Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-06-09
Mr.. Billings Speech.

We give below the admirable speech of
Frederick Billings in presenting Senator
Edmunds' name to the convention:
Mr.. president and gentlemen of the
convention: The state earliest born in
the Union after the old thirteen, whose
people have always been loyal to liberty,
enthusiastically urges the name of her
most distinguished son as the fittest name
to be inscribed on the presidential banner.
Her delegates bring that message here
with Joy and pride alike supreme because
they know no state has II better right to
name republican candidate, and No state
can name Il better man. Applause. In
the first time in her history Vermont,
though always in the advance guard of
the republican posts, comes to the front
in national convention. She thus comes,
not seeking reward for her loyalty,
which has never faltered in the years
gone by, not asking a price for loyalty,
never to falter in the years to come. Her
republicanism is not born of selhshness-
it is bred in her bones, it runs in her
blood Nor does she thus come because
the man she LANES for the presidency
springs from her loins. He is no longer
hers-he is the possession and the pride of
the nation. Applause Still more, YER
mont would call on her everlasting noun
tains to fall on and hide her before she
would thrust any local pride and selfish
ambition into the councils ut this critical
epoch. applause Vermont rises 10 the
height OF the occasion. She looks backward
through the years. and she looks forward
through the years and sees the infinite
peril, the ignomny. aye, the crime of
turning over the administration of this
government TO a revolutinary democracy
Applause She longs for victory-the
victory of patriotism at the polls-the
victory of craftsmanship after the polls
Applause ] She implores this convention
to let no unnecessary issues, no dscord:
born in hot rivalries and personal amDi
ton, no discussions, no anything. to pu
this victory in peril She prays you tt
make this victory secure by going straight
to the conscience and intelli. ence of thu
people, not only by platform ringing
with honor and honesty for money, cIeal
up through every thing to human rights
but putting therein a candidate far better
than the platform, because he is know
everywhere throughout the length anC
breadth of the land as its very incarnation
long tried and never found wanting
candidate weak nowhere. strong every
where, who will consolidate the party
bring every Independent into line ant
win recruits from the enemy. Applause.
That is victory here now, and victory fo
years to come. Applause Such can
didate, healing all dissensions. of won
derous ability, of aggressive integrity, O
the largest experience in public affairs, O
the highest, craftsmanship, is that brave
clear, faithful, vigilant man, upon whom
rests no shadow of reproach, to whom i
every crisis in the councils of the natio
we turn with joy and CONFIDENCE
central figure and leader of the Senate
the foremost type and defender of all tina
is best in the republican faith, the idea
candidate, not seeking the office, worth
of the best days of the republic haydn
the promise and potency of victory, il
George f. Edmunds [applause] and hir
Vermont dominates for the presidency
Welcome, gentlemen of the convention
this breeze from the Green Mountains
and how quickly it will swell into gal
and how surely sweep the land. Prolon
ged applause.