The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-07-25


A committee having been appointed to in-
form the nominee of his nomination, Major
Strait appeared and addressed the con-
vention as follows:
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Conven-
ton:
l tender to you, and through you to the Re
publicans Of the Second district my profound.
est thanks for the high honor conferred in
naming me, for the fourth time, as the Repub-
ican nominee for Congress of this district
Sensitive As am of the responsibility which
is inseparable from the high honor, could
almost have wished that the nomination had
fallen upon some one of the more worthy gen.
tlemen, whose names have been mentioned for
the place.
can assure You, however, that if elected,
watch and care for the individual
as well as the public interests of the people,
that have the honor to represent.
stand before the district free and untram-
eled. to bow to the will of the people, obey
their dictates, and accept the kind efforts Of
all.
For the past five years have endeavored to
faithfully serve you, and have been to the best
of my ability, watchful of your interests.
How we'll the trusts that have been confided
to me have been kept, is for the people of the
district to say.
can but point to the past as an earnest of
what shall hope to accomplish in the future
I have labored to secure such legislation as
would insure to the West cheap transportation,
to be accomplished by the improvement Of
natural water courses, and believe that Con-
as the magnitude Of the work and the necessi-
ties of the country demand.
Liberal appropriations in this direction
would give employment to the unemployed,
and materially lessen the cost of
transportation of our agricultural
and other products to the great markets of the
world; and would give to US the manufactured
articles of the East at greatly reduced prices.
Then, to State like ours. young, vigorous
and teeming with resources, growing in powsA
with its interests varied, and important as they
are, constant care and watchfulness will be
needed that they receive proper advancement
A word in reference to the condition of our
army.
Having been placed by the speaker of the
House, rs a member of joint committee for its
reorganization, would say, that our army is
now but skeleton, and barely sufficee to gar
rison our out-posts, aud cannot give protection
to our frontier settlements; the repeated at
tempts upon the part Of the Democracy Of the
present House Of Representatives, to reduce
and destroy the efficiency of the army, and the
%ss BY 'iX the '1s Kspubesns SGexn nsi ~sh
solid front: who have united a.
one man in saying, that our army is now quite
too small, and should not be reduced below it's
present strength, in which position, am frank
to say, that fully concur.
Scattered as our army is, over SO large an ex-
tent of country, with our Mexican and Indian
frontier to guard, think there is no fair mind
ed man who will say that it is wise policy to
reduce its effective force.
The vanguard of civilization, the hardy
pioneers of our western frontier,
is now demanding protection
H. - L. u L.
scattered and roaming at large over . portion
1t has been recently demonstrated that our
federal troopa may be required, not only to
protect our frontier, but also to prevent mobs
and violence, and to preserve peace and order
in our more populOus interior.
Let me ask what party has saved the nation,
restored the country, raised the credit of the
government, abolished slavery, passed the
homestead act, improved our rivers and harbors,
given us uniform currency, made the green
back worth par in gold, and carried out every
pledge made to the people?
The % answer comes, .,t the Re. Republican .h R.ity
the Republican party is ended. We
snswer no, not until every freeman,
bo he white or black, enjoys the blessings of
freedom, the blessings of the elective franchise
and the blessings of absolute protection, and
all the rights and privileges accorded to every
| citizen of the republic, South as well as North.
When the Republican party came into power:
the credit of the government was far from what
| it now il. Then our six per cent. gold bonds
| were ut = large discount, and to-day notwith.
standing we owe over two billion dollars, ou,
four per cent. bonds are worth par in gold, and
our greenbacks are SO nearly equal with coin
that no one cares to inquire
Men of both political parties who love thei,
country, its honor and it's plighted faith should
| stand together and defend the money Of the
constitution and the credit of the government
Ihsve been a resident of the State for tht
past twenty three years, and I think all will
wants and necessities, and can assure you thai
! whatever of influence or ability I can com
msnd, OF that part experience has taught me
shall be exerted for the material as we'll as the
general welfare of my constituents.
| shall not consent that the interests and
prosperity of this State be crippled that other
may he unjustly fostered.
| Gentlemen of the convention, allow me te
Iicajl your attention to the attitude of the Dem
! ocratic leaders Of to-day; to the cloud of rebe
war claims that are now before Congress-sucf
~ the refunding of the cotton tax, specia
relief bills, bills for property used destroyed
by the Union forces in the Confederate State'
during the late unpleaaantness; the multiplied
assaults that are being made upon the publ,
treasury, and the destruction of the publ,
| credit.
It is for you, gentlemen, and the Republi
cans not only OF this district and State, but o.
the whole country, to answer At the ballot bo,
| in November next, ~ to whether these leaders
shall continue to be trusted and be allowed tt
| control the next House of Representatives.
Let me urge uponyou memben of this con.
vention, representing - you do every count.
in this district, the necessity of Thorough
and complete organization. Let this be dom
and victory At the polls in November next vii