Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-06-27
Speech of Gov. Hayes.

AT the reception given to Governor Hayes at
Fremont, Ohio, Saturday evening, he spoke as
follows
bors and All IL need not attempt to express the
emotions feel at the reception which the people
of Fremont and of this country have gwen Inc
tonight. Under any circumstances an assem-
b.age of this sort would touch me, would excite
the warmest emotions of gratitude, but what
gives to this its distinctive character IS the TACT
that those that are prominent in welcoming me a.
home know very well in the past have not voted
with me or for me, and do not intend IN the future
to vote with me or for me. 1t is simply that COM
ing to nv home they rejoice that Ohio, that San
dusky county, that the town of Fremont has re-
cciyed at that convention that honor, and thank
you Democratic fellow citizens, Independents ana
Republicans for this spontaneous and warm anu
enthusiastic reception. (Cheers.) trust that IN
tle course of events the time will never come that
YOU will have cause to regret what you do TO-
night. 1t is q very great responsibility that has
been placed upon me TO be the representative OF
40, 600, 600 of people-a responsibility when know
very well am not equal 10 perform. under-
stand very well it was not because Of my ability
or talents or position that l was chosen. Ihere
were accidents and contingencies that caused TINS
result But that which does rejoice me is that
here where have been in my Childhood are those
that come and rejoice at the result. (Cheers.) l
trust nv frie nds, that | run along In tins de.
sultory way, for YOU we'll know that since l
learned that was to be here to night the throng
of letters and visitors and kilograms TO answer
have given me no time to prepare Tor reception
like this. You must put up with hastily formed
sentences, very unhty Representing seh'inen''
appropriate to the occasion.
The governor referred to the first visit to FIRE.
mont then lower Sandusky, IN 1854, anu 10 MS
boyish impressions Of its then citizens many OF
whom are now present. lie referred IN teinhg
terms to his old uncle who adopted and raised
him, and whatever the result might be IN Novem
her he felt proud that he had home in Fremont.
He continued:
But now see what Fremont is, how it has grown
1t has not increased to first class commercial
CITY. but it has become PHEASANT home so pleas
ami so thriving that rejoice to think that what
ever may be the result next fall 1t VIII be pleasant
to return to it when all is over. II not defeated
| shall 90 to the White House and II 60 there L
shall rejoice at the lime when shall be permitted
to return to you and be neishoor with you again
have been touched scarcely by anything that has
occurred since the nomination as much as py,a iet,
ter from friend at Norwalk who wrote that II
Sardif Orchard could only have lived to know
this. But this is the order OF Providence.
Events follow upon one another as wave follows
wave upon the ocean. 1t is for each man to do
what he can to make others happy. That Is the
prayer and that is the duty of life. ~
Let us, my friends, in every position we NIL IN
dertake to perform this. For one have no reliance
except ! tina. which Abraham Lincoin nau
when he went from his friends at Springfield, when
he said to his friends, 81 20 to Washington TO as
sumo responsibility greater than that which mas
devolved upon anyone since the hrst president
and beg you, my friends and neighbors, to pray
that may have that divine assistance without
which cannot succeed. and with which cannot
fail" (Cheers.) In that spirit ask you to deal
with me (oheers.) If it shall be the will OF the
people that this nomination shall be ratihed All
will be we'll If on the other hand 1t shall be the
will of the people that another shall assume these
great responsibilities let US see to it that we VINO
oppose him give him a fair trial and also our
prayers.
My friends thank you for the interest you
have taken in this respect, and that you have lad
aside partisan feeling. There has been too much
bitterness on such occasions in this country. Let
us see to it that abuse vituperaton OF the can
didate that shall be named at St. Louis does no,
proceed from our lips. Let US on this centennial
occasion, this second century of our existence
set an example OF what free and Intelligent ma
ton can do
Gov. Hayes then referred to the Centennial at
some length and said:
Let us show in electng the Chief Magistrate OF
the nation, the office that is to be the first OF io,
900, 900 of people, let us show all those how tue
American people can conduct themselves through
canvass of this sort. If it shall be in the spirit IN
which we have met here to night, if it shall be
that justice and fairness shall be in all the discus
sons it will commend free institutions to tne world
in a way which they have never been before
Cheers