Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-08-13

VERGENxEs. - On Saturday afternoon
about a thousand people assembled on the
park TO listen to ali address on the political
issues of the day, by l.. L. Lawrence, Esq,
of Burlington. Mr.. Lawrence was intro
duced by Hon George W. Grardey, prcsi-
dent of the Garfield and Arthur club, and
was received with hearty cheers by his audi
ence. Mr.. Lawrence commenced with Il re-
view of the history of the Republican party,
and the preceding acts of the Southern oil
garchy in adding State after State and terri
tory after territory TO their numbers, that
they might increase and strengthen the &c
cursed institution of slavery. Following
these encroachments came the rebellion.
The Republican party during the long,
weary years Of strife that follow
ed were trying to put down the
most gigantic rebellion ever inaugurated,-
and during all this time where was the DEM
ocratic party? Here, leader of the Demo
cratic party in this city called out, Yes,
where were the Democrats, Where was the
gallant Goth regiment which kept back the
rebels from Washington at the Bull Run
fight y This was followed by cheers misses,
laughter and cries Of Put him out :" But
Mr. Lawrence advanced to the front of the
platform and said No, no, my friends, let
him ask for light. This flag which waves
over us is the emblem of liberty and free
speech. will answer the gentlemens ques-
ton. Did the Democratic party, as party,
ever do anything to aid or strengthen the
Government during the war, in any conven-
ton or delegation during that time:
| admit that National Democrats did
their duty nobly as individuals
and soldiers, but where was the party as
Nv aft hn tpnn yrh
Grant said the rebellion is nearly broken and
will soon be overcome, and all he needed was
that the ranks of the army should again be
filled up and the South shown that We could
do this and the war would end,-when We
were struggling to maintain this government,
where was the Democratic party Why al
the Chicago Convention they at that time as
sembled, add there deliberately declared the
war a failure and started the cry of peace.
The South was waiting, with this only hope
that their Democratic allies North would thus
produce counter revolution and paralyZe
the arm of the Government
Do you not think that this action Of the
Democratic party gave aid and encourage
ment to the South The Republican party
at this same time, in their assembled conven-
ton, said the war,was success. Cries from
the audience That's Gods truth Yes, said
the speaker, and it soas Gods truth
Mr. Lawrence spoke for an hour and quar-
ter and held his audience with the closest at
teniIon throughout. He made one Of the
best speeches OF the campaign here-full Of |
sound facts and logical conclusions.
At the close Of his address, in response to
repeated calls from the audience, Hon.
E. Woodbridge appeared upon the stand and
made some telling remarks in an eloquent
speech of about fifteen minutes
The campaign in this vicinity bears n very
encouraging outlook, and newly completed
canvass of the city indicates that there will
he less Democratic votes cast than in the last
Presidential election, when their number WAS
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