The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-05-31
Dill's Speech

Following is the speech of Senator Dill,
made to the convention at the close OF the
proceedings.
Mr.. President and Gentlemen Of the Con-
cention: come before you as an humble
member of your party to thank you for the
honor you have conferred in making me the
candidate of the Democracy for the Cover
norship OF this great State. l value the
nomination more highly because it has been
conferred without any personal solicitation
on my part not that such action by the
representatives of great party is not an
object worthy of the highest and purest
ambition, but because was unwilling to be-
come the Judge of my own fitness for this
high position. feel the great personal and
political responsibility of this nomination.
| know that it will take all the vIgor of a
strong man, and I know that in its result it
means the political control of this great
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. When
you consider the unparalleled condition of
the people, their prosperity blighted, their
| business without remuneration, their labor
unemployed when you consider how its
commercial strength is shattered and how
lawlessness has threatened social revolution
and financial chaos, want you to remember
that the political party which is responsible
for these calamities is intrenched in Office,
| having the will and the means to debauch
the sentiment it cannot coerce. This is
the foe we are to meet and we can to-
day see something of the battle that is be.
fore us. If we are 10 gain victory it can
only be achieved by the determined assault
of united, a harmonious and enthusiastic
party. The Republican party pleads fol a
| continuance of power because its mission is
not yet ended. For nearly twenty years it
has had, with temporary exceptions, COM
| plete control of the destinies of the nation,
Judicial and Legislative Departments, and
what has it done? With full power to in
crease the tariff it has lowered it. 1t found
this country with wealth generally diAused,
with few milionaires and no squalid poverty.
| What do we now see as the result of its
policy? At one end of society the nabob,
at the other the tramp. If the mission OF
the Republican party is not yet ended, it
ought to end, for now the mission OF the
Democratic party begins, and this is mis-
sion, firmly believe, that will lift the
country out of its despar-not by vain
search for new principal of political econo-
my, but by the application of the homely
principles of republican government-by
the reduction of public expenditures, in or
der that tax.burdened people may be re-
lieved by an administration of the State
Government conformable to the Constitution
by the practical solution of practical ques'
tions and by enforcing in State affairs the
same management that is now administered
in our homes management of economy, {
retrenchment of expenses, a cutting off o
luXuries. | know of no other STANDARD o
duty for public servant than fidelity to thu
Constitution aud the law, and if the nomi
nation that is now made shall be ratified by
the people, promise you that the Constitu
tion and the laws of this great State shall b,
my guide in official conduct, and that from
now until the election | will devote to tn
service of my party all my abilities AM
power, and if chosen by the people viii
then devote to the service of the entire Stat
the same measure of fidelity and duty.