Los Angeles daily herald., 1875-07-27
IRWIN AND HAMILTON.
A Grand Ratification
Last Night.
The Spirit Of Democracy Ex-
citing the People.


by those eminent standard-bearers,
Governor Irwin and Gen. 10 Hamil-
ton. The meeting was called to order
by Mr.. A. w. Hutton, Secretary of
the Democratic County Central Com
mittee, who presented the name of
Gov. John G.. Downey for President OF
the meeting and who was unani-
mously elected.
Gov. Downey, OH taking theChair,
said he regretted that the Democracy
of Los Angeles had had so short
notice of the intended visit
of these distinguished champions
of Democracy, as they might have
been given better reception. 1t is
rare that Los Angeles has an opportu-
nifty to welcome such representative
men, and the Democracy delight to
do them proper honor. He then an
nounced the list of officers, as fol-
lows: Vice Presidents, f. Ganahl, H.
X. S. O'Melveny, G. e. Thom, j. NJ.
Bassett, TIA. Sanchez, Wallace Wood
| worth, f. Machado, d. w. Alexander,
S Lazard, II. D. Mott, J. S. Griffin,
A. F. Coronel, Judge Sepulveda, Nj.
Morris; Secretary, A. w. Hutton.
These gentlemen appeared and took
| their seats, while the band favored
the crowd with Hail Columbia. Pres
ident Downey then introduced, "Our
Democratic candidate for Governor; a
man of integrity and ability, who
will address you upon the issues Of the
day. His forte is not mud-throwing-
| but statesmanship."
Governor Irwin was received with
great enthusiasm, and spoke substan-
| TALLY as follows: "It Is with extreme
pleasure that I come before this
great meeting in the Southern part Of
| the State. My friend, Governor Dow
ney, has related the fact that you were
not apprised of the intended visit of
Gen'l. Hamilton and myself. This
eager crowd reminds me that this
beautiful city gathers large congre-
CATION to discuss the issues of the
country in which even the humblest
citizen is interested. l recognize, at
the same time, that this compliment
| Is not due to us as individuals, but be-
made US its representatives in this
canvass; you come not to hear our ad-
| dresses, but to hear the voice of the
great Democratic party on the issues
now before you. 1t is the prerogative
of the people to have their will crystal
| lied into law. It is their will to say
who shall be their officers and admin
lister their laws. 1t depends OH you to
| ,hof 10 c1 Ia rrin ind N
the succeeding four years. Tn
| ly provided that every four
years the people shall determine what
our course shall be for another term.
In coming before you tonight we will
present the reasons why the Democ-
racy should have the support of the
of the State. You have the right to
demand that we, your standard-bear-
ers, shall state the reasons for which
we ask you to support us rather than
the independent or Republican cam
didates. We shall recognize the fact
that you are intelligent citizens and
that you have the right to say who
shall fill the offices of State. There
are now three parties in this State and
| two great parties in the Nation. The
[
party for over fourteen years. We
| must pass in hasty review the history
| of the last ten or fifteen years. We
will find sufficient food in few salient
points to show the destiny of the Re-
publican party. We will not touch on
the war period. Our views then are
of no account. All acquiesce in the
results of the war, and when the sur
render of Appomatox was made the
American people acquiesced in 1T as
final, that hereafter we would have
one government and one flag over all
the States. The people North and
South recognize the common flag and
bow in reverence and fealty to it. We
expected the party in power to adopt
the wisest craftsmanship to restore
peace and prosperity to the whole
country, and particularly to that part
smitten by war, as well as the success
full States. Did the Republican party
meet the just expectations of the peo-
pie? Were their measures best adapt
ed to give peace and Union? 1t occurs
to me to ask such question is to an
swer it. What was the leading fea-
ture of reconstruction, adopted against
the earnest protest of the insurrection-
airy States and large, intelligent and
patriotic minority known as the DEM
ocratic party? The leading feature of
reconstruction was that the African,
who had been in servitude, should not
merely be free, but guaranteed every
civil and political right, making him
the equal of the white. The people of
the States did not believe this wise
policy. 1t was not calculated to In
spire the South with respect for the
flag, tut the Republican party being
in the eascendancy, having a two-thirds
majority in Congress and having an ex-
ecutive with them were able to enforce
any terms of reconstruction. In pur-
suance of this they adopted first one
amendment to the Constitution and
then another, until finally reconstruc-
ton was completed by the Fifteenth
Amendment, which said that no per-
son could be deprived of the ballot
owing to race, color, or previous
condition of servitude. These
measures were opposed by q
majority of the insurrectionary
States, and the Democratic party. The
Republican party having adopted
these amendments, the Democrats
recognize them as finalities. They
recognize the fact that the 18th, 18th
and 18th amendments are part of the
Constitution, equally with the origin
al document, and If the Democracy
are entrusted with power in the next
national administration, they will en-
force these amendments the same as
other parts of that sacred document,
the Constitution. With these amend
ments the Southern question should
have been settled, as question in
politics. Five years have elapsed
| einoa tho adoDf ion of the 18th amand-