The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1880-10-01
RlNGING WORDS,
Eloquent Speech of Senator Booth,
of California, Delivered at SAN
Francisco, Sept. IL.

Eloquent Speech of Senator Booth.
of California, Delivered at san
Francisco, Sept. IL.
The nomination Of Cen Hancock for Presi-
dent by the Democratic party means one of two
things conversion or hypocrisy-a change OF
heart or an attempt to deceive. If it be the
frst-if this be the evidence Of sincere aban-
donment Of old positions, what reason can that
party give for it's further existence? Is it
necessary to call the Democratic party into pow
er to administer the Government on Republican
principles? The effrontery of a claim like this
would be sublime if it we're not ridiculous. /
have heard an illustration which seems to me
apt: It is as if the prodigal son. when he had
returned to his fathers house, and eaten the
fatted calf, should turn the old gentleman out
of doors, demand deed to the farm, and insist
that nothing less would reconcile him and make
him forget the past unpl asantness
have been trying to find an historical paral-
lei and have failed. History is often absurd,
but never, think, so absurd as that. can
imagine one During the war Of the American
Revolution there was a lage number Of men in
this country who were sincerely opposed to the
independence Of the United States. In some
sections they were in a majority. They were
called Tories, from their sympathy with the
then governing party in Great Britain They
held themselves to be subjects of George III.
just as much as the great body of the people in
the Southern States from 81 to '65 held them
selves citizens of the Confederacy They resisted
drafts impeded the execution of the laws, en-
listed with the redcoats, and made the Revolrl-
al ,at how
and families. Suppose the Tories had main-
tanned distinct political organization after the
war closed, and had met in convention, resolved
that they stood by their principles were proud
OF their traditions, and that they were of right
entitled to the possession and control of the
Government Of the United States Suppose
they had nominated for President Gen. Gates,
soldier by profession, distinguished for his
services in the patriotic army and had said,
accept this as an olive branch--we admit the
United States are independent us the con-
troll of the Government to sooth our feelings
do it, or we shall be mad so long as we live
and the longer we shall live the madden we'll
get-and you shall be responsible for the ami
mosities which have grown out of the war
Would that proposition be more absurd or pre-
posterous than that of the Democratic party
to-day.
If it had not been for the Republican party
there would to-day have been no Government
of the United States to administer. am not
speaking of men, but Of political organizations.
II there be any way in which to administer a
free government except through political par
ties it has not yet been discovered. For the
past twenty years the Republican and Demo-
cratic parties have stood in bold, defiant, ag-
gressive opposition. However members Of
these parties may agree or disagree upon meas
ures of temporary policy, the difference between
the parties as political organizations in their
10 fia1 rol too1
fundamental. repeat, and enlarge the state
ment, that we have q Government of the United
States OF America-that we have great repub-
lo-the first great republic in history where no
man calls another masters due, under Provi-
dence to the organization which will be known
and honored in history forever as the Republic
can party There may come time to parties
az there often does to men-a time of trial,
when the very soul stands revealed, naked III
the burning light of day. After that professions
and hypocrisy are useless to conceal. Nothing
but the grave can cover infrmity.
The Democratic party has passed such an or
deal, and the highest boonit can nghtfully ask
IL the charity of oblivion. The only mercy it
ought to expect is forgetfulness.
We are q nation sc, 900, 900 strong That we
shall remain a nation, one, undivided, indivisi-
BILE, there can be no doubt. No Englishman
doubts there will always BIO an England for the
English no German doubts there will always
be q Germany for the Germans; there will al
ways be a France for the French. That there
Will always be an America for Americans-that
this fact has been accomplished, established--is
due to the Republican party. What the Gov
ernment of the country shall below it shall
be admjnistered-is question of only less inn
pOrtance than its continued existence. The
problems of law, administration and policy
which are constantly arising in q Government
like ours are complicated and difficult. No one
u 4 Ill Id.
are required to understand is the spirit in which
they are to be met and solved.
No disinterested man, if there be such,
will seriously contend that the Government
would be better administered under Democratic
than under Republican control; that its deal
ings with foreign nations would be more Just
and enlightened that it's credit would be better
maintained That its debts would be more rap
idly paid that il would be better protected
from the vague, vast, portentous mass of
Southern war claims which hang over
it like q cloud. Surely no one will claim
that the spirit of the Democratic party is
more in harmony with social order, and that
orderly progress OF society which comes of evo-
luton, not revolution than the Republican. No
one, however prejudicod viii claim that those
personal rights which all government is or
dalned to protect-free speech, equality before
the law, the security OF each in the enjoyment
of his owil-are safer under Democratic than
Republican control. No one, whatever his con-
ditlon may be- Will dare assert that the Amer-
can idea of government personal liberty and
national union, center and circumference, is
safer under Democratic than Republican con-
troll.
Pause for moment Go back in your memo
ries to the sad, bitter day when the JOY of VIC
tory was turned to tears, and the sweet dawn of
peace was clouded by the death of Lincoln.
Did ever nation confront graver problems
cd Il or
gers than ours did then? The questions our
fathers met in the establishment of Govern
ment, after the achievement of independence,
were far less difficult. The War Of the Revou-
ton, itself, welded the people into one the
War of the Rebellion discovered them. The
Government of eleven States had been de-
strOyed, and the people of these States were
animated with a hatred for the Union, which
was intensified by defeat The actual poverty
of the South was scarcely less to be deplored
than the fictitious, inflated, speculative pros
pelty of the North was to lie feared in its ultl-
mate effect A currency fluctuating from day
TO day demoralized business into speculation or
degraded it into gambling. A debt so vast it
could scarcely be estimated, and behind it a
mass OF claims too vague and vast for detini-
ton A credit Frustrated until it was by-word
and a reproach.
Confronting these questions, between order
and anarchy, civil government and military
IVuS' payment and reputation, with nameless
and countless complications of settlement-in
Jhe moment of supreme civil peril, our chosen
leader whose character, exalted to the highest
pane OF humanity, made him worthy to wear
the crown of martyrdom; whose wisdom and
purity, and the great love the people bore him,
were pledg' of the nations safety was stricl-
en- down and the hearts of the people were
stirred by wild thoughts of vengeance. The
sea OF trouble was tempest-tossed by nassion.
In wsr all questions are subordinated to suc-
cess-all measures look to one end-all appeals
are to one sentiment The war over the innten-
sity OF excitement relaxed The stimulus OF
heroic achievements and tangible resistance
withdrawn, difficulties of administration begin
These had never been more manifold and com.
phcatod than with us for never had civil wal
been waged over so wide a country. involved
greater loss of life and property' enlisted
deeper passions, Or been fraught with grayel
interests.
Go back again to the bitter day when the
lightning flashed over the civilized world the
saddest. tIdings the wires have ever borne-thai
Lincoln was dead-what weary waste of diff.
Guilty lay before the republic What a darb
cloud Of danger overhung it An army in hand
which, in any other country, an ambitious
leader might use to subvert civil authority :: 4
united Government to be established over :
discordant people ON the basis of Justice "a
each freedom to be secured to 1000 600 eman.