind and
looking ahead they nerve themselves for
further work with renewed energy. This
seems TO me TO symbolic the present
political condition of the people OF this
country. For ten long and
y
journeying through a dreary political
waste, and have looked with nxious hearts
for peace and repose. They have sorght tor
the industrial development of the country,
for the abstinence OF the federal govern
ment from the use of war powers, tor relief
from taxation, and last but not least for
sound and staple currency. [Applause.l
Days have passed to week., and weeks 20
months, and months TO years, AMI while
the promise has been continually made to
the ear, it has continually been broken TO
the heart and to hope. We have passed Tor
six years over
THE MOUNTAINS OF GRANTIsh.
(Applsuse.) Congress has been in close
proximity to Rogues river. (Lsughter.)
We have wandered through Buffers guleb,
through Tom Murphy aud Boss Shepherd
fats. and at last when hope seemed far off,
the people felt that to return 70 Old demo-
cratic measures a prospect OF the desired
goal could be obtained and finally that pros
pect came through the elections of last TALL.
(Applause.)
Gentlemen of the democratic party, it is for
you to say whether that promise shall de-
velOp into prosperity, or whether like the
mirage of the plains, it shall lift Us to sue
cess only TO lead us 10 defeat. IL is only
necessary for the democratic party to 20
back and place itself on its early principles
those principles which have given us about
all that is worth saving. [Applsuse.] GEN
tlemeD, there have been different WAYS and
methods as TO what those principles are,
but in general they are such that
those who run may read. First, they die
tate that that government is best which Is
governed the least, and demand rigid alb
stinence of the federal government from in
reference with the affairs OF the states. Sec
cond, They recognize the equality of all men
before the law, and equal and exact justice
to all without regard TO race, color
Third. Hard money. [Applsuse.J Fourth.
Taxation of revenue only. 1t the demo-
cratic party will give these pIincp es to
the people they will in return take mold OF
them as necessary 10 their political saliva
ton. Gentlemen it is to be regretted that
there should be any difference of opinion as
to what constitute the principles of this
government. Since the war, which ought
TO have ended in 1865, the attention OF the
people has been diverted and they have
taken no notice of the usurpations which
have been committed, and which hundred
years ago would have resulted in something
worse than words (applause). This year
marks the anniversary of
THE BIRTH OF OUR NATION.
Among the men who had a special grew
ance then was James Otis. and his grievance,
by which be aroused the people, was in re-
gard to writs OF assistance-search war
rants; but we have seen officers OF the fed
eral government enter the offices Of honest
merchants, and seize papers hv which
money could be extorted for
she benefit OF spies and in
formers. We have seen a ban 4 of federal
soldiers interfering. at the call of an ire
sponsible governor, TO break up the legisla-
ture of state-as much state as any in this
Union. Many attempts have been made to
deceive the people with regard to this Lou
isiana difficulty, as to who did or did not
first call on the troops for assistance, but
over and above all the disagreeable fact re-
mains that federal troops did enter the state
house OF sister state and break up its organ
zation. And this was the direct result of re-
publican rule. IApplause.l Foreign jour-
nails, one and All, have characterized this
act as an abuse of authority, such as would
in any country in the old world reduce q
liberal government to a monarchy. (Ap-
plause) Yet, my fellow-townsman, who is
a respected citizen OF the highest character
in private life, takes this act as the signal for
gun firing and ostentatious rejoicing. If
thought that these guns met with any well
come response in the hearts OF any ccnsid-
cradle portion of the American people I
should consider that it marked the decay OF
the republic, Just "a the guns on the 18th OF
April. l775. marked the birth of the nation.
(Applause.)