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


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 a 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 ready 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 DE MR.. SEYMOUR.
1t 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 filed 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 beer
such that to-day is a day of shame and
sorrow to those who love their country
and its glory and it's estimation in the eyes
of the world. (Applause.) Peace has
brought TO us more that has made us sac
and sorrowful, more that has been hurtfu
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 wal
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 a gov
eminent when 1t is strong in the affection.
of people, and it will teach the othel
great lesson that corruption in reference t
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, l do not stand herein this hour O
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 a lacI
of virtue on the part of the whole Ameri
can people. | admit that we have los
sight, without regard to mere party dis
tinctioD, of those virtues which did abount
when our institutions were formed ant
when we started out in that great anC
glorious career which has made US so pow
ertul among the nations of the earth
W hlle | will, therefore, say to our Repub
llcan friends that L part OF the blame rest
upon US as 1t does upon them, yet anothe
| thing is made true by all this, and that
that abuses ani corruption have come be
cause we have lost sight Of the principle
OF those who formed our government. Car
plause.) The national treasury would nc
have been robbed if false national feeln
had not opened the doors of that treasur
to schemes that were unconstitutional an
averse to the very genius and spirit Of on
institutions, (Applause.) The great lie;
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 W
holds right and principle; that party whic
closes the door Of the treasury against CO.
ruptlon; that party which insists that tn
government shall keep itself within rightfl
bounds, is the only party that can be SAT,
ly trusted Applause We do not sd
to you, my Republican friends, that yo
did not love your country. We do N
wish here to Say one word that shall r,
fleet upon any class Of the American PEE
pie; but we do implore you, in view of tn
present condition of our country, to cOnsi,
er why it is that this shame has bee
brought upon it-because you have 70
saken the wisdom of your fathers, becau:
you have overstepped your constitution
rights, because you have brought this GO
eminent into action which did not RICH
fully belong to it, and in so doing not on
corrupted yourselves. but you corrupt 1
as well.
What is the question of the da.
and what are we to meet? What bring
this assemblage here, comprised, as | sc
it is, Of Zen more than ordinarily though
Continued on third page.)