Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1876-10-18
EX-G0V. SEYMOUR
ON THE
Presidential Campaign
THE CONDITION OF 1HE
COUNTRY RE VIE WE'D.
Senator BOutwell's
Speeches Sharply
Criticised.
COmptrOIIer Robinson Strongly In
dOrsed.
UTICA, Sept. 30, 1876


House tonight.
Ex-Governor Seymour, on taking
the chair, said 81 am impelled, by
tho deep interest feel in the pending
to attend this meeting at the
sacrifice Of my health, and against the
protests OF my health, and against the
protests Of my physicians. ! feel an
intense anxiety for the election of the
Presidential, and of the State and
Congressional tickets presented by the
Democratic party. | am moved by
higher than mere party considerations
when | come before you at this time,
to speak ofthe condition of our coun-
try in this centennial, when our minds
are inslinctively turned toward its
past progress, or TO its future pros
poets. That man must be ccad to
duty who can sink all patriotic feel
ings in a desire for a mere partisan
victory. But our pride i'll the success
of the past and our hopes tor the glo
ries of the future are chilled by the
moral and material condition OF Oul
country, and we are forced to turn oul
thoughts from the past to the future
and to deal with the great problems o
to-day. In 4 country blessed beyonc
all others in its material advantages
we see i pervading distress which Cal
only be charged to errors in Govern
mcnt and to Il low standard Of moral
in all that relates to public affairs. l
is said that the clouds which hav
Iarkened the homes OF our people
the fields Of industry and the marts o
commerce begin TO lit up and let i
CLEANS OF light, which show a bright
er prospect in the future. pray thl
may be true. But the fact still It
mains that at this moment there /,
more want, suffering and anxiety |
American homes than has been felt ;
any other period. The coming wintt
is looked forward to with dread b
many who have never before felt IL
fears of cold OF hunger. | know
nothing which 80 moves our Symp
,hics as the sight Of man wlllin
and anxious to labor, with an homes
pride in his independence and ma
hood, who finds that not only hlmse
) but those depending Oh him a
; threatened with want. But, wor
than all. that iu this his manhood may
! broken down by the necessity of
appeal to the assistance OF Other
l. Are there none such in this audien
l before me We know that our lal
v has millions Of citizens who sutl
u these pangs OF anxiety and humlll
u ton. There is no rlghtminded, tru
Is hearted man who does not feel,
= view of what he sees around him, TIL
" " the duty Of the day is to give all o
thoughts to the causes OF these evl
IL and the remedies which shall relle
I them tell you, my fellow citizel
}! that he who can stand before an au
l. ence like this, and who shall seek
turn away the minds of his hear'
from their own conviction and that
)" their country, is a man who has
y Guilt to hide. He who will try to
III vert your mind from the first gr'
ie duty Of American citizens life does
IS because discussion will bring to Ii!
Is that which will discredit his past
u tons, and defeat his hopes in the
'" ure.
be MORAL DISORDERS AND MATERIAL
I'D TRESS.
ed There are two aspects ot our co
nd try which demand our attention.
- moral disorders aud lis material
he tress. My strength will not allow
~ now to speak of these trust | 81
nd be able, within y few days, TO sf
ne why the industry OF our country IS
to pressed 1t is my purpose to sp'
Tvs to gathering OF my immediate mel
ht, bors upon this subject. Before
so smaller audience eau discuss it v
in a fullness which my health will
- hermit on this occasion. hol
ap when the Republicans sent away
so sensational speakers who offended
ng. sober judgment of their party by
zen peals TO passion and prejudice,
when they invited Governor Bout