The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-05-20

say that we will give them a wood-chop-
ing campaign, and hard cider campaign.
Good. Yes, singing and whooping
campaign. [Applause.
Why, friends, this issue alone stands
before the American people to-day. What
have they been squabbling yer in Wash
ington for the last six months, apart from
the financial question Why, simply
whether Jefferson Davis should or should
not have the right to hold Office. The
Republican party have, of their own gift,
given back To every man engaged IN the
rebellion his property, his life, the right
Of suffrage and the right to hold office;
but there is one man left-one poor, old
Wretched fragment of the debris of great
war, who has fallen 50 low that he has en-
gagged in the insurance business laugh
teri, and it is scarcely possible for the hu-
man mind to conceive Of a lower depth Of
degradation. Renewed laughter The
sole question that to-day divides parties
and tears the bosoms Of the people of this
country is whether the poor old fellow
shall or shall not have the right to hold
office, and that is all that is lett Of it,
Now, my friends, there is greater ques-
tion underlying the present state of our
affairs. 1t is, as have said, whether men
or dollars shall rule this country. be-
lieve that the time has come for the for
nation Of great party in this land-a
party III whose Judgment and in whose
heart the poorest man who tolls in the
mines of Pennsylvania or the mills of New
England will outweigh in consequence and
in importance Jay Gould or Cornelius
Vanderbilt. Applause. This is a peo-
ples country and We need a peoples
party, renewed applause and must mis-
take the signs of the times if We have not
formed it here to-day. See the forces
that have been brought to bear against u.s.
Every leading newspaper of this country
muzzled every avenue Of public opinion
closed. The very reporters who sit on
your platform are probably sent here to
misrepresent and ridicule your proceed
lngs Cheers. My friends, the move
ment has 3prung-I do not say it irrever
ently-hke the Christian religion, from
the breasts of the people. : That's so. II
1t has been driven out of the Jerusalems
and cruclted on the Mount Calvaries of
this country. But it is spreading despite
all these influences, and to-day, from far
Connecticut to the plantations of Loui-
siana, from the far Southeast to my own
State Of Minnesota, We have representa-
tlves here to form party. My friends,
plant your banner firmly, issue your dec
laration of principles, and stand by them.
Applause We saw the Republican
party spring as if from a grain Of mustard
seed until it covered this mighty land and
blessed it and we have seen that tree
turn into upas tree applause until it
has blighted and disgraced the land.
My friends, let your deliberations be
calm Call to yourselves all the resources
Of your best judgment. Be careful in the
preparation Of your principles. When
they come let them ring like the old bell
that one hundred years ago proclaimed
our liberty. Cheers. Let our enemies
understand that, come success or fail
ure, we propose to fight this battle out to
the bitter end.
| thank you, gentlemen, for the honor
you have conferred upon me, and we will
now proceed with the business of the con-
ventIon. Applause.
Mr.. Wallace P. Groom, of New York,
was appointed Secretary, and Messrs.
welch, of Iowa, and Tuft, of illinois, as
sistants
The following we're appointed Com
mittee on Credentials Messrs Trevellck,
of Michigan Streeter, of Illinois; Gun
ningham, Of Arkansas; Smithson of Ten
nessee, and Carsey, Of New York.
On motion, the following delegates were
appointed a Committee on Permanent
Organization: Voris, Of Illinois; Buchanan,
Of Indiana; Field, Of Michigan; Wingate,
Of Missouri, and Allen, If Pennsylvania.
On motion, the Convention took re-
cess for ten minutes, to enable the dele
gates from the several States to select one
of their number to act on the Committee
on Platform.
On resssembling, the following gentle
tlemen were appointed
Arkansas, NJ L. Rice; California, A.
E. Redstone; Connecticut, Z. H. Gillette;
illinois, William b. Anderson; Indiana,
William Foster; Iowa, John Wisemsn !;
Kansas, Z. B. Hadley; Louisiana, L. Duop;
Michigan, Henry Robinson; Minnesota,
Ebenezer Ayres; Missouri, R. F. Wright;
Nebraska, NJ. Warren; New York, Wal
lace p. Groom; Ohio, Rev. II. Sheldon;
Pennsylvania, E. A. Wheeler; Rhode
Island, Benjamin G. Chace; Tennessee,
Sydney Myers; Wisconsin, ]. A. Noonan;
District of Columbia, Thomas J. Dursnt
On motion, the Convention adjourned
till 2.30 p. m.