The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-05-01

| desire only that our representatives, when
they meet our brethren of other states,
shall sit down and consult with them as to
the men who will command most certainly
the confidence of majority of the people
OF this country, that we may have a
triumph, and that when we have it we
will have reformed government that will
elevate and purify the people, that will
have the people of the south living with
US under this government. applause J
We In the north are reaoy for amnesty, as
we are ready to preserve the Union for the
people Of every country and every creed.
(Applause.)
When senator Herman had finished, the
chairman led forward Gov. Seymour.
The whole convention, with the crowded
lobbies and galleries, sprang to their feet,
and welcomed his presence with perfect
ovation. The hall rang with cheers, oft
repeated and long continued. while hats
were thrown high toward the ceiling.
SPEECH oE Mr.. SEYMOUR.
Ii is now more than ten years since peace
was restored to our land after bloody
war. 1t left US then worn out and weaken
ed by the contest. Our land was filled by
many green graves; there was mourning
in our homes; yet in the midst of all that
sadness there had been displayed virtues
by the American people that made us
proud and lifted US up IN the estimation
OF the nations of the world Never before
had we stood so high in the opinions of
men Of other places, or in the opinions of
governments unlike ours; and we looked
| forward with hope to the future to close
the wounds that war had made. We
looked forth with confidence for renewed
prosperity, Ten years have rolled around,
and we find our country more depressed
than it has ever been in its history; more
care and anxiety in its fields, in its work
shops and in its business circles.
Nor is this all. During the last ten years
the course Of political events has been
such that to-day is day of shame and
sorrow to those who love their country,
and its glory and its estimation in the eyes
of the world. (Applause.) Peace has
brought 10 us more that has made US sad
and sorrowful, more that has been hurtful
to our national character, more that has
suppressed honest labor and thwarted the
interests of those who attempted to build
up our national prosperity than eyer war
did with all its sufferings. 1t needs no
spirit of prophecy to tell what the future
historian, when he tells the events
Of the past fifteen or twenty
years OF our country, will
dwell upon when he comes to this period.
He will warn all nations that people may
live against armed rebellion. 1t will teach
the lesson that force cannot destroy gov
eminent when 1t is strong in the affections
Of a people, and it will teach the other
great lesson that corruption in reference to
public virtue, and greed for gold will de
stroy those institutions that were powerful
to resist all outward pressure and all bel
| ligerent attacks.
Now, | do not stand herein this hour OF
our shame and disgrace in many respects,
in this last year Of a century of our exis-
tence, to speak to you in mere partisan
spirit. | admit that the difficulties which
now surround US have grown out of lack
Of virtue on the part of the whole Ameri.
can people. L admit that we have lost
sight, without regard to mere party dis
tinctioD, Of those virtues which did abound
when our institutions were formed and
when we started out in that great and
glorious career which has made US so pow
ertul among the nations of the earth
| w bile / will, therefore, say to our Repub
lican friends that 4 part Of the blame rests
upon Us as it does upon them, yet another
thing is made true by all this, and that l.
that abuses and corruption have come be
cause we have lost sight of the principles
OF those who formed our government. Gap
plause.) The national treasury would no
have been robbed if false national feelin,
had not opened the doors of that treasury
to schemes that were unconstitutional an,
averse to the very genius and spirit Of on
institutions. (Applause.) The great les
son that we are learning now is not tina
one party is superior TO another in its moral
ty--tor we are all but human and may fall b
temptation-but that that party which up
holds right and principle; that party whic
closes the door of the treasury against col
ruptIon; that party which insists that tn
government shall keep itself within rightfU
bounds, is the only party that can be safe
, ly trusted. Applause We do not sa
to you, my Republican friends, that 20
, did not love your country. We do ne
| wish here to Say one word that shall ri
] fleet upon any class of the American pee
pie; but we do implore you, in view of th
present condition of our country, to consiC
, er why it is that this shame has bee
brought uron it-because you have fol
saken the wisdom of your fathers, becaus
you have overstepped your constitution;
rights, because you have brought this GO,
eminent into action which did not righ
, fully belong to it, and in so doing not onl
corrupted yourselves. but you corrupt u
f as well.
What is the question of the day
and what are we to meet? What bring
this assemblage here, comprised, as | Sc
it is, of l. en- more than ordinarily thought
Continued on third page.)