Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-09-06
THE FIRST GUN.
Speech CT Hon. VIM. A. Wheeler at ST.
Adams, Vt.-An Eloquent and
Able Address.

publican rally tonight was largely at
tended, but heavy thunder showers in
terfered somewhat with the origin
al arrangements and proposed illumin-
alton, Hon. w. A. Wheeler arrived by
special train from the White Mountains
at 4:l5. On his arrival salute wus
fired. At 8 P. NJ. he was serenaded by
the st. Adams brigade band. Mr.
Wheeler appeared on the balcony of
the hotel and, and was greeted with
tremendous cheers, He was intro
duced by Edward a. Smith, as one of
the noblest statesmen of the republic.
MIR. Wheeler spoke as follows:
REPRESENTATIVES, OF ST. ALBANs:
You honor the cause of which just now
I am a prominent representative. I
was placed in nomination as represent.
alive nominee for Vice President in the
National Convention by the action of
the states of Vermont and Massachu-
sets. 1t is the greatest honor of my
life that the Republicans of these states
deem me sufficiently grounded In New
England faith to be one of the repre-
sentatives of their ideas in the pending
canvass. Applause. In the matter
of my faith, / trust they have made no
mistake. Applause. | believe New
England; I believe in Plymouth Rock,
for they are convertible terms. One of
the most gifted OF New England women
has said that Plymouth Rock is no
quartz; it is perfect stone, cut from
the mountains without hands, and hands
cannot prevent it from becoming great
mountain, filling the whole earth. Every
church, every school-house, every town
house from the Atlantic to the Pacific
has Plymouth Rock for it's foundations
stone. Wherever Freedom aims musket.
or raises a standard, or sings song, or
makes a protest, there is Plymouth
Rock freedom. The church, the school
house, the town house, these my friends
form the very cardinal principles of the
Republican party. I have often
thought and often said that the COM
monwealth of Vermont composes and
illustrates the complete realization of
tho highest ideal of Republican form
of government. Where else can you
find such general intelligence, the re-
suit of your free, popular system of ed
ucatlon, where SO much, of fidelity and
economy in the administratio of state
affairs, where so much respect for the
civil rights of each and all people as in
the state of Vermont? 1t is the mis-
sion of the Republican party to confer
upon all the people of this country, in
al the states and in all the territories,
the inestimable privileges which you
in Vermont enjoy. It is duty to which.
Ill this centennial of our nation, we
10
ed attention and fidelity.
have no purpose mere tonight, my
friends, to recall the memorable conflict
through which this nation has passed,
and which made American arms forever
illustr1ous; but let us never forget the
obligations resting upon us to secure
the results of that great conflict for our
selves and those who follow after us,
and never, my friends, were these obi
cations more apparent and imperative
than now. We are already engaged in
another conflict with the opponents of
the party which saved the nation. and
which to-day protects its integrity and
protects Its honor, as in 1860. We are
once more, my friends, face to face with
an united South, with the Democratic
party of the North as its subservient
and plant ally. Every late slave state
IN the Union where this Confederate
party is dominant it claims, and it may
receive $50 votes in the Elec-
toral College, It has complete
control of the Lower House and a
balance of power In the Senate. There
is not to-day in those late slave States
any man holding a prominent position
) who was not identified in the great
struggle against the Government. Not
in the State of K5ntucky can you find a
man in any position whatever who was
not engaged on the rebel side. This is
the condition of the South to-day.
have sat for months during the last win
ter, in Congress, by the side Of sixty
one men who few years since, with
arms in their hands, were engaged in
the attempt to break up this Govern
ment. Now have heard those men
defend the hellish atrocities OF Libby
and Andersonyllle, and Salisbury. I
have heard Lincoln maligned. I have
heard defended the right of a Virginia
justice of the peace to detain
ard open the mails of the
United States. Can you tell me
where is the difference in the spirit
which twenty years ago led Missouri
border rufians into Kansas and the
massacre at Hamburg, where regu-
Larry organized militia company were
first disarmed and then murdered in
cold blood. in order that the white race
might assert their superiority. My off
cial relations have called me during the
past two or three years into Southern
States, and tell you what know OF
the real feeling Of the Southern people
regarding reconstruction acts. They
regard the amendments to the constitu.
ton in reference to slavery and laws fol
the protection of freedom as the French
provinces did their cession to Prussia,
at the point of the bayonet. It 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 te
turn over the Government of the United
States, with all its power of legisla
ton, with all its machinery of taxation.
No such proposition for audacity has
Its parallel in the history of the coun.
try. What is the spirit Of the Demo.
cratic party? Do you want to prove
what the Democratic party Of the Nortl
ALI 20 Il, ~