Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-05-18
Mater Gordon. Sprech.

Fe!low-CltiZens-The press has already
Informed voc ttat I would make a political
speech here to-uight. 1t has informed you
also that my speech would be devoted to =
review Of the two political parties. hav-
ing special reference to the hate city cleo
tion."
1t was indeed my purpose at the time of
conserving to- the announcement to make
good all that it promised. A nearer ap-
proach to toe snbject. however, has satisfied
me that it is both more and less com, rehen-
sive than It shoulc have been to meet the re-
qnlrements of an opening speech. really
did intend what / should say now to be a
very brief and therefore a very general re-
view OF the. political situation OF the coun-
try so far as it may be involved in the two
leading political parties and their purposes
But when / came to make my final prepar-
ssivr, svsrrs -.rs s4r- r-rvrrrsr. even wfrrrrro
limited. embraced both more and less than
had intended to perform. i find even now
that while in some respects my subiec. is too
narrow, in Others it is altogether too broad
No speech of any admissible length could
more than glance at all the important mat
Ger thst properly belongs to it. / am thus in
strait between two, from which / cannot es-
CAPE.
Nj subject Is too narrow, for IL does not
embrace all the political parties that exis. in
the country. There are several which are NIL
entitled TO IA respect al consideration in any
adequate discussion OF the political situation
that cannot. without transcending NV linn
its, SO much AS mention. i would not, how
ever. have them understand from my silence
touching them and their PRINCIPLES that
intend any disrespect TO either. Ear from
it. On the contrary desire to treat them
with respectful consideration, for in this
country ali opinions and shades of opinion
are entitled TO pc iect freedom of utterance
and action. so Il ag as decedcy and law are
respected, and peace and good order pre-
served Every opinion that has made n
single proselyte has right to form party
and take action. to the end tina IT may en-
body itself IN law and public administrative n
This right Is sacred IN all free governments
1t carries with it the right to initiate meas
nres touching the highest interests OF soci-
ETY., even IN the humblest Of ITS members
1t Is not. therefore. because | deem
other parties and their opinions and
purposes OF htt,e importance that
i did not set them down for consideration
tonight, but because the time was too short
and the labor too great to consider them.
Besides, there seemed 10 me to be very ur-
gent reasons why the two great parties
which have long divided the people of the
country. and shared with each other the for
nation OF its posicy and the direction Of its
Affairs. should be early considered in the
present canvass. with a view to determine
which the country may the more safely trust
and. therefore which the people ought to
support at the ensuing elections. Among
these reasons stands first, the fact that these
parties have hitherto, and will hereafter.
carry with them the great MACS OF the Amer
lean people. The real power Of the coun-
try-whether 1t Is to be exercised by good or
bad men, Tor weai or woe. for glory or
shame-will be found in the hands of the
one or the other OF these parties at the end
Of the conflict Any attempt to establish n
new party on better principles pledged to
higher purposes and purer administration.
VIII, IL my judgment. only make diver
sion from the ranks of that one OF
inc Two which promises most OF
what Is best ard most hopeful i'm
The future OF the Nation, and thereby
teLd Ia secure the triumph of that one OF the
tw which promises least of what is good or
hoiel1l m the future of the Nation Ii is
tnis consideration which has hitherto led me
TO act with one of the two great parties of
the country. l have so acted not because |
found in The party with which | acted at all
times. snv idea! of a political party ia n rec
government; but because l found what |
deemed the better of the Only two possibili-
ties involved in the action OF the people.
Whit pursuing this course. have aevrr
forgotten what was due Ia caBdor and truth
IN tn. exrression of my own opinions in re-
gard % wha. deemed evil in the party
which supported, or good in that which 4
opposed. This. OF course. has made nv
career something more and less than that of
nero partisan. accepting the doctrine OF
passive Obedience to the dictation of those
VINO rane ths platform and direct the action
OF thor rarity IL has cost me something, ut
times. tn MAINTAIN riy position, but do not
Tonight reg ct the cost
THz TWO GREAT PARTIES.
Tho two parties. wboss history and action
Irta Nv
to-night. have each held the reins OF
Tho ccvcrnment controlled the purse
lnd welded the power OF the Nation.