Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1876-08-31
Speech OF Hon. W.. A. Wheeler.

Candidate tor Ice President OF the | . \.
1t \. Aihans. VI. Friday. Aug. -,
RErUHLICA>- OF 81 ALuASs: You honor
the cause Of which just now ain a prominent
representative. wa. placed in nomination A.
the II publicsu nominee for ' ice President 10
the National Convention by the action Of The
-, sIvas.-, nUmor OF ny nc fiat Jae L. LII
can II these state, deem ne sufficiently ground
ed 10 the New England faith Ia be one OF the
representatives, OF their idea. in the pending
canvas. Applause In the matter OF nv
faith trust they have made no mistake A.
plau.e. | believe in New England. h,.ir.,
in Plymouth Rock. They arr c0nycrtlh.s terms
one Of the most gifted Of New England women
Ia. aid that Plymouth Rock /. not quartz. Il
j, perfect stone cut Of the mountain without
hands, and hands cannot prevent II from be-
coming great mountain filling thu whole earth.
Every church, every sch0ol house. cy" r. town
house from the Atlantic 10 the Pacific has Ply
mouth Rock for it, foundation stone. WhcreN-
er freedom aim, 4 musket or raises 4 standard,
or sing- a song. or makes protest, there j.
Plymouth Rock. FREEDOM, the church, the
school house, the town house, these my friends
form the very cardinal principles Of the Repub-
lican party. have often '4' Ic1t ani oncn
aid that the COmmonwcl 81 vermont com
poses AMI illustrates the complete realization Of
the highest ideal Of a Republican form Of gov
ernmenL here else can you find such grner-
al intelligence, the result Of your free popular
ystem Of education: Where much OF tdcli-
u and economy IN the administration Of state
affair: Where 20 much respect for the civil
rights Of each and a'lthc people ~ in the State
Of Vermont: IL d. the mission of the Republic
can party 10 confer upon all the people OF the
country, in all the States and in all the Terri
tories, the inesiimablc priv ilcgrs which YOU in
Vermont enjoy. II i duty TO which. in thi,
Centennial year Of our nation, We ought Ia al
dres, ourselves with renewed attention and IL
deity.
| have NJ purpose here tonight, my friends,
to recall the memorable conflict through which
this nation has passed, and which made Amer
lean arms forever iiIu>trious. But let Us never
forget the Obligation resting upon Us 10 secure
the results OF that great conflict for ourselves
and for those who follow sfler u. Never. my
friends, were these obligations more apparent
and imperative than now. We are already en-
gagged in another conflict with the opponent Of
thg party which saved the nation, and which
to-day protects its int gritty and guards IL hon
or. A. in lSlD We are once more. my fricnd>,
face To face with IA united South with the Dem
ocraiic party in the North A. It's .ubscryient
and plant ally. In every laie slave State in the
Union where this Confederate party is dOmin-
ant II clsims. and may receive, $50 votes in the
Electoral College. Ii has complete control Of
the lower House and the balance OF power in
the Senate, There i, not to-day in those late
>laye States any man holding a promiuen nj posi-
ton who was not identified in the great strug-
gle against the Government. Not even Ia the
state OF kentucky can you find man in any
position whatever who was not engaged on the
rebel side. Thi, is the condition OF the South
to-day. have Eat for months during the last
Winter in Congress by the side of 81 men who
Il few years since, with arms in their hands
were engaged in the attempt TO break up the
Government. Now j have heard those men
defend the hellish atrocities OF Libby. Ander-
sonyille, and Salisbury. have heard Lincoln
magned. have heard defended the right OF
Virginia Justice Of the Peace TO detain and
open the mails of the United States. Can you
tell me where is the difference in the spirit
which 70 years ago led Missouri border ruffans
into Kansas and which led TO the massacre al
Hamburg, where regularly organized militia
company were first disarmed and then murder
ed IN cold blood in order that the white race
might assert their superiority. Nv official re-
latiOns have called me during the past two or
three years into the Southern States, and l tell
you what know, my friends, of the real feel
ing OF the Southern people regarding the re-
construction acts. They regard the amend
ments to the Constitution in reference TO slay-
cry and the laws for The protection of the freed
men, as the French provinces did their cession
TO Prussia at the point Of the bsyonet.
1t Is to the South. my friends, with this spirit
and with the Democratic party Of the North AS
It's plant ally, that We are asked to turn over
the Government of the United States with ali
It's powers Of legislation, with all its machinery
OF taxation. No such proposition for audacity
has Its parallel in the history of the country.
What is the spirit of the Democratic partyY Do
OF the North still ISL Go to Washington: see
90 soldiers crippled soldiers in the service of
the Union turned out OF the House to mako
room for as many rebel soldiers. This is the
evidence Of the spirit Of the Northern Democ-
racy.
My friends, we confront the old issue. YOU
must not underrate the strepgth Of the South
and ats allies In the North. You ask me if il
can be avoided. / tell you YES II can be
avoided in the old way and In the old way only
You must not underrate the strength of thi. al
lance. l have a confding faith that the con-
science OF the nation will be sufficiently awak-
ened to avert this great peril. Under the lead
Of the gallant Hayes who periled his life on the
field OF battle-a modest mana plain mana
man who has evinced great ability in his nd.
min'strstion OF affairs Of the great State of Ohio
under Hayes the Republican party will again
achieve new triumph. (Appiause.l What
shall be your duty in this canvzsss l tell YOU.
reemen Of Vermont, what l know--the Demo.
Gratis are making great efforts to reduce he Re- |
publican majority in this State. viii YOU per-
init this, friends? Voices-"Nov "Nor,l
The banner Of Vermont was never vet trailed |
on the battle field. Let your ballots protect the
work SO enectually done by your bayonets at |
Gettysburg and on many field of strife. As |