Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-09-19
Political.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE REPUBLICAN STATI
CONVENTION.

The republican state convention as
sembled at the capitol in Madison, at
Il o'clock noon, Sept. 18th, and was
called to order by Hon. E. W. Reyes,
chairman of the state central commit
tee, who delivered the following
ADDRESS TO THE CONVENTION:
GENTLENEN OF THE CONvENTIoN:-Th
great frequency of elections in this
country, experience has shown to be
the bane of our political system. The
people, wearied by the conflict last year
would gladly be excused from the agi-
tation and excitement of a campaign
this fall, even though on smaller scale,
and involving less important results.
But there is no escape from this duty,
until our constitution shall be changed.
The election is by law imposed upon us,
and you, gentlemen, as representatives
of the republican party of Wisconsin,
have assembled here to-day, In pursu-
ance of the call of your central COM
mittee, charged with the great RESPONSE
bility of placing in nomination a full
ticket for state officers to be supported
and also in accordance with long estab-
lished usage of setting forth declara
ton of the principles of our party in this
state
| have confidence that you, an assem-
blage of able and we'll tried republicans,
will discharge that duty wisely and we'll,
and that the good work done in har-
mony here to-day, will be the harbinger
of victory in November
Two wears ago, the disastrous defeat
of 1873 involving the loss OF our whole
ticket was in part retrieved. That vic
tory gave us sucn vantage ground that
one year ago, after hotly contested
canvass. the like of which the state has
never seen, over 10000 votes We're
polled for the republican electoral ticket,
giving us the state by a fair majority.
In this years state election the logic of
events should give Us q complete vic
tory, with our state fully redeemed re-
generated and disenthralled from the
sway of those pretenders, who spoke
the seductive word of reform to the ear
only to break it to the hope.
Cur present state executive by his
wisdom, prudence, and economy, has so
administered his Office as to merit the
approval of every fair-minded citizen.
To this, oar branch of the state admin
istration, the people can refer with hon
est pride, and rejoice that the honor and
credit Of the state by it was lifted from
the slough of sham reform, into which
it had sunk during the preceding two
years. The people want no more Of
such reform, and in the providence Of
God may their escape be ever more.
With record in state affairs, as man
aged by our republican governor, aided
by the cooperation of republican legis-
lators, which challenge criticism, we can
submit the same to the people of Wis
consin, for their endorsement. in the
fullest confidence that it will receive an
emphatic approval.
The history of the Republican ad-
ministrations in Wisconsin is, in peace
and in war, proud one-an untarnish-
ed record of public duty, honesty, faith
fully, patrioticaly performed. In its
shining page can be found no reason
for a change, no argument IN support
of departure in the direction of Dem
ocracy, under whatever disguise hidden,
or name called. Nor is there in the
present attitude of national affairs to be
found single reason why Republicans
should not stand shoulder to shoulder,
as they have done through the twenty
years Of trial and struggle and glorious
victory of the past 1t may be true
that many members of our organization
have not yet agreed as to the measure
Of approval to be accorded to the policy
of the national administration. Upon
the dissatisfaction with the policy as
sumed to exist IN our ranks, our politi-
cal enemies are predicating their hopes
of triumph. But confident that
advisors are we'll meant to give us
a civil service, disabused from
some of the grounds Of complaint
hitherto brought against it. and to es-
tablish fraternal relations between all
sections of the union, all republicans
are willing to withhold their final judg-
ment, where they cannot accord their
present approval, and to Judge that
policy temporarily aud calmly by its
results. To secure a feeling of good
fellowship among all our people, to re-
establish that genuine peace and con-
cord between all sections which we
have SO long looked for and prayed for
This is the desire of every true republi-
can, and if this should be gained or
fastened by the southern policy, so
called, of President Hayes, that policy
will meet the solid approval Of republ-
cans east and west, north aud south
So, too, if the civil service shall be made
better, purer, less a political machine
than hitherto alleged to be; that work,
too, will be judged by its fruits, when
they shall be ripened and garnered.
Our enemies are grievously mistaken
when they supposed the suspended
judgment Of some Of our people means
suspended zeal or absolved allegiance
from our party Or its principles. The
hopes Of our adversaries in this respect
are like their promises Of reform, a de-
fusion and snare.
Whatever dangers beset our pathway,
this is not one of them; our only danger
is, that against which previous defeat
has warned us. In politics as in nature,