Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-04-06
Republican State Convention.
ENTHUSIASTIC GATHERING
AT COLUMBUS!
Hayes Unanimously Endorsed for
the Presidency.
Last Years Financial Platform Substantially
Re-afirmed.
Speeches By Er- Governors Lee and Noyes and
AlphonsO Hart.

IcCiScly dl IL IL H. tue chairman OF Tn
State Republican Executive Committee calle
the Convention to order, and Rev. J. F. Still
ham, of the First Baptist Church, addresse,
the Thorne of Grace in prayer
Gen. ]. c. Lee, of Toledo, was then in
troduced as temporary Chairman of the Con
vention, and spoke as follows:
EX-GOVERNOR LEES SPEECH,
'sMR. CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN OF TIL
CONVENTION: 1t is proper that express m,
earnest thanks for the partialty of the com
mttee in making me temporary Chairman o.
this convention. The distinction implied il
it is enhanced by the time and the occasion
the time the hundredth year Of the Republic
and the seventy-f1fth of the State, and the
occasion the selection of delegates to the Ma
tional Republican Convention, at which we
hope one of our citizens will be nominated fol-
the Presidency.
| "We are met under most interesting cir
cumstances. 1t is twenty-five years since the
National Republican party was organized.
Sixteen years ago it gained National ascen-
dcncy. Since that time it has substantially
stood charged with the administration of the
government. A partial suspension of that
charge existed from 1866 to 1869. The bless
ings of good government and the evils of bad
government, so far as either force existed, are
mainly due to the Republican party. TAp-
| plause.
"If slavery was checked and stayed in the
universality of its empire; if personal liberty
was exalted to a constitutional protection Co
extensive with the whole country; if secession
was condemned, resisted, and Overthrown; if
slavery was abolished, and four millions of
people brought into the light of liberty; if the
most powerful and most determined insurrec-
ton, maintained by unparalleled persistence
and courage, was suppressed; if the destroyed
credit of a temporarily disrupted Union was
recovered and maintained; if the Constitution
was amended so as forever to prohibit slavery;
if the freedman was clothed with citizenship,
with civil rights, and with suffrage; if the dis
membered States have been reunited, and the
forces put into action that will bring civili-
zation inspired by universal education, intel
ligence, patriotism, morality, and religion; if
a National debt of two and half billions, in
CURED in the preservation of a united repub-
lie, has been partly paid and put in course of
tion with its creditors has been kept, it is due,
under God, wholly due to the National Re
publican party. Applause.
If in the future the Nation is to continue its
good faith to its creditors; il the National debt
shall be steadily reduced, and that currency,
born out of the necessities of the civil war,
which then served good purpose, shall with
in q reasonable time be brought to an equality
with coin, by the National Republican party
must it be done. If industry shall thrive, if
commerce shall be prosperous, to the Repub-
lican party must they look for whatever of
aid government can give.
"We are here to-day not only to nominate
candidates for State offices, but to select dele
gates to speak our wishes in the National Re
publican Convention. We are here not mere
ly to reaffirm our devotion to that financial
policy, by the Republicans of Ohio hereto
fore declared, of steady return to the con-
vertibility of currency and coin; of the main
tenance intact of our common schools; of the
maintenance of fidelity, integrity and purity
in the administration of public affairs; but we
are here, the representatives of 800, 900 voters
OF Ohio, to give form to their united pre-
ference for President of the United States.
That preference is one and unmistakable
(Cheers. II has not required any magnet to
gather together its scattered or disintegrated
parts. 1t has not required an inquest to as
certain its character 1t is a growth, natural,
healthful, and mature The people demand
full evidence of patriotism, and they have
found it, in both military and civil service
They demand maturity of consideration and
wisdom in council, and they have found it.
They demand firmness and sagacity in ad-
ministration, and they have found them. (
They demand fearlessness and honesty, coup
led with courtesy, in the discharge of public |
duty, and they have found them all.
" In these days Uf wild and criminal ex-
penditure, they demand simplicity of life and |
moderation in expenditure, and they see both |
of them before them. They especially de- |
mand purity of private life, and they find it |
before them in its highest degree All of |
these are seen by us in our Governor, Ruther-
ford B. Hayes. Prolonged and vociferous |
cheering.
"As Republicans who believe the triumph |
of the National Republican party in 1876 |
essential to the Nations welfare, we see in the /
nomination of Gov. Hayes that which will go
far to assure that triumph. In Ohio in 1875,
after thoroughly contested campaign, which
brought by $1,000 to the ballot box the
largest vote ever polled, in an aggregate of
593, 900 votes, there was an average majority
of 4, 500 only, less than one vote in hund-
red. Any unfortunate breath in public opin-
ion would blow away that vote, may not that
breath be stirred by very slight cause? We
all know that the name of Gov. Hayes is the
strongest in our State. Cheers. Last year
we forced him from his chosen retirement to
a candidacy, believing that his name was ne
cessary to success. 1t is not too much to say
that we now see that we were correct. In
1876 the vote of Ohio is essential to Repub-
lican success. That vote We must give if
possible. While we make no threat to Re
publicans elsewhere, and assure them that if
possible Ohio, in any event, will elect Repub-
lican electors, yet we know that with r. B.
Hayes at the head of the ticket, we largely
increase the chances of that success. Pro-
longed cheering.]
EFFECT OF THE SPEECH.
1t was when the temporary Chairman,
winding up his exposition of the qualities de-
manded by the people in candidate for the
Presidency, declared that all could be found
united in Gov. Hayes, that the Convention
manifested its first outbreak of enthusiasm.
1t was remarkable outbreak. There was
nothing artificial in it. There was no jump
ing to feet or f1inging of hats in the air. There
was a shout, but it was not of the "wild"
variety, although it might well be described
as ''irrepressible." The one feature about
the demonstration was its universally.
1t was spontaneous earnest, honest, and
genuine outburst in honor of the man whom
they believe is fitted to rule the destinies of
the Nation.
TEMPORARY OFFICERS
After Gen. Lee had finished his speech,
VIM. Leonard, of Cuyahoga, was chosen
of the Convention pro tenn, with the
following list of assistants: Walter Cox, of
Hamilton; A. T. Carpenter of Union; j. 7.
johnson, of Mahoning; p. B. Cond, of JEFF
ferson, and Z. II Anderson, of Guernsey.
STANDING COMMITTEES.
The following standing committees
and permanent Vice Presidents were
then appointed: ....
COMMITTEE ON CREDENTIALs.-lst
District, Geo Webber, Hamilton; I'd,
w m Scofi Hamiltnn 9d Iohn w Ir-