Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-06-18

not come here to make speech, for I recol-
lect four years ago come next November, -
the night before the national election-as
walked of this platform, said to myself
this is the last political speech you shall ev-
or make" Not because l did not think it
duty, but because l thought l had done my
share, and would leave it for somebody else
to perform hereafter. But as the years have
rolled speedily by, and we are once again on
the threshold of another presidential election,
as we again see the lines of battle forming
for the conflict, can hardly keep my blood
from boiling, and though l feel to say ~
WON'T, still there is something within me all
the time saying, you shall" Now gentle
men you have heard something Of our candi-
date for President, and / need not say any
thing in regard to him although we did not
get at Chicago, the man of our choice, our
own noble Senator yet if we did not get the
best believe we have got the next best man.
II Gen. Arthur is the man that my friend
here has described him to be, he is the man
for Vermont Republicans (Cheers). Well,
this is not fellow citizens, exactly warfare
as to what men shall be elected, it is chiefly
contest of principle. Why, you all remem-
Der there is not person within the sound
of my voice but what knows, that a few
years ago portion of this country was ar
rayed in arms against the nation and it is
gong 10 De determined IN This election
whether the people, the great people of the
North are ready and willing to see this Gov
eminent and all there is to il turned over in
to the hands of the men who, few years
ago, undertook to destroy it. (Cheers) The
truth must be told in times like these When
our fathers formed the constitution of this
country, they did their work well but, say
it with all due respect, to them, it was not
perfect. The great vital principles of sover-
eighty were not settled by them, whether
the sovereignty of this Nation should be
greater than that of the States. Eighty years
and more, the people of this country strug-
gl6d for its settlement without reaching the
end, and it required four long years of war
to settle this question and the loyal people
of this country pronounced that the citizens
allegiance to the Nation was superior to that
of the State. The questions to be settled in
this canvass embrace in a great measure,
what our soldiers fought for, for four long
years in the field, to preserve and perpetuate
unto us and ours. Another question is
whether you and /. fellow citizens, shall be
at liberty TO emgrate into sister State, in
the State of South Carolina or Louisiana, or
any other State over which floats the flag of
our country, as freely as into the State of
Massachusetts, without being called carpet
baggers" if elected to office or be in danger
of our lives from the shot gun and the halter.
The question is to be settled, say, forever,
in this campaign (Cheers) whether we may
speak our own thoughts as freely under the
palmetto trees of South Carolina or in the
low lands of Louisiana as we can under the
shadows of our own loved Green mountains
In word this election is to determine wheth-
er or not the Republican party is to go on in
the future as it has in the past twenty years,
achieving greater, grander and nobler results
for the nation than has ever been accomplish
ed by any other nation under heaven, in a
hundred years before. These questions are
all to be settled by you and 1, and our neigh
bors and friends, when we go to the ballot
box next November. The Democrats, week
after next, are to put forth their candidates
and platform. Who they will nominate we
know not now. But this we do know-the
Democratic party will start with a solid South,
for do not believe it will be possible for the
Republican party to carry single Southern
State. If the Democrats are consistent they
will put up the man they nominated four
years ago, because if he was the honest man
and reformer then that they said he was it
seems to me it is their duty to nominate him,
and vindicate him before the country, and
elect him if they can. Against solid South;
If the Republican masses are true to them
selves and country, and with the names of
Garfield and Arthur on our banner will show
them, as we did in 1861, solid North.
(Cheers.)
Dr. Holton, on being called to the plat
form said the chairman had told a fib in say
ing that he could make a speech, for he had
such geld that he was unable to make him
self heard. He was only able to assure the
audience of his cordial endorsement of the
Chicago ticket. The speaking closed with
few words from Mr.. Edward Crosby in which
he said, with his accustomed earnestness,
that it gave him pleasure to heartily endorse
the nominations, and that he rejoiced that
such wise choice of candidates had been
made, At quarter to 10 o'clock the meeting
adjourned subject to the call of the executive
committee of the Garfield and Arthur Club.