The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-06-14


that, with the exception Of the convention,
of 1864, this body had to perform more
important work than any other. He SAID
that in June, 1864, We were in the midst
of the war for the preservation of the
Union; we had great armies 10 the field
but they had achieved only partial sue
cesses, and when successful always at
great cost of life. The bravest and best
of our young men had fallen in battle bv
tens and hundreds of thousands or were
in prison at Andersonvile and Libbey. |
President Lincoln had, II mouths prior
to this, by proclamation, but only as
war measure, declared slaves free,
while their masters kept them within their |
lines and held full dominion over them |
1t was then modestly suggested by your
chairman of the national committee that
the convention would not discharge It's
whole duty unless among its other resolu-
tious it should declare for such amend
ment of the national constitution as would,
when adopted by the requisite number of
states, forever prohibit African slavery on
this continent The suggestion was re-
ceived with uneXampled enthusiasm by
the convention and resolution to secure
this national blessing was written in your
party platform on that day.
Both houses of congress, very soon after,
passed the required amendment and 29
sovereign states ratified it, and the noble
Lincoln proclaimed the result to the people,
and from that hour to this the sun has
not risen upon q bondman nor set upon
slave in all this fair land Not to the
north, not to the south, but to that Su
preme Being alone who controls the
destinies of nations as well as the affairs
OF individuals, let US give all glory.
But the past we conclude is secure.
Pardon ne, gentlemen. if again with like
modesty | make a suggestion or two
bearing directly on the present:
This convention should emphatically de-
mand prompt and efficient execution
Of those solemn promises Of both houses
of congress and the president 10 redeem,
in coin, the legal tender obligations Of the
government the lst Of January, 1879, and
signify its opposition to any modification or
repeal Of this law that does not guarantee
still earlier or better method of returning
to specie payment Let no doubtful word
go out from this convention upon the sub
ject of honest money. Prices are already
at specie point Stand firmly by your
unanimous resolutions and platforms a
:
will be trantormed into coin basis 50
easily and so naturally that you will be
yourselves surprised, regrettiug only, as
you will, that it was not determined on at
an earlier day. Resumption accom- plished,
then, in all human probability, will follow
| ten or fifteen years of prosperity equal to
: that of any former period, perhaps greater
t than the country has yet seen.
xynI1 will in adNitio miami n
: your platform declaring for such amend
ment of the constitution as will extend
} the presidential term 20 years and make
the incumbent ineligible for reflector
you will deserve the gratitude Of The
American people.
5 After tribute to Cincinnati, he con
e tinued:
Y The last three national conventions o
t our party have had indicated to them iu
advance the names of the candidates TO
! the national ticket, so that they have beer
e little else than ratification meetings o
t DEGREES made by the people-merely put
d ting in form that which had already beer
It decided upon. allude to President Lin
Q coins second nomination; to the nomiBa
: ton and denomination Of the splendid So
Ii dler and patriot General Grant. Blu
y such state Of things no longer exists
S There appears to be, at the preseLt tim
Y no one to whom the unerring finger point
u as the Cnly candidate. There seems to b
5, no man rising so far above all others a
te to cause exultant voices to exciaim Tho
art the man" The consequence is, man
: distinguished names among our part
, friends have been mentioned as candidate
m and will he brought b-fore this conventio
ID when the proper time arrives for maxim
le nominations, therefore, it is that hay
I'd expressed myself as seeing greater r.
le sponsibilities resting on delegates to th
Id convention than upon any or all that hay
IN proceeded it, The history of the Repu'
ne llcan party furnishes @bun2lnt ey
or dence of its desire that goyernmel
re shall be administered with honesty al
&c economy and as means to that end th
e the civil service should be elevated by tt
or introduction of all needful and prop
be reforms. With such history and at
'e, time like the present it cannot be doubt'
of that the choice of this convention will Fl
"a on some one, whoever he may be, clear
bic committed on this question. Our fol
be may contriye what the wisdom of Il
he opposition cannot attain-our defeat
es, the polls in November can come from
to We are met here as contending factor
es- within the party, to test, under Varlo
is leaderships, oar relative strength; but
vs. representatives occupying high respon
en- bility to extract from the crucible of &C
ee. hicting minds that type of Amerlc
led craftsmanship which shall be accepted
en- the worthy embodiment of the priEcip
of the party. Applause. Men as W
lgs as measures are to be weighed in the b
lse ance during the coming months, and neltt
ere must be found wanting to ensure succe
he Applause The Republican party C
ng not continue to live by reason of
ION splendid achievements in the p'
are nor the Democratic party expect to
returned to power upon its glitteri
ion promises of reform in the future. "A
an, plause The former party has yet
,an present men representative of its prln
the piles. The latter must discover both
tho principles and its men. lCheers, u
an, cries of good. ln former days, VIII
the party ties we're tirmer; when the immedi;
not pressure OF Impending natl0nal calal
vas ties hedged us about and compelled pai
of fidelity the platform carried the IN;
whoever he might be. Party ties are loo
so now and no platform is buoyant enou
am to float an unworthy candidate. a
lis plause. The necessity for the continual
lch of the administrative policy of the RepJ
ory lican party, while not so apparent IN |
on mediate results, is as commanding
ner specting future consequences as ev
MIS- We are told that il has accomplished
nee mission, and that, therefore, it has
the claims to exist Well, if the time for