Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-06-28
The 1T, Louis Convention.


As stated in yesterdays Gazette Mr.. Henry
WaIterson. editor of the Louisville Courier
Journal, ives elected temporary chairman.
Hon. MIR. Baruum, of Connecticut, and Mr..
Ransom, OF NORTH Carolina, were appointed a
committee for the purpose of conducting him
to the chair, and upon Mr. WattersoO being
presented he was received with applause. and
delivered the following speech, the points in
which were emphasized by frequent applause :
We are called together to determine by our
wisdom whether honest government, admins
tered by honest men, shall be restored to the
American people, or to decide by our folly that
it Is the destiny OF this country to pursue an
endless, ever revolving circle OF partisan pas
sion and corruption until, with the loss OF our
material we'll being, We lose the poor man 9
last hope, civil liberty itself. Every citizen OF
feels and has Ielt tor many day the depress-
iog Influence of what are called hard times.
We look about us and We see neglected fields
and vacant houses, the factories closed, the
furnace door shut; there are myriads of idle
hands; the happy activity of prosperous lite Is
nowhere to be found; lobbyists tatten whilst
honest men starve; empty the mart and ship
less the bay. What Is it that has wrought so
great charge 10 the land that under the rule
of an intelligent, progressive, constitutional
party advanced within balf a century from the
condition of a huddle Of petty and Squaid pro-
vincial sovereig aties to foremost place among
the nations of the earth ? The reason of men
must aDsWer-partlsan mis- ule aud sectional
misdirection. The republicans, my friends,
are not alone responsible With them rest the
disgrace, with US the follies These twin agents
OF national mischauce workiog under the mis-
cradle rule of centuries, have kept the people
of the North and South aside, and have sup
piled susteoauce to corruption. They have
disturbed values, they have unsettled prices,
they have made our whole financial system a
cheat and snare. They have driven the best
elements of political! society into exile, and have
organized charlatauism into sort of public
polity, enabling the rogue to get cheap ad
vantage Of bis dupc, and sacrificing every pop
ular interest to the lust of that oigarchy which
has become so encrusted with power as to be.
lieve itself entitled to rule by the sheer force
of its own wrong doing So much let US set
down to the convenient pretext OF war; so much
to the long account OF damages between North
aud South. 1t is for you to say whether the
same conflict, with consequences multiplied
and magulfed, shall by any act of yours be in
augurated between East and West. | shall
not undertake on an occasion of this kind and
10 presence so imposing to enforce the famil-
lar lesson of mutual forbearance. Nobody
doubts our capacity 10 make battle amoug our
selves. Entreatlug you to direct your energies
to the common enemy, | ask indulgence only
90 my own behalf. You have called me to a
place DOT merely of distinction but of difficulty;
to place which requires the best training of a
better man thar | am. 10 taking it trust TO
your confidence and good nature, and heart To-
capable Of an unmanly or unfair act. The
work before US should relate to ideas rather
than to individuals 1t is the issue, not the
man, that should engage US. We have come
b re to make the peoples, not our fight, for free
no less than for honest government; Tor the
reform Of the public service and the regenera-
ton of public morals; for administrative relief
from administrative Dihism embraced 10 the
afford living chance for the South as we'll as
the North, for both the East and West. 1t
anything comes of our proceedings it must
spring from the spirit of ass ociatiop and fellow
ship when warmed The followers Of Andrew
jackson and Silas Wright, of Henry Clay and
Daniel Webster meet together Oh oommoe
ground at last to wrest the government OF their
affairs from the clutch of rings and robbers,
Federal, State and municipal, and who mean
to extirpate these wherever they are fouud,
and whether they be republican or democratic.
Mr.. Watterson then introduced Rev. Mr..
Marven, who offered prayer.
The Chair announced the temporary secre-
tary, Frederick 0. Prince, of Massachusetts,
and T. Q. Walker, Of Iowa, and s. K. Doc
van, Of Ohio, assistant secretaries He also
announced Dam Able, of Missouri, as sergeant
alarms.
MIR. Abbott, of Massachusetts,, moved reso-
luton adopting the rules of the last National
Convention until otherwise ordered.
Mr. Littlejobn, of New York, inquired if this
includes the twotbirds rule. Voices. Yes,
yes Ii so all right. Applause. ,,-
The Chair answered it does
The resolution was then adopted.
MIR. Smslley, Of Vermont, moved resou,
ton to call States 10 order for presentation OF
,re4entials which was adonted