Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-06-17
GOvernOr McCreary Of Kentucky.


Governor MeCreary OF Kentucky.
Among those who addressed the
Louisville Convention was Governor
McCreary. We append copy of his
remarks as they appeared in the Couri-
er-Journal the day following, which
are about as good as anything we have
met with for long time:
Fellow -Citizens-We have assem-
bled o-day to place the Democracy of
Kentucky in line with the Democ-
racy of the Union, and prepare for
that great political battle that is to be
fought before the autumn days are
passed. 1t is a grand and interesting
occasion both to us and the country,
and am filled with pride and pleasure
as look upon this vast assemblage of
Kentucky Democrats, and realize that,
however much political discord and
division may have been felt in other
States, here in Kentucky the Demo-
cratic party maintains its ascendancy
and remains true to its time-honored
teachings and principles.
approaching under circumstances Of
peculiar significance. and for many
years the public mind has not been
more profoundly agitated than now.
Corruption, extravagance and demoral-
ization have swept over the land, en-
gul6ng and entombing men in high
places and low places until humanity
stands abashed, and the Goddess of
Liberty, that one hundred years ago
smiled so benignly on our struggling
but honest-hearted ancestors, is ready
to vail her face in shame. have con-
fidence, however, in the power of the
people to restore purity and preserve
liberty.
| believe that honest government is
the first condition of enduring nation
al freedom, prosperity aud peace, and
that the people are now moving ter
rible as an army with banners" to re.
form the abuses and evils that have
over-shadowed the country and to re-
store the simplicity, integrity and hon
esty of the early administrations.
In the great national contest that we
have met to prepare for / believe the
Democratic party should go before the
country on its own merits, led by its
chiefs and fighting under its own flag.
We should have discipline founded on
friendly feelings, and all minor differ
ences or questions, calculated to divide
us, should be buried oct of sight. If
we have any skirmishe:s who are too
far in advance, let us call them back
to the main line, and if there are any
political weathercocks in ourranks who
have been wriggling on the fence, we
should ask them to get back in good
order to where they can be treated for
their political disease.
lam in favor ofa straight Democratic
ticket, a straight Democratic platform,
and straight Democratic fight, and
with honesty, economy and a rigid ad-
herence to the Constitution and the
law for our watchwords, l believe VIC
tory will be ours. Through two thirds
of the years in which our Republic
has existed the Government has been
administered by the Democratic party.
From Jefferson to jackson, and from
Jackson through the administration of
Buchanan, its trophies and triumphs
glitter and glisten along its pathway,
and its record bedecks and beauties
the best and brightest pages of our
country's history. Its principles and
its objects are good enough for me, and
its success and the perpetuity Of its
principles are with me paramount to
the success of any individual.
L have my choice and my preference
for certain men above all others for
president and vice president, and that
preference | do not hesitate to pro-
claim before this assemblage of Ken
tuckians. My choice and my prefer
ence is for the nominees of the st. |
Louis Convention. | care not how !
others may think, can not and will |
not have any other choice.
/ believe it would be unwise to send |
our delegates to the National Conven-
tion hampered and embarrassed with
instructions. We have an abundance
of good material in our party, and we !
should select delegates who are faith
ful and true, and allow them to act in |
the st. Louis Convention as they think |
best for the whole party and the whole |
country. When they have done their !
work the Kentucky Democracy will |
sound no uncertain notes, but in the fu- |
ture as in the past. we will give the nom-
inees, whoever they may be, rousing,
ringing majority that will prove to the |
whole country that in Kentucky, where |
the first Democratic victory was won
after the war, our colors are still full |
high advanced to the front.
Fellow -citizens, our generation has
to open the second century of our ma
tional life as did our forefathers open
the first. Theirs was the work Of in
depence. Ours is the grand work of |
independence and perpetu-
ating the blessings of liberty under an
honest and impartial government.
Shoulder to shoulder, therefore we
should stand, battling for the great |
principles that are the foundation of |
institutions; and in this |
year of our independence,
when all the nations of the earth have
been invited to view the evidences Of |
our greatness, the grandeur of our re-
sources, and the display Of our arts,
minerals and manufactures,
as civilization halts and takes an in
ventory of our vast and varied and
wonderful progress, and the first
grand volume of personal and nation
al freedom is closed, l believe our teem-
ing, thriving, earnest millions will be |
to inscribe, a greater and |
grander and more glorious record for
the coming century if the Democratic
party should be again placed in control
of the Union.