New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-09-30
MIR. WILSON'S ADDRESS.

MR. WILSON'S ADDRESS.
GENTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTION In obedience to a
pressing request which had TO me the force OF COM
mand take this chair grateful for the trust imposed
and the honor conferred This position your erowcng
duties, the OCCASION all alike demand that my words DE
few and that my suggestions shall be the plain ana prc
teal uterances of earnest convictions You, Gentlemen
Of the Convention the selected representatives OF the
Republican party OF Massachusetts, Grave resonsibl-
ties confront yOuhigh duties rest upon yoi You VINO
have been long accustomed 10 victories ony nave
come to know defeat 1t is for you here and this day to
decide by words and your acts, wether Niclnis
alton of defeat still longer But remember Gentlemen,
the victories you seek cling only 10 the manly asser
ton of principles, 10 the prompt acceptance OF inc duties
the hour Ia that unity that comes from usensh dcVo
ton to the public veal to that COURAGE which Is porn OF
honest convictions and faith in the ultimate truhihoI
right and to the selection of able ana honest men TOT
official positions.
TIE PARTY RECORD A PROUD ONE
In dark and trying hour when the insatiatc Slave
Power dominated the nation and had complete posses
sion Of the Government; when the Republic stood dis
honored before Clrstendom for its admitted champion
ship of Slavery With all its cruel and foul abuses the Re
publican party organized. II was from the start
avowedly party Of reform. Its dominating idea ana
proclaimed purpose were the of the nation from
those hoary abuses and the overthrow OF men VINO had
prostiuted the high functions of government to their
conservation. Into the rising party came sutiSiaNcry
men who had been battling for freedom Tor quarter OF
parties Seldom If ever, in the history OF te world nave
been
conservation Beaten in it. first rally and struggle, il
Abraham Lincoln President Of the United States
Plunged al once into war; II could moi c'adt winout
dishonOr, the dsmc mberncnt OF the naiio ana me utter
prostration Of human rights. il victories vindcaed
the authority of Inc Government cXrpated slavery re-
laIeed citizenship it carried the country through an I'M
portant TRANSITION grand epoch Ill human aiaiis IL has
This gentlemen, is assumption OF Hire. II l. Simple
historic TRUTH and such will be the Ncct oi me ages
No history will be complete that shall not fanh Grant
and Thomas, sherman and Sheridan with the great cap
tains OF the century; that does no; group Lincoln seward
have achieved the most for popular rights and human
advancement; that does not class the men, cVli ai mn
belion with men who wrenched Magma Charia from ah
unwilling king. and those who fough' the Da''ts "
American independence
CENTENNIAL THOUGHTS.
Gentlemen, we have already entered upon the cen
tcnnal period the nation We of Massachusetts have
engaged in the earlier OF that cycle OF celebrations when
the great events OF the Revolution
We have been TO Lexington. Concord, ana Chareslowh
You know how eagerly and revcrcniiy we garnercd up
every incident and every example Of vaor aud patriotic
sclfsacritce That could rescued from lie RAPIDLY re-
cediny past Nor we Of Massachusetts alone Men from
the South there. Confederate soldiers from Mary
land, Virginia, aud South Carolina, and Union soldiers
from New-England. NewYork, and Pcnn'yly ania
marched together with every demonstration oi wei
come. and stood side by side beneath the shadow
of the monument that commemorate the battle
Of Bunker Till And so it will be when
another centennial shall dawn Not only Will our de-
scendan.s but the descendants OF those who fought
against US celebrate with grateful ncioIieS he vents
and deeds OF tie great and successful sr'Eklc thc re
publican party led for nation unity ami universal I'D
erty.
SPIRIT OF REFORM IN TIE AIR.
The experience OF the nations teach that wars bring
with them aat abuses. We haye passed through one OF
The greatest OF history and its Influences have been
clearly visible in public and private life OF the nation
LEGISLATORS and administrators municipal, state ana
national OF all parties, have fallen INTO mistakes and
tolerated abuses. But the spirit Of reform Is in the AFR
The demand for reform is in the heart OF the people
Conventions resolve it, The press gives IL voice. The
of The intelligent patriotic ana hig'oneh men OF
the Countrywide men Nj. Lincoln Wa woh 10 cal NE
plain peope"-the sturdy men who carried the Repuli-
party and tie country through tfais ana Conflicts,
demand wise legislation and honest administration
everywhere Infexibe in ideas and prlnf!pes though
liberal and III politics. they critical an! ex
acting in matters Of administrator They are The nope
recent emphatic declaration Of President Grant: Let
gu man escape: and they demand IT. prompt ahd
universal Application. While they do net hold nccisi-
ton conviction they do hold that the Government
ana not the accused official, should nave 'hc ochcht OF
all reasonable doubt
NATIONAL PLEDGES MUST BE SUSTAINED.
During the and The years immediately succeeding,
the faith Of the nation was often pledged II was
pledged freedom the civil and political rights OF
coorcd race and this pledge must be redeemed ana
kept all it's ullness. II pledged TO The soldiers
who fought battles and 10 the people who furnished
the money, of which much needed. To both IL
melt her can faith be broken without deep dishOnoI
In the stress OF the when creditors and ainies
were unpaid the Government issued it, "pronlses to
pay" and made them legal tenders When that enact
memt was made the Government in good faith intended
that these notes should be redeemed in gold
csthcarng bonds. But ten have passed aud these
promises" still remain uniulhled. The Sr"nback has
ndo ed largely aupreciatcd and we are justly p;oud Of
the credit OF The nation in the markets u the world.
But we do not and cannot as Americans, take IGldc
in the singular fac; that a stray from unknown
hank in of
ST. for premium of more than II per rgnl oyrr one COO
people behind it, The pliged faith OF the naIinn, the
honor of the Government, the enduring interests of the
people of the rich and Of the poor OF capital and labor
all demand that the Government. by ws ana prudent
legislation and administration should. a! ii earliest
piac cabie pclon, MAKE It's ho'cs el"i' ~ ana oo'e'
bic into gold.
LET ALL POLITICAL DISABILITIES Re REMOVED.
The Republicans Of Massachusetts, when war came,
demanded aud aided in its vigorous prosecution When
peace came they demanded reorganization, rccOnsic-
ton and reconciliation upon the just basis of impartial
liberty But love, rather than hatred inspired them
To-day they rejoice thai cnancipatcd rccmen who at
the close OF the had neither homes nor possessions,
have accumulated millions OF wealth and have thousands
OF their children III the public schools; that, with return
ing prosperity have fuller acqucSccnce in the re-
suits of the war and larcr manifestation of the spirit
of reconciliation toward their country and their country
men, Yielding nothing of their love Of impartial liberty.
nothing OF their purpose to maintain The equal rights ol
all citizens the United States nothing of their just
hey this progress and hail these manifestations
With them unity OF the States assured, Tie authority
of tile Government vindcated, the freedom and the
rights civil and political OF the cc!ored race made cci-
tain, it seemsto INC that the Repu.htans OF Massacn ~,
sefs should demand tie removal OF the remaining dis
abilities imposed by the Fourteenth amendment Is" That.
when on lie Fourth OF July next the Republic enters
upon its second centennial shall bc found laborlng
under these disabilities.
THE FATTY TO BE REUNITED.
You, gentlemen of the Convention, are Republicans
Republicans ALL in sentiment and feeling by convictions
and by associations You believe, aud believe that the
enduring interests OF the country imprraiycly require
the continued ascendency Of the Republican party until