Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1880-06-10
The CHICAGO CONVENTION.
First Day.

First Day.
CHICAGO, June 2.-At LOS precisely Chairman
Cameron, Of the national committee, called the
convention to order. Rev. A. E. Kittredge of
voked Divine blessing upon the labors Of the
convention, returning thanks in an eloquent
prayer for the prosperity and unity of this ma
ton.
The chairman then called on the secretary to
read the call and Secretary Keogh proceeded in
clear voice to read the document.
MIR Cameron then spoke as follows.
GENTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTIONS: Before the
convention enters upon the important duties that
have called together ask your attention for sin
gle moment. During the canvass just ended there
considerable bitterness which trust will entirely
disappear before entering upon the grave duties de-
volving upon us. Let there be but one motive gov
ernng our action and let that be determination to
place in nomination the strongest possible candidates.
men strong In themselves strong in the confidence
and affection Of the people and men who will COM
mand the respect Of the civilized world. Our coun-
try, of which we justly proud has grown SO rap
idly in population, wealth and influence during the
existence of the Republican party that we have at
tained position as one of the leading powers of the
world.
We can no longer be satisfied with our isolation
Recognizing the changed condition must place IN
position men whose familiarity with other nations
will enable them to direct our affairs so that will
take the lead in commerce we have in agriculture
and manufactures Do not for moment doubt the
strength of our institutions. They have been tried in
blood and came from the contest better stronger
purer than the most ardent patriot dared to hope for
No combination of circumstances, no cotere of indi-
vduas, personal ambition prevail against
the intelligence and nborn love Of liberty which are
implanted in the hearts of Americans. When the
nominations are made, and the convention has COM
pleted its work, let there be but one sentiment
animating all earnest, sincere and unselfsh Repubi-
cans and let that be that each shall vie with the other
in carrying our grand old party through the coming
contest to victory.
have been requested by the national committee to
designate Hon. George F. Hoar, of Massachusetts, as
temporary chairman
Upon taking the chair, Mr.. Hoar spoke as
follows:
GENTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTIONS: 1 thank you for
this distinguished mark of your confidence. The
trainers OF the constitution expected that the pres-
dent would be chosen by electors who assembled
in their respective states and consultation with
each other give their ballots for chief magistrate
In case OF failure by the electors, the house Of rep
from the four who had the highest number OF votes
in the colleges. So fur from direct popular action
did the constitution remove the choice of the
tive, but the people, by the customs they have estab
ished have baed the expectations Of the trainers of
the constitution. The elector to-day is but scribe.
The conventions Of the great political parties desig-
nate each for whom the people vote directly through
their agents, the electors, and to choice between
whom they are practically restricted The functions
of this convention, therefore, is to of the
two men from whom the people of the United States
are " selecL tuelr prcSlQeQG IL IL performs It's
duties wisely fearessly freely, it is to the man
whom the people will make their president. Your
term of office is BRIEF but scarcely any duty is in
trusted to the most honored citizen Of the Republic
which in dignity in authority, in far-reachin public
importance equals yours 1t is twenty years since
the Republican convention met in this city, which,
aftor stormy but friendly contest put in nomination
Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin Lincoln
has gone to his rest. His companion upon that
ticket in fresh and vigorous age, is present with
us to-day to give us counsel from the stores of
lie service. Lincoln has gone to his rest, as have
Douglas and Breckenridge, his two competitors for
the great Office of president, but the parties which
confronted each other then confront each other now
unchanged in purpose, in temper and in character
The Democratic party was ruled then now, by
the south. The single purpose Of its being was to
give supremacy to the oligarchies Of the SOUTH and
office, without influence, to their subservent north
ern allies. In the pursuit of that end every great
public interest was sacrificed or disregarded. Ex-
pending little for public improvements, either in the
the nation poor the treasury empty it's six pei
cent. bonds below par. Our unprotected manufac.
