Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-06-11
Senator Hoar's Address.


The following were the remarks of
Hon. George f. Hoar on assuming the
Chair rs Temporary Chairman of the
Republican National Convention:
Gentlemen of the Convention, accept my
thanks for this distinguished mark of your
confidence. The trainers of the Constitution
expected that the President would be chosen
by Electors who were to assemble in their
respective states, and. on consultation with
each other, cast their ballots for a Chief Mag
lstrate. In case of failure by the Electors,
the House OF Representatives, voting by
States, were TO make choice from four who
had the highest number of voices in the col
leges SO far from direct popular action did
tho Constitution remove the choice OF the EX-
ecutive. But the people, by the customs they
have established, have butlied the eXpeeta-
ton of the framors OF the Constitution. The
ElectOr to-day is but q scribe. The COnvcn-
tions of great political parties designate each
man for whom the people vote directly,
through their agents, the Presidential Flee
tors, to choice between whom they are prac-
ticully restricted. Tho function of this Con-
vcntion, therefore, Is to name one Of two men
from whom the people of the United states
are to select their resident. If it perform its
duties wisely, feirlessly and freely, 1t is to
name the man VIII m the people will make their
President.
Your term OF Office is but brief; but scarce
ly any duty is intrusted to the most honored
citizens of the Republic which in dignity, in
authority, in far-reaching public Importance
equals yours. IL ts twenty years since the Re
publican Convention met in this city, which.
after stormy but friendly contest. put i'm
nomination Abraham Lincoln Oud applausel
and Hannibal Hamlin lchcersl. Lincoln has
gone to his rest. His companion in the un-
dertalting in fresh and vigorous age, is pres
ent with ms to-day .[applausel with his counsel
from the stores of an experience gathered
from a life of honorable public service. Lin
coin has gone to his rest. Douglas and Brec6-
inrldgc, his two competitors for the great of
flee of the Presidency. sleep by his side. But
the parties which confronted each other then
confront each other now, unchanged in pur-
pose, in temper, and in character. Jap
The Democratic party was ruled then as
now by the South. The single purpose of its
being was to give political supremacy TO the
oligarchs of the South and olice without in
iluence TO their subscrVient Northern allies
[Applause.l
In the pursuit of that enJ every great pub
lie interest was sacrificed or disregarded EX
pending little for public improvements, either
on the coast or on inland river and lake, in
1850 the credit Of the Nation was poor, its
Treasury was empty, its six-per-cent bonds
below par. Our unprotected manufactorie'
contended at fearful odds with the paupel
labor of Europe, and on whose workshops We
depended for large portion of the necessaries
and comforts of life. our little navy was
scattered over the -four quarters of the globe
Four millions of our cOuntrymen were In
hopeless bondage, and every new State, wher
| IL took its place in the new great family, but
added a new dungeon to their gloomy prison
house. At last, as the Democratic party 1e
20 its hold on power, the National dag seemed
about to be folded and laid aside, to he regard
ed thencefurth as a miserable symbol of tho
fut;lty and folly of the last great experiment
Of sell-govcrnment.
The Democratic party cunfronts us to-day
as | said, unchanged in purpose, in temper
and in character. United in nothing else, pro
posing no other measure of policy, it wages its
warfare upon the safeguards VIII ch the Natior
has thrown around the purity of its election
| IL can see nothing else of evil except that
! poor man should exercise a free vote uudc
| the protection of the National authority. II
/ Louisiana and Mississippi it is the accOmplicC
| of the White League and the ku-KluX. Ii
| south Carolina it takes the honest ballot from
! the Eox and stuffs q tissue ballot in its place
| In New York il issues fraudulent naturaliZa
| tion papars-three score thousands in nun
| ber. In Maine its ambitious larceny tries e
| pilfer n whole state Government at once
| Applause In Delaware it stands cOmplac
| emily by the whipping-pOSt. LApplauSe
AS in war, il found in the Constitution moth
| ing which could protect the National life, so
I in peace. it finds nothing there which can pro
| tect the National honor. Can you find, in th'
| history of the Democratic party for siXteeI
years, anything that il has eli her done or trict
| To do except TO break down the legal safe
guards which make free elections possible
Yes, my friends, the Republican party ha
| no such miserable history. " tells you of re
| bellion subdued, of slaves freed, of great pub
| lie ways constructed, OF rivers and harbOr
| opened 10 commerce, of homestead laws TO
| the settlers, of treaties protecting the right
| Of our naturalZod citizens abroad, Of pubi
| credit rc-Cstab.ishe of Gebt diminished, o
! sound currency restored applause l-of
| flag floating everywhere, honnrcd ana re
/ spected. over peaceful seas, and welcomes
| everywhere in friendly ports. [Appliusc1
Bnt not for these things alone res the Re
| publican party challenge your respect or de
| mand your confidence. National wealth ma
| exist, manufactures may flourish, commerc
| may increase in Nation whose people are de
| graded and ensldvod. The keynote of ever.
! Republican platform, the principles of ever.
| Republican union is founded in its respec
! for the dignity Of the individual man
! lCheers.l Until that becomes the pervad!n
! Guf from the Atlantic TO the Pacific, on
| mission is not ended. lChcers.l The Repuh
| lie lives; the Republican party lives but 70
/ this: That every man within our borders ma
| dwell securely in happy home, may cast am
have counted his equal vote, and may send hi
! child mt public charge to free school. LAT
| plause.l Until these things come TO pass, tn
! mission of our party is not accomplished, no
| is its conflict with its ancient adversary elded