lures contended at fearful disadvantage with the pau
per la9or r. OF Europe, on whose WORKSHOPS we de,
comforts of life. Our little navy scattered over
the four quarters Of the globe -Four million coun-
new state it took its place in the great family bu
added new dungeon to their gloomy prison-house
At last, the Democratic party let 60 it's hold on
power, the national flag itself seemed about to be
q
miserable symbol of the futty and folly of the last
great experiment Of self-government. The Demo-
cratic party confronts lis to-day, as said, unchanged
nothing else, proposing otbeg measure Of policy
it urges itswarefare upon the safeguards which tht
nation has thrown around the purity of its elections
1t can see no other evil except that freeman shoulc
cast free vote under the protection of the natona
authority. In Louisiana and Mississippi it is the
accompice of the White League and the
Ku-Klux. In South Carolina it takes the
fho o1I,
into its place. In New York it issues fraudulent
naturalization papers, three score thousand in mum
ber In Maine its ambitious larceny tries to pilfer
with complacency on the whipping post: AS in wa,
it found in the constitution nothing which could pro-
tect the national fe in peace it finds nothing there
which can protect the national honor. Can you find
in the history Of the Democratic party for the past
sixteen years anything that the Democratic party
done or tried to do except to break down the legal
safeguards so as to make these things possible? The
Republican party has no such miserable history
The rebellion subdued, slaves freed, great public
ways constructed, homestead laws, naturalization
treaty, public credit re-esablished debt diminished
sound currency restored, flag respected, above all
But not for these things alone, chiefly does the Re
publican party live. The Republic lives, the Repub
lcan party lives, that every man within our bordert
have counted his equal vote, may send his child al
the public charge to free school, Until these things
come to pass from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from
Canada to the Gulf, the mission Of party is moi
accomplished it's warfare with it's ancient adver
sary ended.
The CHAIR appointed Governor Davis, OF
Texas, Mr.. Frye, of Maine, and Gen. Raum, OF
Illinois, committee to wait on Mr.. Hoar and
conduct him to the chair. AS the committee
appeared with Mr.. Hoar the audience broke
forth in loud applause.
The chair proposed on behalf of the national
committee the following-named gentlemen to
complete the organization: Temporary secre-
taries- John. H. Roberts, of Illinois; q. L.
Magee, of Pennsylvania; Chas. w. Clisbee. of
Michigan; Jas. c. Broadwel1, of Missouri, as
reading clerk, and Eugene Davis, of New York,
as stenographer.
Hale, Of Maine, offered resolution that the
roll of states be called, and that members be
named by the chairman Of each state for mem
bers of committees on permanent organization,
rules, credentials, and Of resolutions.
Mr.. Frye, of Maine, called attention to the
omission of Utah in the call, and asked that it
be called. The chair said he would direct the
secretary to call the territory, unless there was
objection.
Mr.. Conklng, Of New York-There is objec-
ton, Mr.. Chairman.
And then he proceeded to say that the ma
honal committee prepared roll in which Louis
lana was omitted, and the territory of Utah was
also omitted. The resolution under which the
call was made was based on that roll, and he
submitted that it was not competent to it. The
chair said he was of the opinion that the COM
mittee was the proper roll, and he could not
hold that it was out of order to move that Utah
be called. Conklng asked if it was in order for
him to move to add the state of Louisiana. He
did not make that motion, but he understood
that the convention was to abide by that roll.
Mr.. Frye declared it was agreed that Utah be
put on the roll, that the secretary Of the ma
honal committee, standing by him, said he left
Utah out by mistake.
Mr.. Conklng regretted that such misleading
motion had been made. He would have made
no objection if he had understood what Mr..
Frye stated was correct. On the simple state
ment of Frye he would say there would be
unanimous consent so far as he could control
the matter. Frye explained that he just learned
before he made his speech, and not sooner, that
the roll was incorrect, by MIR. Keogh's mistake.
The chair then ruled that Utah should be
called which was done. This little episode
caused a considerable sensation, and there were
many demonstrations and much applause. Up
on the conclusion of the debate the chair re-
ferred to the fact and requested that order be
preserved.
A resolution was adopted that all contests
should be referred to the committee on creden.
Gals without debate or recommendation by the
convention. When Illinois was called contest
was recorded in behalf of the ten congressional
districts of that state by Henderson, a delegate
to the convention from the state of Iowa.
NI,1 ko% Id Cx,1 %Eon 0hnIy